Dou you mind, Mike?

Outlook

Sam was naturally an early riser, but ever since the nightmares began, she found herself getting up at the crack of dawn out of necessity. The night before, she had hoped that the presence of someone else in the house would ease her anxiety just a bit, but she was mistaken. She glanced at her phone on the nightstand and saw it was a quarter past five in the morning. Grumbling, she buried her head into her pillow. She could have tried to go back to sleep, but that usually ended with hours of restless tossing and turning in the empty bed.

She threw off the covers and walked over to the window. The sun was just beginning to rise, its rays filtering through the curtains and bathing the room in warm light. Sam opened the window to let in some fresh air, then grabbed a sweater from the foot of the bed and went to the kitchen to make herself a cup of coffee.

Uncertain of when Mike usually started his day, she tried to move as quietly as possible. She opened the cupboard, took out the coffee, filled the coffee maker, and added more water than usual. "Mike will probably appreciate this," she thought to herself.

While waiting for the coffee, she washed the dishes and tidied up the kitchen a bit. She also opened the windows and the front door to let in a draft.

Although she sometimes felt lonely in the large house, Sam loved living there. She enjoyed the sound of the birds chirping from the nearby forest and the fresh air provided by the pine trees. There were times when she considered selling the house and moving to a smaller apartment in Denver, but fortunately, that was just a fleeting thought. It would have been difficult to completely let go of the memories tied to the place, so she had instead customized the house to suit her taste, making it continue to feel like home.

At the sound of the coffee machine's beep, Sam jolted awake. She grabbed her favorite mug from the shelf and poured herself a steaming cup of coffee. Before sitting down at the table, she dashed back to the bedroom to retrieve her phone. While stirring her drink, she sent a message to her colleague, letting them know she'd be taking the day off to handle some tasks around the house. She hadn't forgotten Mike's promise to paint together. She felt a sense of happiness—finally, something new and different, even if just for a day, was worth it. Ever since Mike had been around, she had been smiling more. She was almost certain that in those few hours, she had laughed more than she had in the entire past month.

"Good morning. You're up this early?" Mike yawned as he walked into the kitchen. Sam watched curiously, taking in Mike's disheveled hair and sleepy eyes.

"I think I might be the first person awake in the city," Sam joked from behind her mug, which partially obscured her face. As Mike set his mug down on the table, his face broke into a broad smile.

Sam watched in silence, waiting for Mike to say something, but he just continued to grin.

"Okay, would you mind sharing what's so amusing?" Sam asked.

"It's not really amusing," He said with a laugh. "It's just cute."
Mike walked over to the kitchen counter, tore off a paper towel from the roll, and handed it to her. "You've got a little 'cat whisker' on your face," he said, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
Sam accepted the paper towel and wiped the milk froth from her lips. She felt a bit embarrassed, but she wasn't fully awake yet to react properly. Mike pulled out a chair and sat next to Sam.

"How did you sleep?" Sam asked.

"I have to say, my own bed isn't nearly as comfortable. Though mine isn't filled with all sorts and colors of blankets," He smiled.

"Those blankets helped me through many sleepless nights. I told you I used that room for a while, and those blankets are mine. I just brought them with me and never took back."

Mike thought for a moment before speaking again. "When did you last sleep in that room?" he asked, finishing the last sip of his coffee.

"The night before last," Sam replied, feeling her face flush. She hadn't had a chance to wash the bedding, and it was embarrassing that Mike had slept there without fresh sheets. She hadn't wanted to bother with it last night, and it hadn't even occurred to her to change them. After all, no one else had slept in that room but her.

Mike gave a half-smile and looked at Sam warmly. He found her embarrassment endearing. He had a feeling that she had recently slept in that bed, as the whole bed smelled like her—a blend of vanilla and cherry. It wasn't the blankets that made his night so comfortable, but Sam's proximity, even if just her scent.

"How about I take a quick shower while you get ready, and then we can hop in the car and go buy some paint? I know a well-stocked hardware store nearby."

"You can count on me" Sam replied happily.