Under the Grit

(What's the Story) Morning Glory?

The shrill ring of her phone pierced through the early morning quiet, dragging Evangeline from the depths of a deep, dreamless sleep. She groaned softly, blinking as the soft light filtered through the curtains, casting golden slants across the room. Her eyes stung from the brightness, and she fumbled for her phone on the nightstand, squinting at the screen.

Ben.

A smile tugged at her lips despite the grogginess weighing her down. She swiped to answer, sinking back into the pillows. "Hey," she mumbled, her voice thick with sleep as she rubbed her eyes, trying to shake off the remnants of slumber.

"Morning, Evie," Ben's voice came through the line, bright and full of energy, a little too chipper for this early hour. His familiar tone made her chest warm, and despite the exhaustion, she couldn't help but smile. "Guess what?"

Evangeline blinked, the haze of sleep quickly clearing as her curiosity piqued. She loved surprises, and Ben always had a knack for delivering them in a way that caught her off guard. "What?" she asked, her voice a little more awake now, a small smile pulling at the corners of her lips.

"I'm coming home early!" His excitement burst through the line, tangible and infectious. "Flight got moved up, and I'll be back tonight!"

"Tonight?" she repeated, the words slow to sink in. But as the meaning hit her, the last remnants of sleep faded away completely, replaced by a rush of excitement. Her pulse quickened, and she sat up straighter, the warmth of anticipation blooming in her chest. "Ben, that's amazing!"

She could almost picture him on the other end of the call, smiling in that way that always made her feel like she was the only thing that mattered. It had been weeks since they'd seen each other, and the ache of his absence had been growing stronger every day. She hadn't realized just how much she missed him until now, when the thought of his return made everything feel a little bit lighter. The room suddenly seemed less stifling, the day ahead a little more bearable.

"I know, right? I couldn't wait to tell you," Ben continued, his voice filled with the same enthusiasm she felt bubbling up inside her. "I've missed you so much."

The sincerity in his words made her heart flutter. "I've missed you, too," she murmured, her voice soft but full of warmth. A sense of relief washed over her. After all the busy days, the phone calls that felt too short, the nights where she'd fall asleep thinking about him—he was finally coming home.

For a moment, she allowed herself to savor it. The thought of being wrapped in his arms again, of falling back into their usual rhythm, of having someone there to share the small moments with—she missed all of it. She hadn't realized how much until this very moment.

"Why don't you go out and treat yourself today?" Ben's voice broke through her thoughts, pulling her back to the present. "Get something nice, take some time for you before I get home. You deserve it." There was that familiar playful edge in his tone, the way he always encouraged her to take care of herself in the smallest, sweetest ways.

Evangeline's smile grew wider, her heart warming at his words. "I think I'll do that," she said, already imagining how she might spend the day. A quiet day just for herself, before Ben's return in the evening. Maybe she'd stop by her favorite café or browse some shops she hadn't visited in a while.

"Good," Ben replied, his tone softening. "I'll see you tonight, okay? Can't wait."

"Me neither," she whispered, the excitement in her chest only growing. As the call ended, she lay back against the pillows, staring up at the ceiling with a wide grin. It felt like everything had suddenly shifted—like today was a fresh start, and tonight, when Ben walked through the door, everything would fall back into place.