Mr.Brightside

Chapter 2

Jack's POV

The smell of sizzling bacon filled the kitchen, mingling with the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee. I glanced at the clock on the wall, noting that it was almost time for Clara to wake up. I loved these quiet moments in the morning, when I could surprise her with breakfast and we could start the day together.

I flipped the bacon and cracked a couple of eggs into the pan, humming softly to myself. Clara had seemed off last night, distant and preoccupied. I'd tried to brush it off as just a rough day at work, but something didn't sit right with me.

I set the table, placing a plate of bacon, eggs, and toast at Clara's spot just as she walked into the kitchen, her hair tousled from sleep.

"Good morning, beautiful," I said, smiling as I poured her a cup of coffee.

"Morning," she replied, her voice soft. She gave me a small smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.

I watched her as she sat down and took a sip of her coffee, her gaze distant. "Are you okay?" I asked, sitting across from her. "You seemed a bit off last night."

Clara looked up at me, her eyes searching mine for a moment before she nodded. "Yeah, just a lot on my mind, I guess. Work has been stressful."

I reached across the table and took her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "You know you can talk to me about anything, right?"

She squeezed back, her smile a bit more genuine this time. "I know. Thanks, Jack."

We ate breakfast in a comfortable silence, the only sounds the clinking of silverware and the occasional rustle of the newspaper I had spread out beside my plate. Clara seemed more relaxed as the meal went on, and I felt a sense of relief. Maybe I was overthinking things.

After breakfast, Clara left for work, and I cleaned up the kitchen before heading out myself. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was bothering her, but I pushed it to the back of my mind. We all had our off days, and I trusted Clara completely.

At Work

The day passed in a blur of meetings and deadlines. I worked as a project manager at a tech company, and things were always busy. I loved my job, though; it was challenging and rewarding, and I worked with a great team.

During lunch, I found myself thinking about Clara again. I pulled out my phone and sent her a quick text.

Hope your day is going better. Can't wait to see you tonight. Love you.

Her reply came a few minutes later.

Thanks, Jack. Love you too.

I smiled, tucking my phone back into my pocket. Whatever was bothering her, we would get through it together.

 Evening

I got home before Clara, deciding to surprise her with another one of her favorite meals—chicken Alfredo. I started cooking, the familiar routine calming my mind. By the time Clara walked through the door, the apartment was filled with the delicious smell of garlic and Parmesan.

"Something smells amazing," she said, smiling as she kicked off her shoes.

"Chicken Alfredo," I said, grinning as I walked over to give her a kiss. "How was your day?"

"Better," she said, her smile more genuine than this morning. "Thanks for the text. It helped."

"Anytime," I said, feeling a surge of affection for her. "Dinner will be ready in a few minutes. Why don't you relax?"

We ate dinner together, and this time, the conversation flowed more easily. Clara seemed more like herself, laughing and sharing stories from her day. I felt a weight lift off my shoulders, convinced that whatever had been bothering her was starting to fade.

Later That Night

After dinner, we curled up on the couch to watch a movie. Clara rested her head on my shoulder, and I wrapped my arm around her, feeling content. Halfway through the movie, she fell asleep, her breathing soft and even. I gently shifted her so she was lying down more comfortably, then turned off the TV and dimmed the lights.

As I watched her sleep, I couldn't help but marvel at how much I loved her. Clara was my world, and I would do anything to make her happy. I just hoped that whatever had been troubling her was truly behind us.

But as I lay down beside her, pulling her close, a small nagging voice in the back of my mind whispered doubts. I pushed them away, determined to trust in our love and the life we had built together.

For now, everything seemed perfect. And I was determined to keep it that way.

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