KALEIDOSCOPE ━ WADE WILSON

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

PLAYLIST;
i. k. - cigarettes after sex
ii. that funny feeling - phoebe bridgers
iii. into dust - mazzy star
iv. waiting room - phoebe bridgers
v. everywhere i go - lissie
vi.   movement - hozier

—

Morning light filtered through the curtains, casting soft golden hues over the room. Wade stirred first, blinking groggily as the remnants of sleep clung to him. The bed was warm, and next to him, Ainoa lay curled up, her back against his chest. He could feel the rise and fall of her breathing, the steady rhythm oddly calming.

After last night's talk, they continued having chats in Wade's bed until they'd fallen asleep. It almost led to something else once Wade felt how Ainoa's hands hovered over his chest, or when he realized how smooth her skin felt against his fingertips. Almost.

Ainoa shifted, her eyes fluttering open. For a heartbeat, she didn't move, her thoughts catching up to where she was. When she turned her head slightly to glance at Wade, her expression was unreadable. Neither of them knew how to bring up what had almost happened.

"Morning," Wade mumbled, trying to sound casual as he ran a hand over his hair, still messed up from sleep.

Ainoa rolled over onto her back, staring up at the ceiling. "Morning," she replied quietly.

Wade broke it first. "So... any regrets? You know, about sticking around?" His tone was light, but there was a genuine edge of uncertainty beneath it.

Ainoa didn't answer immediately. Her thoughts were a tangled mess of last night's emotions, but she wasn't sure how to voice them without complicating things further. "No regrets yet," she finally said, offering a faint smile. "But that could change depending on how much of an idiot you are today."

Wade grinned. "I'll try to keep it under 20%, like I promised."

Before either could say more, Lucia's voice called out from the hallway, snapping them both out of the moment. "Are you two awake? Grave's going to meet me soon, and I need to go over a few things."

Ainoa looked over, "Grave? You didn't tell me you were going to see him."

Lucia looked at her older sister, almost sheepishly. "Yeah, sorry about that. Kind of a last minute plan, but he said he has some more information," she blinked innocently.

Ainoa rolled her eyes before exchanging a look with Wade. "Duty calls, I guess," Ainoa muttered as she sat up, brushing her hair out of her face.

Wade watched as Ainoa slipped out of bed, stretching her arms with a yawn before padding over to the bathroom. He leaned back against the headboard, his thoughts lingering on her. He knew he was in uncharted territory with her—someone who could match his wit and challenge him in ways he hadn't experienced in years. He could feel the tension between them, hanging in the air like a loaded spring, just waiting to snap.

A few minutes later, Ainoa re-emerged, her hair pulled back into a loose bun and her expression more alert. Wade was still lounging on the bed, his eyes following her every move.

"I could get used to waking up like this," Wade quipped, a teasing smirk tugging at his lips.

Ainoa rolled her eyes but couldn't help the small smile that slipped through. "Don't get too comfortable, Wilson. I'm still figuring out what to do with you."

Wade made an exaggerated gesture of clutching his chest. "You wound me, Monte. Right here." But his tone softened as he continued, "I mean it, though. I wouldn't mind more mornings like this."

Ainoa's gaze flickered toward him, the weight of his words hanging between them. For a moment, it felt like they were teetering on the edge of something deeper, but before either of them could say more, Lucia's voice called out again from the hallway.