His Lovable Klutz (Completed)

Segment Sixy-two.

♥ Don't Force It ♥

      Coby stepped into the house, closing the door behind her with a gentle click. She felt a sense of calm after her afternoon in the park, still savoring the sweetness of the donuts. But as she entered the living room, she froze, her brow furrowing at the unfamiliar sound coming from the kitchen—the distinct whistle of a kettle boiling on the stove.

      "Stefan?" she called out, her voice laced with confusion as she made her way toward the kitchen.

      The sound of the boiling water grew louder with each step, filling the house with an unsettling tension. When Coby entered the kitchen, her heart skipped a beat. There, leaning heavily against the countertop, was Stefan. The kettle on the stove was shrieking, steam billowing out from the spout as the water inside reached its boiling point.

      "Stefan!" Coby shouted, her voice rising in panic as she dashed toward the stove. She quickly switched off the burner, silencing the kettle. She turned back to Stefan, her heart racing as she rushed to his side. "What were you thinking, putting on the stove like that?"

      Stefan was trembling, his face pale and slick with sweat. He looked up at her, managing a weak smile despite his obvious distress.

      "I… I wanted to give it a try," he stammered, his voice shaky. "I wanted to see if I could handle it… control my fear."

      Coby's heart ached at his words, but her concern quickly turned to anger. "Stefan, you shouldn't have done that!" she scolded, her voice sharp. "You're not ready to push yourself like this, not alone!"

      Stefan's eyes were filled with regret as he nodded slowly. "I know," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "I just… at therapy, I managed to control it. I thought maybe… maybe I could do it here too."

      Coby shook her head, still upset but now more worried than angry. "That's different, Stefan. You're making progress, but you can't force it. You mustn't push yourself too hard."

      She reached out, gently taking his arm. "Come on, let's get you out of here," she said softly, guiding him away from the kitchen. Stefan leaned heavily on her as she helped him up the stairs, his exhaustion evident in every step.

      When they reached his room, Stefan was nearly spent, his legs trembling with fatigue. Coby led him to the bed, helping him ease down onto the mattress. She carefully tucked him in, pulling the blankets up to his chest. Stefan's breathing was still uneven, but the tension in his body was slowly starting to ease.

      Coby stood by the bedside, watching him with a mingle of emotions—worry, love, and a deep sense of protectiveness. As she turned to leave, Stefan's hand shot out, catching hers. She looked back at him, seeing the vulnerability in his eyes.

      "Don't go," Stefan whispered, his voice pleading. "Stay with me… all through the night."

      Coby's heart melted at his request. Without a word, she climbed into bed beside him, leaning against the headboard. Stefan shifted closer, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his head on her shoulder. His grip was firm, as if he was afraid to let go.

      Coby gently stroked his hair, her fingers running through the soft strands with a soothing rhythm. Stefan's tense body began to relax against her, his breathing growing steadier as the minutes passed. She leaned down, pressing a tender kiss to the top of his head, her lips lingering there for a moment longer.

      They lay there in the quiet of the room, the world outside forgotten. Coby's presence was a balm to Stefan's frayed nerves, her touch anchoring him in a way that nothing else could. And as they held each other, the fear and uncertainty of the day slowly faded, replaced by the simple, undeniable comfort of being together.

      As the night wore on, Coby drifted into a deep sleep, her breathing soft and steady against the quiet of the room. Stefan lay beside her, wide awake, his eyes tracing the gentle rise and fall of her chest. A warm smile spread across his face as he watched her sleep so peacefully. He reached out, his fingers lightly brushing against her cheek, feeling the softness of her skin beneath his touch.

      "I love you," Stefan whispered, his voice barely audible in the stillness of the room.

      He meant every word, his heart swelling with affection as he gazed at the woman he loved more than anything.

      Coby stirred slightly at the sound of his voice, mumbling something incoherent in her sleep, before settling back into her slumber. Stefan chuckled softly, finding her sleepy movements endearing. But his attention was soon drawn away by a faint sound—a notification chime coming from somewhere under the covers.

      Curious, Stefan carefully searched through the blankets, trying not to disturb Coby. His hand found her phone, and he brought it up to see what the notification was. The screen lit up, revealing a new text message.

      Stefan's brow furrowed as he read the message:

      Hello Coby, it is Lucius! I just wanted to make certain that you arrived home safe. Don't forget to save my contact! I cannot wait to catch up again. Take care.

      A flicker of surprise crossed Stefan's face as he glanced down at Coby's peaceful expression. He knew she had been out earlier, but this message was unexpected. Stefan's mind raced as he tried to place the name. Lucius… Lucius… and then it clicked. He remembered the guy from Mr. Jabari's party—the one who had been a little too friendly for Stefan's liking.

      Stefan scoffed quietly, jealousy and irritation bubbling up inside him. Of course, it was that guy. He rolled his eyes, dismissing the thought, but not before hitting the delete button on the message. The screen went dark as he set the phone down on the nightstand.

      He let out a small sigh, shaking his head at how ridiculous he was being. There was no real reason to be jealous. But still, something about Lucius rubbed him the wrong way.

      Stefan lay back down, wrapping his arms around Coby and pulling her close. As he held her, the tension in his chest eased, replaced by the comforting presence of the woman he loved. Coby nuzzled into him in her sleep, and Stefan's smile returned, his jealousy fading away into the night. All that mattered was that she was there with him, safe and sound.