Daylight - Paige Bueckers

disgustingly adorable

September 24, 2023

Alex's POV:

The morning light filters through the blinds, casting soft rays across the room as I wake up. The events of last night still play vividly in my mind—our conversation, the decision to stop hiding, and the way we ended up just holding each other until we fell asleep. Paige is still asleep beside me, her breathing slow and even. I watch her for a moment, taking in the peaceful expression on her face, and I can't help but smile.

After everything we've been through, we're finally on the same page. We're finally ready to take that step into the unknown, together.

I slip out of bed as quietly as possible, not wanting to wake her. As I make my way to the bathroom, I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. There's a glow to my skin, a brightness in my eyes that wasn't there before. I feel lighter, like a weight I didn't even know I was carrying has been lifted.

When I come back, Paige is stirring, slowly waking up. Her eyes flutter open, and when she sees me, she smiles sleepily.

"Good morning," she murmurs, her voice thick with sleep.

"Morning," I reply, crawling back into bed beside her. "How are you feeling?"

She stretches, letting out a content sigh before snuggling closer to me. "Better than I have in a long time," she admits. "It feels good... being honest. Not having to worry so much."

I wrap my arm around her, pulling her closer. "I know what you mean. We're in this together now. No more hiding."

She nods, and for a while, we just lie there, enjoying the quiet and each other's company. But reality soon creeps back in, and I know we can't stay in this little bubble forever.

"So, what now?" Paige asks, her voice tinged with curiosity. "Are we really ready for what comes next?"

"I think we are," I say, squeezing her hand. "But we don't have to do anything we're not ready for. We can take this one step at a time, see how it feels."

She smiles at that, her blue eyes meeting mine with a look of determination. "I want to go public with us. I'm just not sure how yet."

"We'll figure it out," I assure her. "Maybe something small to start with? Like a picture together or holding hands in public?"

She thinks for a moment, then nods. "Yeah, I like that idea. Something that feels right for us, but not too overwhelming."

We talk for a while longer, going over different scenarios and how we might handle them. It's not the most romantic conversation, but it's necessary, and by the time we're done, I feel more confident about what's to come.

Paige's phone buzzes on the nightstand, pulling us out of our discussion. She reaches for it and groans when she sees the notification.

"It's Azzi," she says with a laugh. "She's wondering if we're alive after last night."

I laugh too, imagining Azzi's worry. "Maybe we should let her know we're okay."

Paige texts her back quickly, and then she's grinning at me. "She's insisting we meet up for breakfast. She's threatening to come over here if we don't."