Enough for You

Part 3

Later you and Tyler had settled into the comfort of your couch as the world outside seems to fade away. The warmth of his presence next to you, the way his hand rests on your knee, and the steady rhythm of his breathing create a bubble of serenity around you. Time feels like it's slowing down as you both get lost in the closeness and talk. The tension from the past week melts away as you slowly lean your head on his shoulder. You hadn't planned to spend the past few hours on the couch with him, but it's as though neither of you can bear to let go of the other.

It isn't until the soft grumble of a stomach fills the silence that you both freeze, then exchange an amused look.

"Was that you or me?" Tyler teases with a chuckle, his hand giving your knee a playful squeeze.

You can't help but laugh, realizing how long you've been so engrossed in each other that dinner slipped both your minds. "I guess we kind of forgot to eat," you say, grinning up at him.

"Guess it's time to get out of this cocoon and figure out dinner, huh?" Tyler jokes, but neither of you seem quite ready to move.

Tyler glances around your apartment and then nods toward the kitchen. "How about we cook something here? I'm no chef, but I think I can handle pasta this time."

You raise an eyebrow, the memory of his past cooking adventures making you smirk. "Are you sure you're up for the challenge? Last time you tried to make pasta, we almost had to call the fire department"

He laughs, shaking his head. You bite back a smile, feeling a sense of ease wash over you as you both drift toward the kitchen, the earlier tension between you replaced with a playful energy. It feels natural—like slipping back into a rhythm you didn't realize you missed. Together, you start pulling out ingredients, ready to tackle dinner as a team, side by side.

"You're actually going to follow the recipe this time, right?" you tease, referencing that one infamous night with the team when his attempt at cooking had been... less than successful.

He rolls his eyes dramatically but grins, a mock-serious tone in his voice. "I promise, no improvising tonight. We're sticking to the directions like my life depends on it."

You laugh, stepping up beside him as he starts boiling the water. Together, you work on the sauce—chopping garlic, stirring in tomatoes, and adding the perfect amount of seasoning. The kitchen fills with the rich, savory aroma, and the easy banter between you feels as natural as breathing. You catch him stealing glances at you now and then, the soft kind of looks that make your heart skip a beat.

At one point, you're standing close, both concentrating on the sauce. Tyler hands you a spoon and nods toward the pan. "Go on, taste test. Let's see if we nailed it."

You take a bite, humming in approval, but before you can respond, Tyler's gaze sharpens. His lips twitch into a grin.

"You've got a little... right there," he says, gesturing to your lower lip where some of the sauce must have landed.

Before you can wipe it away, Tyler steps closer, his eyes fixed on yours as his hand reaches up. His thumb brushes gently against your lip, lingering for just a second too long. There's a charged silence, the air between you suddenly thick with tension.

Then, in one smooth motion, Tyler's lips hover over yours. Instead of wiping the sauce away, he closes the distance and gently kisses it off, his lips brushing yours in a brief, heated moment. His mouth lingers for a beat, as if considering whether to deepen the kiss, but he pulls back just enough to meet your eyes.

You feel your heart race as his thumb traces a light line across your lip, and you both let out soft laughs to ease the tension, though neither of you moves far away from each other.