I wasn't sure why I was awake so early. The sunlight barely trickled through the blinds, casting long shadows across the room. I blinked a few times, letting my eyes adjust before realizing Sienna wasn't next to me.
I sat up, my hair a mess, and rubbed my face, trying to wake up. The apartment was quiet, too quiet, except for the distant sound of running water. She was probably in the shower.
I stretched and stumbled out of bed, yawning as I made my way to the kitchen. As I opened the fridge to grab some orange juice, I heard footsteps behind me. I didn't even have to turn around to know it was Sienna. The air shifted slightly, her presence as familiar as ever.
"Morning," I muttered, still half-asleep.
Her response was a soft grunt, and when I finally turned around, I saw her standing there, towel wrapped around her, hair wet and dripping onto the floor. She didn't look impressed.
"You're dripping," I said, trying to hold back a grin.
She just narrowed her eyes at me. "You're in my way."
I stepped aside, chuckling under my breath as she brushed past me to grab her own drink from the fridge. Even when she was grumpy in the mornings, she was still my favorite person to annoy.
"You're not a morning person, huh?" I teased, watching her pour her juice.
She shot me a look that could've melted steel. "Theo."
"Right, shutting up now," I said, raising my hands in mock surrender. But I couldn't help it—seeing her like this always made me want to push her buttons.
She didn't respond, just leaned against the counter, sipping her drink with a focused intensity, like it was the only thing keeping her from snapping at me. After a few moments, I walked over and wrapped my arms around her waist, pressing my chin on her shoulder.
She tensed for a second but didn't push me away. I took that as a win.
"Busy day today?" I asked, my voice low as I watched her stare at the fridge like it might hold the answer to all her problems.
"Maybe."
"Maybe," I echoed, nuzzling her neck a little just to see if I could break her serious façade.
Her shoulders relaxed slightly, and she sighed, her head tilting back just a fraction. "You're annoying."
"You like it."
She didn't answer, but the smallest smile tugged at her lips. Victory.
We stood like that for a while, my arms wrapped around her, her body warm against mine. These were the moments I loved the most—the quiet ones, when it felt like it was just the two of us, no work, no distractions. Just... this.
After what felt like forever, she pulled away, giving me a soft shove. "I've got to get ready."
"For what?"
She glanced over her shoulder as she headed to the bedroom. "Meetings. Calls. Running a business, remember?"
I groaned dramatically, flopping onto the couch. "When do I get to steal you away for the day?"
"Never," she called back from the other room.
I grabbed the remote, flipping through channels aimlessly, waiting for her to finish getting dressed. Ten minutes later, she reappeared, looking sharp and ready to conquer the world. I, on the other hand, was still in my pajamas, sprawled out on the couch like a human sloth.
"You look way too good to be going to work," I said, giving her an exaggerated once-over.
She just rolled her eyes, grabbing her keys. "You look way too lazy to still be on the couch."
I grinned, sitting up and reaching for her hand before she could leave. "Come on. Ditch work today."
She glanced down at me, her expression serious for a moment, and then—just for a second—her resolve faltered. "I can't."
"Yeah, you can." I pulled her closer, making her stumble slightly. "Just this once. No meetings, no calls. Just you and me."
She sighed, her free hand running through her hair. "You're impossible."
"And you love me for it."
She stared at me, her lips twitching as if she was fighting back a smile. "Fine. But only for a few hours."
I shot up from the couch, already buzzing with excitement. "Yes! We can go to that new coffee place, or just hang out here, or—"
"Don't push your luck," she cut in, but there was a soft, playful edge to her voice now.
I couldn't stop smiling as I threw on some clothes and grabbed my jacket. Days like this—where I somehow managed to pull her away from her endlessly busy life—were rare, but when they happened, it felt like we had the world to ourselves.
As we stepped out of the apartment, the sun finally breaking through the clouds, I reached for her hand, intertwining my fingers with hers. She didn't say anything, but the way her grip tightened around mine said enough.
