Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Ronnie stirred first, her mind groggy as the morning light filtered through the curtains. She was warm—warmer than usual—and as her senses gradually awakened, she realized why.
An arm. Heavy and solid, draped across her waist.
Her eyes blinked open, and she tilted her head slightly, only to find Matt still fast asleep beside her, his face peaceful, his hair adorably messy. His arm was wrapped securely around her, their legs tangled together under the blanket like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Oh. Oh no.
Ronnie's brain scrambled for an appropriate reaction. Panic? Laughter? Indignation? She settled on staying very, very still, because moving might wake him, and that would only make things more awkward.
This doesn't mean anything, she told herself firmly. We were just sleeping. People shift around. Totally innocent.
But then she felt his breath against her hair, slow and steady, and a tiny, traitorous part of her didn't want to move at all.
Matt groaned softly, his grip tightening for a brief second before his eyes fluttered open. It took him a moment to register the situation—the warm weight against his chest, the familiar scent of Ronnie's shampoo.
And then he froze.
Ronnie glanced up at him, her face impassive except for the telltale sparkle of amusement in her eyes. "Good morning," she said casually, as if they weren't currently entwined like a couple in a rom-com.
Matt blinked down at her, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. "Uh—morning?"
"You sleep okay?" she asked, biting back a grin as she shifted slightly.
Matt immediately yanked his arm back like it was on fire, scooting away from her until he nearly fell off the bed. "I—uh—I didn't mean to—"
Ronnie propped herself up on one elbow, watching him flail with an infuriatingly calm expression. "Didn't mean to what? Sleep?" she teased, tilting her head. "Pretty sure that's the whole point of a bed, Matt."
His face turned a spectacular shade of red. "No! I mean—yeah, but not—ugh." He ran a hand through his already-messy hair, clearly at war with himself. "I didn't mean to... you know, invade your personal space."
Ronnie's lips twitched. "Oh, is that what we're calling it now? Because I thought it was more of a hostage situation. That arm of yours wasn't letting me go anywhere."
Matt groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Kill me. Just kill me now."
"Relax," she said, her tone deliberately breezy. "It's not like I'm gonna write a story about it to the Stars Hollow Gazette. 'Local Hockey Star Cuddles Unwilling Victim.' Front page material."
His laugh was reluctant but genuine, muffled behind his hands. "You're the worst, you know that?"
"And yet, you keep me around." Her voice was light, teasing, but even she could hear the edge of something unspoken beneath it
