Happy Endings

43. word

"I'm covered in the colours of you, every single hue, purple and blue."

☼

Kellin Quinn wasn't used to dreaming every night, or at least remembering his dreams every morning. He was used to restless nights, fuzzy sleep, the disorientation he felt after opening his eyes to a new day. He wasn't used to sleeping well. At least not in the past four years of his life.

But ever since he accepted that particular fact about himself, ever since he finally let his heart feel everything it was craving to feel, ever since he let Vic Fuentes live indefinitely in the madness of his head... sleep became Kellin's friend again. Just like that. And Vic was the protagonist of every one of his dreams every night.

Waking up wasn't a drag anymore, not when he felt his heart swell once he adjusted to reality and remembered whatever random situation his brain put him and Vic in his dreams. Just seeing him there was enough to make Kellin hug his pillow tight and smile and snooze his alarm for five more minutes.

And sure, he used to dream of Vic before all of this, unthinkable situations that weren't so unthinkable anymore, but now it was different. Now he welcomed everything. And it was good. He'd never woken up with a smile before all of this. He'd never felt so light.

The good morning texts were also part of this odd, new routine Kellin found himself in. Vic wasn't even a morning person, but each morning Kellin got a message from him wishing him a good day. Kellin knew he probably fell back asleep right after sending it, which was cute to think about. And enough to make Kellin believe he'd indeed have a good day.

He wished he could wake up with him instead, way down in the depths of his heart, but Kellin knew that was only a product of that entire ridiculous week they spent together after he finally came clean about his feelings. He knew he was already crazy, but letting himself get so attached to Vic the first few days of being... this, was crazier than anything before.

He went all in, too soon. He got hooked on their little routine, on seeing each other every day. He grew used to his presence, to kissing him whenever he pleased, to eating together, and sleeping together, and waking up together... Honestly, who could blame him?

He had to learn to live without all that, though. It couldn't happen like that. His daughter Penny was back, and Kellin needed to adjust his reality lenses once more. He needed to practice healthy distance, needed to be a normal man and refocus his priorities. And his biggest priority would only ever be his kid and not much else.

But... all that wouldn't take away how much he missed Vic. He could admit as much. Remember how he was obsessed? So distancing and being normal about him only worked for a few days after (not really even) trying.

It was a Tuesday, only three days after Penny was back home when Kellin decided to treat her to some ice cream after he was done with work. He picked her up from his mother's house, excitedly told her they had plans, and Penny suddenly couldn't wait.

And it just so happened that Mr. Vic was there at the ice cream shop too.

Kellin planned it, of course, starting his scheme of adjusting his daughter to seeing Vic again. Not as often, but a small start. He didn't see the point of keeping them apart anymore, and it was perfect. Penny was so over the moon, so surprised and happy, and Kellin was happy too, witnessing their small reunion with a soft smile the entire time.

He couldn't explain the amount of mixed emotions he felt when the child eagerly jumped into Vic's arms once they spotted him. Penny didn't even question it; she just screamed his name and leaped out of Kellin's hold to go see him.