MENDED

fifty-seven

alex

the next morning, i woke up to see saylor laying in front of me. her hand was placed on my cheek, and her thumb was absentmindedly caressing my face. when she saw that i was now awake, she smiled adorably. i pressed my lips to her thumb as it ghosted over them, and i then gave a lazy, sleepy smile.

"well, good morning, darling," i murmured. "what are you doing up so early?" i questioned after i glanced at the clock on the nightstand to see that it read 7:23 a.m.

"just admiring my husband," she replied in a soft voice as a grin started to form on her lips. "you're very pretty, you know."

i couldn't help the grin that spread across my own lips. i leaned forward to press my lips to hers, and i felt her sigh into it. i pulled back. "thank you," i bit my lip.

she murmured a quiet "you're welcome," then let out another sigh, though this was one of complete contentment. "i dunno, i was just watching you sleep, and, to be honest, i think i was getting slightly overwhelmed by just... your existence?" it came out like a question. "like, i just feel so happy and grateful that you're alive, and that we're married. i just can't believe it, truly."

"i love you," i couldn't help but blurt out as my eyes scanned over her face. "i get what you mean though. completely. i feel like that, like, every time i look at you."

"i love you," she pouted adorably. i leaned over to kiss her pouty lips until they turned upwards into a smile.

"i also am still not over the fact that we're married either. you're my wife," my eyes widened slightly. i moved my hand to grab her waist to pull her closer, and a small smirk tugged at my lips. "my very naked wife, at that."

she laughed loudly, and i pulled her to straddle my waist. she bit her lip as she placed her hands across my chest and peered down at me. "yeah? are you going to do anything with your very naked wife?" she teased lightly as her hands ran up and down the planes of my chest and stomach, up to my neck, and back down.

the blanket fell from around her shoulders, and as my eyes scanned across her body, i thought back to the many rounds we had before we went to sleep, as well as when we woke up at some point during the night to go again. even still, i gave a nod as i bit my lip as well. "oh, there's a few things that come to mind."

•

a handful of hours later, me and saylor have showered, gotten ready for the day, and went out for breakfast together. we're now in tonight's venue, preparing for the show. i'm laying across the floor, though i have my guitar laid across my stomach as i lazily strummed the chords for one of our songs. i was very softly singing the lyrics as i played, though i wasn't singing with any attempt at sounding good.

saylor sat by me at one point, ruffled my hair, kissed my forehead, then went back to whatever she was doing. miguel stood a few feet away from me and joined in with his bass. i put in more effort to match his rhythm and tempo.

eventually, we all started on soundcheck and such, and i actually stood up to play and do so. despite the coffee and the redbull i'd had, i was still pretty tired from mine and saylor's late night, so i was trying to conserve the energy i did have for tonight's show. i didn't want to give the fans a half-assed, sloppy show just because i was tired.

when we were done with soundcheck and everything, we were given the go ahead to prepare in our own ways. jessie followed me and saylor to my green room. i raised a brow as jessie sprawled out across saylor's lap after saylor sat on the couch.

"get off my wife; that's my spot," i said without thinking.

"your wife? see, you're just as delusional as i am," jessie gave a teasing grin as she made no attempt to move from saylor's lap.