Thanks to Norris

part 58- feelings?

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The soft morning light spilled into the apartment through half-open curtains, casting a gentle golden hue across the floor. I stirred slowly, blinking my eyes open to find myself still curled against Lando on the couch. He was asleep, chest rising and falling in a rhythm that made everything else feel quiet.

Our legs were tangled together under the blanket we'd pulled over ourselves sometime during the night. My hand rested loosely against his chest, just over his heart. I could hear the faint hum of the city waking up outside, but inside, there was still peace.

I shifted slightly, careful not to wake him. I sat up and glanced around. A cup of coffee sat on the kitchen counter, still steaming.

That's when I saw her—Josi.

She was standing at the end of the hallway, arms crossed lightly over her chest, leaning against the wall. She had clearly been up for a while. Her hair was tied loosely back, and she was dressed for the day already—comfy jeans, a soft-knit sweater, her usual calm presence wrapped in subtle elegance.

But what struck me most was her expression: quiet understanding. She didn't look surprised. Not even slightly annoyed or curious. Just... observant. Thoughtful. Like she had known something was coming long before either of us admitted it.

I pushed the blanket off and stood slowly, padding across the wooden floor toward her.

"Morning," I said, almost unsure of how to break the quiet.

Josi gave me a small smile, her eyes drifting to the couch where Lando was still asleep before returning to me. "Hey."

"You've been here long?" I asked.

She shook her head. "Not really. I let myself in when I saw the lights still off. Didn't want to wake you guys."

I hesitated. "Did you—?"

She cut me off gently. "I didn't see anything. You don't have to explain."

I looked down for a moment. "We just... talked. A lot. And fell asleep."

"I figured." She glanced toward the kitchen. "I made coffee. Yours is the one with oat milk."

I smiled a little, touched by the gesture. "Thanks."

We stood there in comfortable silence for a moment before she finally asked, "Are you okay?"

I nodded slowly. "Yeah. I think... I think I'm finally starting to be."

She looked at me for a long time before stepping forward and pulling me into a soft, reassuring hug. "Good. That's all I care about."

When we pulled apart, Lando stirred on the couch. I glanced over my shoulder to see him sitting up, rubbing his eyes sleepily, curls a mess, blanket slipping off one shoulder. He looked around, momentarily disoriented, before his gaze landed on me—and softened.

"Hey," he said, voice low and raspy from sleep.

"Hey," I replied.

He noticed Josi then and froze for a second, awkward.

But she just gave him a tiny wave and a knowing smile. "Morning, Norris."

He blinked, surprised. "Morning."

"I'm going to head out again," she said, grabbing her bag. "Thought I'd grab breakfast from that place you love on the corner."

"You don't have to—" I started.

But she just smiled. "I want to. You two... figure things out."

Then, with a final wink, she slipped out, closing the door behind her with a soft click.