First Crush, My Forever

Chapter 62

  Monday morning comes faster than I'd hoped, but I don't mind waking up next to Dani. The light spilling into the bedroom is warm and soft. Dani is tucked against me under the blankets, her breathing even and warm, her hair spilling across my chest. Even before my eyes are fully open, I feel my lips twitch into a smile. This is exactly what I had hoped for, the kind of morning that feels more like a home with the woman I love.

  I brush a few stray strands of hair back from Dani's face, careful not to wake her just yet. Moments like these feel too perfect to cut short. But then I hear KK's tiny feet on the hardwood in the hallway, her soft humming as she pads toward the bedroom. Dani stirs against me, eyelashes fluttering, and she lets out a sleepy hum.

  "I hear her," Dani murmurs, voice scratchy and warm.

  "Me too," I whisper, kissing her hair.

  She gives me a sleepy grin and sits up, rubbing her hands across her face. "We better get moving," she said. "KK waits for no one."

  I chuckle and follow her lead, swinging my legs off the bed. Dani grabs a pair of comfy black slacks and a cozy tan sweater from her dresser. Even seeing her choose her work clothes like this makes my chest feel warm, it's these small things, like knowing she is a teacher and seeing her in her real world routine, that grounds everything for me.

  I pull on my jeans and one of my T-shirts, then grab my Apple watch from the nightstand as Dani pads barefoot to the door to peek into the hall.

  "Hey, baby," she greets softly as KK runs up with a big grin, arms reaching.

  "Good morning, Mommy," KK chirps, then looks up at me and waves. "TayTay!"

  "Hey princess," I say warmly. Dani bends to scoop her up, and I follow them downstairs.

  KK watches me over Dani's shoulder like she is studying me. I make silly faces at her but she doesn't even budge. Dani sits KK on a stool at the island but KK is still just watching me. She finally breaks the silence and catches Dani and I both off guard. "TayTay, you sleep with mommy?" I immediately look at Dani who also looks at me.

  Dani sets a box of cereal down on the counter as she turns her attention to KK. "Yes baby. Taytum sleeps beside mommy. Do you feel okay about that?"

  "Yes!" KK yells which causes us to laugh. Dani turns her attention back to fixing a quick breakfast of fruit, cereal and toast, humming along with KK, who is chattering about her friends at school. I take my usual spot leaning against the counter, my hands around my coffee mug as I watch them together. It feels so easy, so natural, to picture my mornings looking like this forever.

  "Would you want me to drop you at work after we take KK to pre k?" I ask Dani as she pours another mug of coffee. "I'd love to take you if that's okay."

  That earns me a smile as warm as sunshine. "That would be nice," she answers. "I'd like that too."

  The way she looks at me, eyes bright, full of simple happiness make my chest go light. It is hard to believe that just a short while ago, all of this had felt like some faraway dream. Now it is real.

  When we all finish breakfast, Dani hurries upstairs with KK to help her dress while I load my school books into my backpack. A few minutes later, we are all back in the hallway together, Dani smoothing the hem of KK's dress while I grab my car keys.

  "Where do my clothes go?" I ask Dani, more a teasing thought than anything as I pull my hoodie on. I do kinda need to know because we didn't talk about that.

  Dani looks at me like it's obvious. "Your clothes go in my... our closet," she answers with a shrug and a smile. "This is your room too, Tay. That's just how it is."

  That answer knocks my breath loose in the best way. I had assumed we'd slowly work into sharing like that but I thought maybe I'd use the guest room closet but Dani didn't hesitate. It was settled. I belonged here.

  "You mean all my hoodies, shirts and the rest of my clothes in your walk-in?" I ask, grinning as I bend to tie my sneakers.

  "All of them," she says simply. "Your journals can go in the home office. Your camera stuff too. And if you want, those vintage cameras of yours can be displayed in the living room. Wherever you want. This is your house too, remember?"

  That last part hits me deep. I cross the hallway and kiss her cheek, my hands on her waist. "That means a lot," I murmur.

  "Good," she replies, kissing me back before calling to KK that it's time to go.

  By the time KK is buckled into her booster seat and we hit the road, Dani is chatting about her students and the writing assignments she has planned for them. It's sweet hearing the way she talks about her work, this quiet passion that shows up when she talks about teaching.

  When we pull up at KK's pre K, I tell KK bye and I love her as Dani unbuckles her and takes her hand to walk her inside. I watch them go, my heart feeling too full. A few minutes later Dani is back, sliding into the passenger seat, and I pull out of the lot to head towards the high school.

  "You sure you don't mind doing this?" Dani asks again as we hit a light.

  "Not at all," I assure her, reaching across the console to lace my fingers with hers.

  That earns me a bright, real smile. "Thank you," she murmurs. "I'm going to like starting my days this way when we can."

  "Me too," I agree.

  We pull up outside the high school and Dani grabs her laptop bag and leans across the seat to kiss me. "Have a good day at school," she says warmly. "I love you."

  "You too," I reply, then grin. "I love you too and I'll be back here when you're off. I'll pick you up and we can go get KK together unless I pick her up first. Sound like a plan?"

  "Sounds perfect," she said. "See you then."

  Dani gets out and shuts the door, and I watch her walk up the sidewalk for a moment before heading to my own campus. It hits me as I park in my usual spot just how different this all feels. Going to school knowing Dani is my home base, knowing I'd see her tonight, shifts everything. Even sitting in my first class feels lighter.

  When my phone buzzes mid-lecture with a message from Dani, just a simple "Have a good day" followed by a heart, I can't help smiling at my screen. The rest of my classes flew by with an ease I haven't felt in a while.

  That afternoon I'm waiting outside KK's pre K when her class lets out. She runs to me at the gate, eyes bright as she tells me about the picture she painted and how one of her friends had lost a tooth. I hold her small hand as we walk to my car.

  "You ready to go surprise your mommy and pick her up?" I ask as I buckle her in. I know I told Dani we would pick her up together but I figured this would be a nice surprise.

  "Yes!" she squeals, kicking her feet happily.

  We pull up outside the high school just as Dani is heading out. Her face lights up the moment she sees both of us. She hops into the car with a kiss for me and one for KK and immediately launches into questions about our day after stating that it was a really nice surprise that both of us picked her up. The drive home is easy and bright, all of us talking over one another in that comfortable, warm way that only feels like this when we are together. By the time we pull into the driveway, my heart is full.

  The evening falls into a gentle rhythm, making a quick dinner together, KK chattering at the table, Dani and I catching each other's eyes and grinning like we shared some sweet secret. Baths follow dinner, then stories and bedtime. Finally, when the house is quiet and KK is asleep, Dani and I find ourselves curled up together on the couch.

  She tucks her feet under my leg and rests her head on my shoulder as I rub my thumb in slow circles on her arm. "This feels like home," she murmurs, eyes closing.

  "Yeah," I reply softly. "It really does." In the quiet, easy dark, my thoughts settle like they never have before. Content, hopeful, and so very sure this is exactly where I am meant to be.