S A U D A D E

an american girl gives me relationship advice

I wake up an hour later with my head resting on Wren's very solid right shoulder, and his head on top of mine. He has incredibly long lashes, and when I look cross eyed, I realize I do, too.

"You awake?" His voice is a deep rumble from the back of his throat, and I pull a random blanket that has been laid on top of me around my shoulders, snuggling into its warmth.

"Mhm."
He ruffles my hair. "I'm tired, Annabel. I'm gonna sleep for a little longer. Wanna move?"

I'm playing with the zipper on his fleece, which has also magically appeared.

"No."
"Wanna sleep?"
"No."
He laughs, a quick exhale, and closes his eyes.

I try to do the same, but isn't it sort of a problem that I think I like Wren?

💃💃💃

I'm flipping through one of my cool-arse comics when the lady with beverages rolls around.

"Any drinks for you two?" she asks me sweetly, and I look down at Wren, who's still sleeping peacefully. I nod slowly, and whisper as softly as I can, "one Sprite and one apple juice."

She nods back at me and pours me the two drinks, handing me a cup of ice along with the cans.

"Thank you," I whisper, and she smiles at me, but I notice she looks at Wren as she's leaving.

As softly as I can, I whisper into Wren's ear, "Wake up, Captain America."

He sleeps like a rock.

So I methodically use different voices and volumes to try to wake him up and waste three minutes poking him until a girl pops up from behind me. One of the American girls.

"Kiss 'im."
"I couldn't do that."
"He ain't waking up, is he?"
"Nope."

She shrugs, and goes back to her movie.

Chugging down a bit of my apple juice, I consider following her advice.

I tilt my head and set down my apple juice, and kiss him gently on the nose.

He doesn't wake up, but I swear he smiles in his sleep. I rest my head on his shoulder again and close my eyes.