Murder

5

When I woke up, I couldn't stop a smile from forming on my face when I smelled coffee. I sat up and stretched before grabbing sweatpants from Reece's clothes.

"Good morning", he called out when he heard his bedroom door opening.

"Morning", I said back, walking into his small kitchen. I smiled when I saw him standing there, shirtless, humming along to the music playing.

"I'm making pancakes. They should be ready in a minute", Reece informed me as I continued to watch him. I then decided to step closer and wrap my arms around him.

"Have you slept well?", he asked softly.

"Mhm", I made as a response, still holding on to him as he moved while cooking.

"If you let me go, I can give you a morning kiss and we can eat after", he said.

I sighed and stepped back, only for him to turn around and pull me close again. His fingers ran through my hair as he leaned down and kissed me tenderly.

"I love you", I mumbled when he stepped back to grab the plates. He looked at me with the brightest smile, the dimples on his face showing prominently.

"You know I love you too", he whispered as he walked by, over to the table where there were two cups already.

We ate quietly, sometimes he just watched me with a soft smile before going back to eating.

"That was so good", I said when I was full and leaned back. "You're the best boyfriend I could have."

He laughed. "It's nothing special. I'm nothing special. You deserve the world, and I can't give it to you, but I'm so happy you still choose me. It's crazy. It's been a good two months, but I feel like you're the reason why I'm alive."

"God, you're so dumb. I love you", I said back with a big smile.

"So, uh, are you staying a while longer?", he asked, standing up and taking our used plates to the sink.

"Are you trying to get rid of me?", I jokingly asked back as I got up, helping him clean up.

Reece let out a laugh. "The exact opposite, honey. There's so many things we could do today."

"Like going back to bed. I could use a day of cuddling", I suggested.

"I was thinking something else but that sounds good too."

I raised my eyebrows. He knew I was curious, and did it on purpose. "Tell me what you've been thinking."

"Well there's another comedy show in town this afternoon", he told me casually. We had been to one on our second date night, so I nodded excitedly.

"Let's go", I answered, my eyes sparkling. I stepped closer to Reece who was doing the dishes. I wrapped my arms around him, hugging him from behind. My head was leaning against his back, and I stayed where I was until I heard him turn off the water.

"You ass!", I called out and jumped when he touched my arm with his cold and still wet hand. I punched him playfully, watching him burst out in laughter as I dried off my arm. I tried to glare at him but it was almost impossible to not smile when I looked at him laughing.

"Sorry, Georgie", he choked out when he tried to stop himself from laughing after a while. He was still holding back a laugh.

"You're such an idiot." I pulled a face. "I'm going back to bed until you apologize", I threatened him and started walking away.

"George! You're just too lazy to help me dry up the dishes", he shouted after me.

I stopped and faced him. "Maybe. I'm still offended though."

"Come on! I'm sorry. It was funny. We can have make up sex later if you want", he winked at me.

After he said that, I couldn't hold back my laughter. I still walked away and threw myself onto his bed. I heard Reece work in the kitchen, the dishes clattering. After a few minutes it stopped and I heard Reece's steps on the old floor of his apartment. The creaking of the wooden floor kept getting louder as he came closer.

He opened up the door and as we met eyes I noticed an unknown expression in them, but within milliseconds it had washed away and he stepped closer, a smirk plastering his face. "You still mad?"

I chuckled. " 'course I am."

He sighed dramatically, dropping down next to me. His bed wasn't very wide so when I turned a little to look at him, he was just a few centimetres away from me.

"What about my suggestion earlier?", he whispered, staring deeply into my eyes.

"As if tonight wasn't enough", I gave back but I moved so I was on him, my fingers wandering down his well-toned chest. When I leant forward to kiss him, I stopped just when our lips were about to touch. "But we both know that I'm not the one to turn you down."

—

About two hours later Reece and I had finally left his apartment and were driving down into town. My boyfriend was singing along to the song on the radio, singing the cheeky lines to me with a certain glow in his eyes. He really was beautiful. I kept watching him until he was parking the car and we had to get out.

Reece paid for the two tickets for the show and then we walked in, just in time. There were lots of people already, chattering excitedly, but they stopped when a woman came on stage and announced the beginning. The first round wasn't that good, the people were kinda boring, but as time went on, better people came on, actually making the whole audience laugh.

It was during the final round that Reece's phone started vibrating in his pocket. He gave its screen a confused look before standing up and walking out of the hall.

I couldn't concentrate after he had left, and when he hadn't returned after a few minutes, I got up and went to search him.

I found him outside, looking stressed as he talked to the person at the other end of the line.

He gave me a soft smile when he saw me, before replying to whoever. "Listen, I know that it's important. But it was my first free day this week. I've even worked two shifts most of the days."

A moment of silence.

"I know. Okay. I can be there in half an hour. But I gotta talk to my boyfriend now. See you." He ended the call before sighing. "It was Jim. I have to get to work."

I nodded. I had already guessed that much from what I heard. "Then let's go. You'll drive me home, right?"

"Yeah. That's why I asked for the half an hour." He smiled, but it didn't look real. There was a worried touch to his face.

We started walking to the parking lot when I gathered the courage to ask. "What happend that they want you to come in?"

Reece stopped me.

That second I knew there had been another murder.

I wasn't shocked when his words confirmed my thought.