By the time I finish explaining everything and Eli finally hands over the bracelet, the sun is already out and I’m utterly exhausted. I’m so tired that the thought of driving makes me imagine swerving all over the place. Luckily, Lukas was smart enough to call for a ride when I started wrapping up the story. Soon, we’re busy trading numbers with pretty much everyone there, and then we finally leave. Roxy, who’s been napping at Lukas’s feet for the last hour, is now practically bouncing around with an energy that borders on offensive. This is exactly why I’m a cat person, I love Roxy, but sometimes I wonder if her boundless energy is too much for me. I spend most of my time running around on a crazy high energy rampage that leaves me completely wrecked when I finally crash. I need something as chilled out as my cat to help me relax. Lukas ends up half carrying me out to the taxi while I wave at everyone and babble about how much I appreciate them. I think I might have even told Rina I love her, and I definitely complimented Lindy on being the cutest ever. I’m not sure if I should blame my tiredness or the free drinks Rina was handing me at random intervals… Actually, no, I’m pretty sure I’m sober. They weren’t that strong, and I was so busy talking that I don’t think I even finished most of my last drink. We eventually make it back to my place, and as soon as we step inside, Lukas groans as he realises the couch isn’t made up for him. It’s still all packed away from when he cleaned up, and I can practically see the dread on his face as he contemplates the effort it’ll take to fix it. Like me, he was looking forward to getting home and collapsing straight into bed.
“Nope, not worth it. Come on.” I say, tugging on Lukas’s sleeve and dragging him toward my room.
“Just sleep here.” I mumble as I kick my shoes off and pull a few bobby pins out of my hair. Damn it, I still have to clean my makeup off… I usually take my time to do a proper job, but tonight, or rather, today, since it’s daylight, I’m just going to use a shoddy makeup wipe and hope for the best. I’m sure I’ll wake up with panda eyes, but I honestly don’t care. Lukas seems to agree. He starts to unbutton the top couple buttons of his shirt, pulls off his tie and shoes, and even removes his belt, then simply collapses onto my bed with a long, tired sigh. I at least step into the bathroom to change into pyjamas, because this dress just isn’t made for sleeping. With the bare minimum of preparation completed, I crawl straight into bed beside him and promptly pass out, the day's chaos finally catching up to me.
When I wake up, it’s because Princess has knocked something over in the living room. I groan, not wanting to sit up. I’m so comfortable. I don’t even care that I’m basically completely wrapped up in Lukas’s arms. My head is resting on his chest and somehow his hand has found it’s way up the back of my pyjamas and is resting warm on my lower back. The groan is enough to wake Lukas who immediately tightens his grip.
“Please… Don’t pull away… Not yet.” He mumbles drowsily. I’m still kind of sleepy, and I can’t get up without bothering Lukas… Yep, that’s a good enough excuse for me. I’m staying right here where I am for a while longer. Still, I don’t fall asleep. Lukas’s hand on my back is stroking little patterns and it’s completely distracting. After a minute or so, his other hand snakes around to my thigh. He hooks it behind my leg and uses it to reposition me and tug me closer, if that’s even possible. I don’t fight it. I just adjust my position a little more to get comfortable again, and if my hand happens to find it’s way to the edge of his collar then that’s hardly my fault. He undid the top two buttons before going to sleep, but it seems like the third one must have come a little loose while he sleepy. I find myself fiddling with the little plastic button, twisting it and flicking it around, my fingers occasionally grazing his skin. Lukas sighs contentedly. I remember the conversation we had about him being basically touch starved and for a while I try to imagine that. I’m not close to my parents, but they still held my hand, hugged me and tucked me in at night. They still gave me the kind of casual mindful touches that parents give their children when guiding them or trying to correct them. I still had friends who would hug me, or even play fight with me on occasion. Practically every good memory I have involves being close to someone else. Not having that… It’s no wonder that Lukas is so eager for contact, even if it is just a handshake with someone who doens’t know who and what he is. Lukas’s hand strokes it’s way a little higher up my back. He nuzzles his face into my hair and takes a deep breath.
“You’re thinking too much. It’s depressing. Less thinking, more relaxing.” He demands.
*I can’t just turn off my brain you know.* I grumble mentally. Lukas just sighs and his hand stroking my back becomes less of an idle touch and more of an intentional movement as he massages my back. He tightens his grip on the back of my thigh to hold me in place.
“Just relax. No thinking, just feeling.” He insists, his voice soft but determined. I wouldn’t have thought it was possible, but Lukas proves me wrong. I slowly melt into the feeling of his warm hands and his breath in my hair, the contrast between the edge of his shirt and the slightest bit of his skin that my hand brushes against as I play with the fabric, and his heart beating steadily in his chest and I finally relax, my mind slowing into blissful, daydreamy nothingness.
We stay like that for a long time. I might have dozed off again for a while, I’m not sure. But eventually, I start to get a little restless, not really able to lie around any longer. Lukas seems to understand that because he gives a contented sigh, then presses a light kiss into my hair before loosening his grip so that I can roll away. I sit up, stretch, then make my way to the bathroom. I wonder if I should feel awkward or embarrassed. I did last time that I woke up next to Lukas. But I’m still feeling more calm and relaxed than I have in a long time, plus it’s not like I was thinking anything embarrassing or scandalous just now. The opposite really, I was so zoned out I was barely thinking at all, which I suppose was the whole point. A glance into the mirror has me grimacing. Yep, I was right, I have makeup smudged under my eyes making me look extra tired. This is what happens when you get lazy taking off makeup. I sigh and take the time to wash my face properly. I want to shower too and wash my hair, but I’m starving so I think I’ll eat first. What time is it anyway? It must be at least two or three in the afternoon at this point. I feel well rested enough that I definitely must have had a good seven or eight hours of sleep surely. I head back to my room to grab my phone and check the time. Lukas is still sprawled across my bed, apparently in no hurry to move. I grab my phone and check the time. It’s nearly four. Woah, we slept longer than I thought. I also have two missed calls from an unknown number. The calls came through at about lunch time, we both must have been dead to the world to have missed them. I realise I also have a text from the same unknown number.
Unknown: If this is Clare, please call me back. I think I might need help. Something bad is going to happen. -Wren