"Eh… Er… I caught what you said…" Fucking hell this would be embarrassing if she took it the wrong way. "But… Uh… Could you elaborate on that?" She made spiral motions around her head. "Feelin a little loopy. Too tired to process stuff."
he flushed, realizing she probably wasn't prepared for him to say that, but kept up his demeanor.
"i love you. you do mean a lot to me, and with the time we've spent together i'm confident enough to say i love you. if that freaks you out, tell me."
Her lips parted in surprise. She was hoping that was what he had meant, but she hadn't actually been prepared to be right. She opened her mouth to say something, then closed it after realizing she couldn't form coherent words. He loves me…
he leaned down slightly.
"is that okay?"
he definitely looked worried, lacing his fingers together.
She finally was able to form some words. "Ah… Y-yeah. Um…" She flushed pink and fidgeted with her fingers.
Okay, maybe still not the best at speaking at the moment.
he smiled gently.
"goodnight, then. love you." he slowly backed up, waiting to see if she had anything to say.
She let the soft words tumble from her lips before she could chicken out. "Love you, too."
he brightened, winking at her with a beaming grin while leaving.
he made his way to the other room, heart fluttering and dopey smile still on his face.
She flushed even more and internally squealed like a little girl. This can't be happening. Is this even real? Her thoughts were not negative, but rather unbelieving. She couldn't fathom how Nik could like her in such a way.
he fell onto the bed in there, hugging a pillow and laughing lightly, just giddy. god, he never thought this would happen.
it wasn't love at first sight, but damn if he didn't just adore her now. badass bitch who shared his fucked backstory, a cutely stubborn drunk and just so brave? jesus. helped that she was beautiful as hell, but that was less than 40% of his attraction to her.
She sat on her bed for some time, mind running through all the times she spent with Nik to try and find the exact moment she fell for him. She could find none. She only found herself slowly but surely falling into his trap in every conversation, in every shared tidbit of their fucked-up lives, every coaxed out laugh and fun but aimless conversation. Nik was the one person she felt like she could lean on in any situation. Someone who wouldn't throw her to the wolves when the storm got bad.
And honestly?
That didn't scare her as much as it would've had it been anyone else.
(will you start a timeskip)
(Sure)
After a night of tossing and turning from a racing mind, Tessa woke up in a grumpy mood. She valued her sleep. She did not get enough sleep.
She hugged a pillow to her body as she stared at the opposite wall, once again thinking back to last night. She couldn't believe she admitted that, and she was still mystified by Nik's confession.
nik had not slept.
maybe there was a 30-minute nap in there somewhere, but otherwise, none. he had switched from regretting it, thinking it was too early, to being content with where they were going.
he was trying not to give in to the anxiety, but he wasn't sure if he actually should.
Tessa groaned and got out of bed. She just had on pajama shorts and a spaghetti strap tank top, but she didn't think much of it as she wondered downstairs and got herself a bowl of cereal.
nik rolled out of bed, making it back up and slowly making his way out of the room and into the kitchen. he had stripped down to a tank to sleep, but kept his jeans on.
Tessa was sitting on a stool, leaning over the island counter as she scrolled through her phone and ate her cereal. She didn't hear Nik.
he noticed her, deciding to make his existence known. he walked a little closer, giving a "hey."
She jerked her head up. "Hey." She waved a lazy hand towards the cereal box still out. "Have at it."
"thanks." he poured himself a bowl, swiping some milk from the fridge to finish it off. he replaced the milk and leaned over the island to eat.
She tapped her finger on the counter, biting her lip. Last night had pretty much been a cliffhanger for her, and she was nervously waiting for… she didn't even know. Something. Some sort of thing to tell her what the hell they were.
when he finished, he took his bowl up. "hey, you finished? i'll get yours, too."
She slid it over. "Yeah, thanks." She leaned back as far as she dared, stretching her arms up in the air. Then she sighed and folded her arms over her head, closing her eyes.
he stood peacefully at the sink, finishing off washing the two bowls. he quickly put them away, turning back to tessa.
"how'd you sleep?"
"Eh, I did more thinking and rolling than sleeping." She rubbed at her eyes and tilted her head back to look at Nik.