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Chapter 27 - Morning Comfort

My hair was messy, sticking to my damp forehead, but I didn't care. 

For the first time in months, I had slept without tossing, turning, or clutching at memories I didn't want to remember.

Ken's steady breathing beside me reminded me of the warmth of safety, and I smiled softly, a rare, quiet smile that didn't need validation. 

He stirred slightly, eyes blinking open, and when he saw me looking at him, a grin slowly formed on his face.

"Morning," he murmured, voice husky with sleep.

"Morning," I whispered back, voice low, a tangle of warmth and lingering tiredness.

We stayed like that for a few minutes, just watching each other, the quiet intimacy of shared space heavier and more comforting than any words could express. 

I felt bold, brushing a loose strand of hair from his eyes, tracing his jaw lightly with my fingers.

"You slept well?" he asked, tilting his head slightly.

I nodded, leaning closer, brushing my lips briefly against his temple. "Better than I have in a long time."

Eventually, we shuffled into the kitchen together. 

Ken brewed coffee while I shuffled beside him, still in my hoodie and sweatpants, hair still messy from sleep. 

"I thought you'd be grumpy this morning," I teased lightly, balancing on the balls of my feet to reach the counter.

Ken chuckled softly, a warm sound that made my chest flutter. "Grumpy? Not today. Today I get to see you all morning. So… maybe I'll just stay like this forever."

I rolled my eyes but didn't hide the grin tugging at my lips. "Forever is a long time, doctor."

"You'd be surprised," he replied, glancing at me with those piercing eyes that had melted so many walls I hadn't realized I had built around myself.

We ate breakfast slowly, joking about trivial things: the burnt edges of toast, the wrong temperature of the coffee, the stubbornness of the apartment's old water heater. 

Nothing heavy. 

Nothing complicated. Just… us.

After breakfast, Ken suggested we go out,  "for a walk, maybe grab some errands done," he said, though his grin told me it was more about spending time together than any real necessity.

I slipped on my sneakers, tugging my hoodie tighter around me. "You're making this sound like a casual stroll, but I know you're just excited to have me tagging along."

He smirked, leaning against the doorframe. "Guilty. But I won't apologize. You look like you belong in adventure mode, and I'm here to guide you."

I rolled my eyes, but the smile tugging at my lips betrayed me. 

Somehow, even in casual teasing, his presence grounded me, made me lighter, less guarded.

We walked the streets of the town slowly, laughing at small things: a dog chasing its tail, an old man scolding a wandering goat, a street vendor's exaggerated sales pitch. 

Ken's laughter was low, quiet, yet it resonated through me in ways I didn't expect.

I found myself brushing close to him as we walked. 

My fingers would occasionally graze his arm, a subtle test of comfort, a tentative invitation for connection. 

He didn't pull away, but the small, tight flinch he made when our hands brushed made me grin inwardly.

"You're enjoying this a little too much, aren't you?" he murmured, a playful edge in his voice as we paused near a small fountain.

"Maybe," I admitted, a teasing lilt in my tone. "Maybe I like walking next to someone who doesn't make me feel like I have to perform every second."

He tilted his head, studying me. "Hmm. That's a first."

I shrugged, letting the sunlight warm my face. "Maybe you're special."

His eyes softened, and for a moment, everything else melted away, the past, the heartbreak, the fame, the chaos. 

There was only him. 

Only me. 

Only this slow, steady afternoon where time seemed to stretch just for us.

We stopped at a small café to get water and a snack.

 Inside, the smell of baked bread and coffee wrapped around us, a familiar comfort. 

I teased him endlessly about his serious coffee order, "Triple shot, no sugar, and you call this relaxing?" and he only smiled, shaking his head at my antics.

Outside, I leaned against him casually, resting my head on his shoulder as he sipped from his cup. 

The warmth of his arm around me, the subtle pressure of his hand brushing mine, made me feel unreasonably safe. 

By the time we returned to his apartment, the sun had dipped slightly, painting the sky in shades of rose and gold. We were both tired, but not in a bad way. 

The kind of tiredness that comes from laughter, from movement, from time spent with someone who understands the rhythm of your soul.

Ken collapsed on the couch with a sigh, pulling me down beside him. 

I nestled against his chest, listening to his heartbeat, tracing idle patterns on his arm. 

He sighed again, a sound full of contentment, and pressed a soft kiss to my temple.

"You've been quiet all afternoon," he murmured. "Thinking?"

I hummed, leaning closer. "Just… enjoying this. Enjoying you. That's all."

He smiled, the kind that reached his eyes and warmed my chest. "Good. Because I plan on enjoying you for a long, long time."

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