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She leans into my hand before her eyes narrow. “How long have you been awake?”
“Long enough to know you steal pillows.”
Her gaze shifts toward the pillow beneath her head, then over to the small corner I’ve unknowingly been allowed to keep. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I laugh, but whatever I was about to say disappears when she lowers herself onto my chest instead of returning to her side of the bed. Her cheek finds the spot beneath my shoulder again, and my hand moves down her back beneath the sheet before I give the motion any thought. We stay like this long enough that I wonder if she fell back asleep, but she shifts against my chest. “I have to get up.”
My arm tightens around her before she can make it any farther, pulling her back into the place she just left. Calliope braces her hand against my chest and looks down at the arm keeping her there.
“Are you holding me hostage?”
“I’m comfortable.”
“I need to pee, Old Man. Unless you have a plan for that, you’re going to have to release me eventually.”
I should probably do exactly that, but my thumb keeps moving along her back instead. Calliope watches me for another second before a laugh slips out, and her eyes narrow with sudden interest.
“Oh my God. You like snuggling.”
I look at her without answering, and her smile widens as she willingly settles against me again with her chin resting on my chest while she studies my face.
“You’re a cuddle monster.”
“You’re comfortable,” I grumble, gathering a few of her braids away from her face and keeping my hand at the back of her neck.
She gives me another minute before pushing herself up again, and this time I let her. Her braids fall forward around us as she leans down to kiss me, and I keep my hand at the back of her neck long enough to hold her mouth against mine before letting her go.
“I really do have to pee,” she murmurs when our mouths part before slipping out from beneath the sheets.
Calliope reaches for my T-shirt instead of her own clothes, pulling it over her head before disappearing into the bathroom. She catches me watching and smiles like taking my clothes is already something she expects to get away with. I drag on my sweats, careful of my ribs, and head downstairs to start coffee.
She comes downstairs as I’m pouring coffee, still wearing my shirt, and heads for the mug I hold out. She accepts it with both hands before taking a sip.
“Okay, you can keep me.”
“Good to know coffee was all it took.”
“Well, I haven’t seen breakfast yet.” She takes another sip before setting the mug down on the counter, her hand settling against my stomach as she leans up to kiss me. “But your position is looking promising.”
I catch her at the waist when she moves away. “What do you want to eat?”
“Whatever you’re making.”
She takes the stool beside the island while I make breakfast, and when I set her plate in front of her, she automatically reaches toward the spot beside her coffee before stopping. I put the hot sauce into her waiting hand, the same brand she told me weeks ago was the only one that tasted right. Her eyes jump from the label to me, and the smile that spreads across her face earns her a kiss before I sit beside her. We’re still eating when my phone vibrates against the counter.
Calliope follows my attention to the phone. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah. I have treatment before meetings this morning. I should only be there a couple of hours, depending on what the trainers want to do with me.”
“Okay.”
Her foot stays hooked with mine beneath the island. “You want anything while I’m out?”
“You’re going to treatment, not running errands for me.”
“I’m coming home afterwards.” I turn my hand beneath hers until I can lace our fingers together. “If you want something for lunch, text me, and I’ll pick it up on the way.”
“Are you trying to make sure I don’t survive on just coffee until dinner?” Her fingers tighten around mine as she looks up at me, a smile slowly pulling at her mouth.
