totally was inspired by this pic omf it’s so cute :33
you woke up before he did. or at least, that’s what you thought.
the room was still dark, washed in the pale blue light of early morning, the curtains barely letting the sunrise peek through. caleb was lying on his side facing you, one arm tucked beneath his pillow while the other rested lazily across your waist.
you smiled to yourself. his hair was a mess. there was the faintest crease across his cheek from the pillow. he looked younger when he slept. softer, you carefully reached up, brushing a few strands away from his forehead.
“…caught you.”
his voice came out rough with sleep. your hand froze.
“i thought you were asleep.” trying not to smile.
“i was." one eye cracked open. “until somebody started staring.”
you laughed quietly. “i wasn’t staring.”
“no?”
he shifted closer, the mattress dipping beneath his weight until your noses were almost touching.
“then what were you doing?”
“admiring.”
a sleepy smile spread across his face. “that’s a dangerous answer.”
“why?” your eyes went from his to his nose, to his mouth and back up.
“because now i expect compliments.”
you rolled your eyes dramatically. “you’ve been awake for thirty seconds.”
“and?” his voice still a little croaky.
“you’re already fishing.”
he smiled wider.
“it’s working.”
you reached over, gently poking the center of his forehead.
“you’re ridiculous.”
he caught your wrist before you could pull away, bringing your hand down between the two of you instead. his fingers naturally threaded through yours. like they’d done it a thousand times before, because they had. the room settled into a comfortable silence. outside, you could hear birds beginning to wake. somewhere down the street, a car started. everything else felt still. caleb watched you. not saying anything, just looking.
after a minute, you started getting self-conscious.
“…what?”
“nothing.” he kept looking.
“caleb.”
“hm?”
“why are you looking at me like that?”
he shrugged one shoulder against the pillow.
“because i have eyes.”
you laughed.
“that’s not an answer.”
“it’s the truth.”
you tried hiding your face against the pillow.
he wouldn’t let you.
his hand came up, warm against your cheek, gently guiding you back toward him.
“don’t hide.”
you smiled despite yourself.
“i just woke up.”
“i know.”
“my hair probably looks awful.”
“it does.”
you gasped, he grinned.
“it’s sticking up over here.”
he reached over, pretending to smooth it down before immediately making it worse.
“oh my gosh, stop.”
he laughed quietly. the sound was warm. the kind of laugh that only came out when it was just the two of you.
you tried fixing your hair again. he caught your hand.
“leave it.”
“why?” you groaned.
“because i like it.” his eyes were basically sparkling.
you looked at him for a moment.
“…you’re weird.” saying that with a smile.
a comfortable silence settled between you.
his thumb brushing slow, absentminded circles beneath your cheekbone. like he couldn’t help touching you.
he smiled.
almost to himself.
his voice was barely above a whisper.
“…my girl.”
your heart immediately melted. you laughed under your breath.
“your girl?”
“my girl.”
he said it again, this time with complete certainty. like it was the simplest fact in the world. his gaze drifted over your face slowly, taking his time. like he was memorizing you all over again.
“you don’t even know how beautiful you are.”
heat rushed to your cheeks.
"you think i’m joking.”
you hid your smile.
“you’re making me blush.”
he shook his head.
his thumb brushed your cheek once more.
" i love you.”
your eyes softened.
“come here.” he pulled you close, the heat from his body mixing with yours.
you reached up this time, sliding your fingers into his hair before gently pulling him closer.
his lips found yours slowly, unhurried really taking his time.
he smiled against your lips halfway through it, and you couldn’t help smiling back.
when you finally pulled away, he chased you for one more quick kiss.
then another.
“calebbb.”
“yeah.”
he tucked a loose strand of hair behind your ear.
“i spent too many years only wishing i could kiss you.” your expression softened.
“and now?” you whispered. his smile was impossibly gentle.
“now i get to wake up beside you.” he looked at you like he’d somehow won the lottery.
lazy mornings, messy hair, tangled blankets and stolen kisses, was everything he’d ever wanted.
you slipped your arms around him, burying your face against his chest, he held you without another word. outside, the sun finally began spilling through the curtains.
inside, neither of you were in any hurry to get out of bed.
