I'm sound asleep, buried under a pile of blankets, when my phone buzzes on the nightstand. Groaning, I fumble for it, squinting at the screen. It's 3:07 a.m., and your name lights up the notification.
"Snow day!!!" the message says, punctuated with exclamation points and a snowflake emoji.
I smile sleepily, but before I can type a reply, another message pops up: "I'm off work, coming over. Hope you're awake when I get there."
A quiet laugh escapes me, and I shake my head, setting the phone down. The promise of your arrival is enough to push me out of bed, despite the early hour. I brush my teeth, splash cold water on my face, and flip on the fireplace. While it crackles to life, I make a quick cup of coffee and settle onto the couch, wrapping a blanket around me.
The knock at the door comes a few minutes later, but before I can get up, you've already let yourself in.
You step inside, snowflakes clinging to your hoodie and beanie. Your boots hit the floor with a thud as you toe them off, and there's something so natural about the way you move--like you've done this a thousand times before. You're wearing those soft gray sweatpants I love, and your cheeks are pink from the cold.
"You're up," you say, a small grin tugging at the corner of your mouth as you pull off your beanie and toss it onto the nearest chair.
"Barely," I reply, though I can't help smiling back. "What are you even doing here at--" I glance at the clock. "--3:40 a.m.?"
"Snow day," you shrug, crossing the room toward me. "Figured I'd rather be here with you."
I get up to give you a long, warm hug. Your arms wrap around me, and I feel the lingering chill of your walk here. My nipples brush against your chest through my tank top, and I hear a quiet, "Mmm," escape you before you pull back just enough to look at me.
Your eyes flick down for a second, and a faint smile plays on your lips. "You're freezing," you say softly, though your tone suggests you're enjoying the view.
Before I can reply, you grab my hand and lead me back to the couch, pulling the blanket--still warm from my body--over both of us.
The fire throws a soft glow over the room. Your hand finds my knee under the blanket, resting there in a way that feels so natural, so easy.
"I should've brought coffee," you say after a while, your voice low.
I shake my head, sipping from my mug. "You knew I'd have plenty here."
"True," you murmur, your thumb brushing absently over my knee.
For a moment, there's just the crackling of the fire and the quiet sound of snow falling outside. Then you tilt your head toward me. "I'm glad I'm here," you say softly, the weight of your words lingering between us.
I meet your eyes, the firelight dancing in them. The moment feels full--not rushed, not heavy, just warm and unspoken.
Leaning in, I kiss you softly, your lips warm against mine. "Me too," I whisper, settling into your side.
Part 2
Your arm drapes around my shoulders, pulling me closer until I'm tucked against your side. The blanket shifts, and your fingers find my arm, brushing slowly up and down, the lightest touch that sends a pleasant hum through me.
"You're warm," you murmur, your voice low, almost teasing. "Guess I timed this visit perfectly."
I glance up at you, raising an eyebrow. "Timed it perfectly to get me out of bed in the middle of the night?"
You grin, your hand sliding down to my wrist, tracing idle circles with your thumb. "Exactly. Worked like a charm, didn't it?"
I laugh softly, shaking my head, but the way your fingers linger on my skin makes it hard to stay mock-annoyed for long. Your hand shifts again, skimming the outside of my thigh under the blanket.
The fire throws flickers of light across the room, and I tilt my head against your shoulder. Your hand stills for a moment, resting warm and steady on my leg, and then I feel your lips press softly against the top of my head.
I smile, not moving, just letting the quiet intimacy settle between us.
"Is this what you had planned for your snow day?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Pretty much," you say, your voice matching mine. "I'd say it's going even better than I imagined."
Your fingers move again, tracing along my leg with the kind of attention that makes me shiver--not from the cold, but from the heat of your touch. I shift slightly, leaning back just enough to look up at you, and I can see the way your eyes soften as you meet my gaze.