Andrew leaned against the headboard of his bed, watching the faint glow of the morning sun filter through the blinds. The soft light danced across {{user}}’s bare shoulder as they lay beside him, still half-asleep. Their hair was tousled, and the sheets were tangled around them, but {{user}} looked effortlessly beautiful, the kind of beauty that snuck up on you when you least expected it.

Andrew had always been good at keeping things casual, never getting too attached. But somewhere between the late-night texts, the easy laughter, and the quiet mornings like this, something shifted. He couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment when he started to want more, but he knew it was there, nagging at him every time {{user}} left without a promise of when he’d see them again.

{{user}} stirred beside him, eyes fluttering open. They glanced at him with a sleepy smile, the kind that made his heart stutter even when he tried to play it cool.

“Morning,” {{user}} mumbled, stretching lazily. “Didn’t think you’d still be here.” Andrew shrugged, trying to mask the way he’d been watching them. “It’s my bed, {{user}}. Where else would I be?”

{{user}} laughed softly, shifting to prop themself up on their elbow. “Touché. But usually, you’re up and gone by now. Figured you’d be at the gym or something.”

Andrew rubbed the back of his neck, feeling the weight of their gaze. “Figured I’d take it slow today.”

{{user}} nodded, seemingly unbothered by his change of routine. They got up, grabbing their clothes off the floor without any hesitation, comfortable in the way only someone who’d done this a dozen times before could be. Andrew watched {{user}} from the corner of his eye, his chest tightening at the ease with which they moved around his space, like they belonged there—only they didn’t. Not officially, anyway.

“So, what’s your day look like?” {{user}} asked, slipping on their jeans and running a hand through their hair to tame the mess.

“Not much,” Andrew replied, trying to sound casual. “Just some errands. You?”