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You woke up on the couch, the movie long over. Gaz was still asleep on your chest, his breathing heavy and soft. Not wanting to disturb him, you looked at the clock on the wall. It read nine A.M. You shifted a bit, thinking Gaz might’ve been uncomfortable.
I’m return, he squeezed your waist harder, letting out a soft groan. His legs entangled with yours as he altered his position, his head more buried in you. He was waking up, but he seemed determined to hang in for even just a few more moments.
“Gaz?” You asked drowsily. He didn’t respond, at this point faking his sleep. He looked as if he was trying to sleep harder, just so he could stay like this a while longer. Determined to not let you go, his grip on your waist tightened ever so slightly.
“Five more minutes…” He mumbled, his eyelashes fluttering as his eyes threatened to open. You leaned back, letting him have it. He smiled against your chest, unbeknownst to you, and drifted off once more.
★・・・・・・★
Thirty minutes passed and Gaz still didn’t let up. You’d shake him every so often, but he’d demand another five minutes. The man was way stronger than you, so who were you to say no? It wasn’t like you could shake him off anyway.
“Bloody hell, let me sleeeeeeeeep.” He said, looking up at you. His eyes were hooded and lazy, a mock look of exasperation on. In response, you rapped his head. “Ow! Fuck was that for?!”
“I need to get up and you do too.” You reprimanded.
“Fine.” He rolled off of you, the absence of his weight a little lonely. You sat up, stretching your shoulders and back out. Gaz did the same, but then lounged on the couch, his back on the cushions and his legs splayed this way and that. His body took up practically the entire sofa, while you sort of stood there.
“Want me to make breakfast?” You asked.
“Yeah, sure. Kitchen’s all yours.” You thanked him before walking to the fridge, pulling out a few eggs and vegetables.
“Makin’ us omelets!” You hollered into the living room.
“Two for me!”
“Aye aye Captain!”
“That’s Sergeant to you!”
You snorted as you cracked the eggs and started up the stove. Gaz had started up music at some point, and you hummed to melody as you stood by the skillet.
Pull it out of park, put it in drive,
I can feel your heart beatin' with mine.
Underneath the stars lookin' for a sign, glowing in the dark 'til the sun shines…
Made it pretty far on the first try, might’ve set the bar a little too high. Started with a spark, now we're on fire, started with a spark…
You sang the chorus as you flipped the eggs as you used a wooden spoon as a mic. Swaying on the spot as your hips moved rhythmically. You added spices and vegetables as you danced, the presence of another person in the house lost on you.
Gaz watched you cook while singing, leaning on a wall as he hummed along with you. Not wanting to scare you, he stayed there, enjoying the sight.
“Ooh, baby! I feel like we made it pretty far. Now we're stargazing…” You sang the ending as you turned around, plating the omelets with a flourish. You looked up and froze. The song faded out as you stood there, an embarrassed flush heating your face.
Gaz approached you, clapping. “Bravo, bravo! Truly a spectacular performance.” You rolled your eyes. He came up behind you, leaning on the island. “I’m not joking, you have a pretty good voice sweet pea.” He says as his voice rings by the shell of your ear.
“Nah, it’s nothing worth noting. But this? I think I did a pretty good job, if I do say so myself.” The fluffy omelet steamed lightly, curling in the air into whimsical shapes.
“Smells beautiful, love.” Taking a tentative bite, Gaz gasped. “Fuck! That’s hot.” He chewed it up more. “Mmf…Fucking beautiful.” He said.
“Glad you like it.” You beamed, now smiling uncontrollably.
“I’m gonna let it cool a bit more.” He set the fork down. “Hmmm. How can I thank you?” He pondered aloud. You shrugged, wondering what Gaz had in store. “I know!”
He scooped you up off your feet, throwing you over his shoulder. “This counts as a hug right?” You squeaked as he walked you into the living room. The songs kept going, the noise fading out into the background.
In the car, cruising around with you. And my baby, you know that I got you.
He threw you on the couch, and you fell with a loud “Oomf!” Gaz crawled up to to you, his hand tenderly grazing your sides. “What? What’s happening?” Gaz lowered his head towards your ear.
“Are you ticklish?” He asked slyly. You laughed a bit too hard at that, only the tiniest bit nervous.
“What?! No! Why would you think that I- FUCK!” Gaz started tickling your sides as he laughed at you. “Gaz! I can’t- I can’t breathe!” You cackled as he didn’t let up. You tried turning around, but that only made things worse.
You stuffed your face into a pillow, trying vainly to control your giggles. That just gave Gaz access to your underarms. “Fuckin’ knew it!” He laughed as you started gasping. You pushed yourself up, trying to get away from him. Your hips wiggled as you inched out from underneath Gaz.
Pour me a glass. She's got good taste…So good…Take off our clothes by the fireplace…
Gaz flushed as you practically grinded on him against him, the tickling slowing a tiny bit. Seeing your opportunity, you shot up and pushed off Gaz. You’re back on his stomach, you giggled at his bewildered face.
Gaz’s lips were above your shoulder, the bottom lip grazing your collar slightly. He didn’t move, legs frozen in place as his eyes remained wide. You turned, which put his lips flush against your neck. “Gaz? You good?”
He woke up from his trance. “Huh? Oh, yeah. Yeah, I’m fine.” You got off him, sitting across from him. You cocked an eyebrow in suspicion. “Oh, I think the omelet’s cooled enough. We should go eat.”
★・・・・・・★
“Shit man. That was…” Gaz trailed off, thinking of a word. “I can’t- Your cooking is so good. Might as well keep ya here.” He said jokingly.
“Shut up! I’m not all that! My parents helped me the most.” You try to remain modest as you hide your smile. You fidgeted in your seat. Checking your phone, you saw the missed texts and calls from Antigone. Turning off your do not disturb, she called almost immediately.
“Oh? Who is it?” Gaz craned his head to see your phone.
“Ah, it’s Antigone. Must’ve worried her all night.” You picked up the phone, her voice loud in your ears.
“Where the FUCK have you been?! I’ve been calling you for ages, and do you pick up? No! Goddamit, you worried me so fucking much!” You cringed, and Gaz shot you a look. Your phone wasn’t even on speaker.
“Ne, please, I’m really sorry. I was just…busy?” You tried, immediately regretting it.
“Oh, you were ‘busy?’ Unless you and your man were fucking, getting it on or some shit, you have no excuse to be turning off your phone for fucking HOURS!” Gaz side-eyes the phone, a smile threatening to burst. A twitch he felt in his pants from what Antigone implied shut him up real quickly.
“Antigone! Just, calm down for fuck’s sake! It’s pretty much ten A.M. I’ll be back in a few.”
“Motherfucker don’t you dare hang up I swear I’ll-“
“Bye!” You clicked the red “end call” button. Gaz let out the giggles he’s been holding in for ages.
“Damn, she really went off on you, eh?” He snickered. You glare at him, still smiling.
“Yeah, yeah. She acts like she’s my mom sometimes.” You stretch your neck as you yawned. “She’s really gonna need me soon, so I gotta go.” Gaz pouts as you get up.
“Aw, okay then.” He walks over you to you. “Let me get dressed before I can take you back.” Gaz runs to his room before emerging in a pale gray sweater and black jacket. He walks with you to the car as he opens the door. “After you, sweet pea.”
“Thank you, kind gentleman.” You say in a posh accent. He grins as he slides in beside you. “This was really fun, to be honest.” You mumble.
“What was that?” Gaz turned to you at a stoplight.
“This was really fun man. We should do this again sometime, yeah?” You say louder.
Gaz grins to himself as he nods. “Yeah, it was.” He started driving again as you turned on the radio. It was tuned to an oldies station, and the saxophone sounded through your ears.
Over and over, I keep going over the world we knew…once when you walked beside me. That inconceivable, that unbelievable world we knew. When we two were in love…
Gaz hummed to the lyrics as he drove with his right hand, left drumming against his thigh. He pulled to the side of the coffee shop, right in front at the curb. He parked the car, stopping the music.
He was about to open his door when you tried to stop him. “No, Gaz, you really don’t have to. I swear I’m-“
He got out before you could finish. He opened your door, eyes lazily confident. “If I can’t be your gentleman, especially after this, what else would I do?” He grinned at your flustered face, basking in the ego boost you gave him.
“MY gentleman?” You say incredulously. “Don’t play me a fool, Garrick. I won’t fall for that sort of charismatic nonsense.” A faux sense of haughtiness on your face, you got out of the car.
“Alas, I had hoped I could charm a darling person like yourself.” Gaz shook his head, altering his accent to be more ostentatious and upper-class.
“Get off it loverboy.” You reached your doorstep, looking back one more time, Gaz still standing there.
“Fare thee well, my darling! May the gods allow us a meeting once more!” He called, still acting as if it were the 18th Century. You snorted.
“And to you, my gracious prince!” With that, you closed your door as Gaz got into his car. Antigone was waiting for you, the café currently closed from your disappearance. “Oh, uh, Nene…?” The furrowed brows and harsh dark eyes sent shivers down your hair.
Her carmine hair felt like fire around her face, anger very clear.
Next to her, Baldie stood with his tail swishing against the floor. He was just as menacing as Antigone, maybe even more.
“Fucking hell, thank the gods you’re back! I’ve been here forever, waiting for you so we can open up shop! Shit, man.” She said. “We need to hire someone to cover for one of us being off.” You nodded.
“Yeah, I was thinking about it a couple days ago.” You admitted. “Who’s searching?”
“I can. We’ll take today off, I can stomach a day without profit.” You took time today to sweep and play with Baldie. You helped Antigone look for a new employee or two.
“Who’re your candidates?” You sat next to Antigone as she hunched over her computer, scrolling through profiles. She frowned.
“I’m setting up a ‘Hiring’ announcement online to find someone willing to work. Can you hang a sign outside so we can get more people then?” You nodded as you scrawled a quick note then posted it inside the café, facing out.
★・・・・・・★
A few days pass, and you get an email from someone asking for an interview. From Clara Whitlock, it said. Clicking it, you scrolled through her résumé, decently impressed. She was a high school senior who needed a part-time job to pay for college. She had worked at coffee shops before, and had great recommendations too.
You agreed to meet tomorrow, on Sunday, when you would close earlier. Sunday at five, Clara said. You whooped as Antigone came in, asking about the noise,
“Just got us a good candidate! She seems super chill and shit, can’t wait.” Antigone grinned. “Have you gotten someone?” You asked.
“Meh, I have a few decent applications from younger people. I’m hosting my interviews online, so I’ll have more time to use quick. They all don’t seem bad, but not what I want too.” She shrugs it off as she stretches.
“We’re finally hiring people! These salaries are gonna be a dent, no shit, but we’ll be able to relax sometimes, and take breaks without shutting down for a half hour.”
“Yeah man, finally.”
★・・・・・・★
Sunday couldn’t come any sooner. You woke up at your usual. The regular morning routine. Shower, dress, eat, start machines, scratch Baldie behind his ears, and work on latte art. Gaz walked in during his usual, everything went smoothly.
You had sort of spaced out as your day went on. Everything went on autopilot as the day progressed, slow as a snail. As the last customer left, who you assumed to be Clara walked in.
Her hair was curly and had the front strands dyed a strawberry red. A sensible collared shirt matching her hair and a string of pearls decorated her neck. She wore black pants and had slim brown eyes and pleasant smile.
“Hi, I’m Clara. I’m here for the 5 o’clock interview?” Her voice was breathy and polite.
“Oh, yes you are.” You take off your apron and hang it on the coat hanger. “I’m the interviewer and co-owner.” Clara takes your hand and smiles close-lipped. You led her over to a booth. Motioning for her to sit, you sat her opposite.
“Shall we begin?” She nodded and you began.
★・・・・・・★
Clara stood up, brushing invisible dirt off her pants. “Thank you for having me today.” She said.
“Likewise.” You shook her hand and nodded. “If you get the job, I’ll email you in a few days time.” You say. Clara leaves and you sigh. You walk behind the counter to make yourself a strong coffee. As the snow plows on outside, you shiver from the draft that Clara accidentally left.
Antigone walks out from the back a few minutes later. “Urgh, I’m finally done. That was at least an hour of my life spent on little teenage kids trying to land a first job.” She said. “Ooh, do you have more of that?”
“Yeah, by the machine. It’s strong shit, alright?”
“Just how I like it.” Antigone winks.
“What.”
“Not like that.”
“Yeah, okay.” She shoots you a look as she walks to the coffeemaker. Coming back with a pale pink mug, she sits across from you. “So, do you have any candidates?” You ask.
“Yeah, this kid named Nico Cromwell. They seemed pretty professional, despite the blue hair and shit. They kept it cool, wasn’t too annoying.” She said. “What about you?”
“I got a girl named Clara, she’s really nice. I think I’d want to hire her.” You say.
“Yeah, well, if she’s cool then I don’t mind.” She got up. “We have a few days to decide, so don’t rush it, mkay?” You nodded.
As you drank the hot coffee, you watched the snow fall outside, the torrent heavy.
At the same time, Gaz watched from his balcony, thinking of you.
★・・・・・・★