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It was around 2 a.m. on a Saturday. You were lying alone in bed reading a horror book you had been given as a gift, with the light on your bedside table turned on. Emily wasn't home; she had gone to a party you had also been invited to, but you decided not to go because you didn't feel energetic enough.
At the beginning of the night, Emily spent her time texting you: from letting you know she had arrived to sending you occasional photos of what she was drinking. At some point during the night, she left you a message saying she was going to take a break from her phone, to which you replied that it was fine and wished her a good time. You would see each other later at home.
Your partner didn't send any more messages, so the sound of the front door opening took you by surprise. You checked your phone to see if she had let you know she was coming home, but there was nothing.
The moment you looked up at the bedroom door and saw her leaning against the frame, you knew she was a little drunk. You didn't even have to ask to confirm it; you already knew her.
A small smile appeared on your lips before you asked:
“Did you have fun?”
However, Emily didn't answer, she just came up to you, clumsily took the book from your hands and threw it aside, then leaned on you, burying her face in your abdomen.
“Should I take that as a yes?” you laughed a little, to which Emily responded with a nod.
“God, you can't even talk,” you said, but there was no reproach in your voice. Emily responded with a kind of groan as her arms clung a little tighter to your waist.
In reality, her behavior didn't surprise you at all, as it was quite common for the blonde to seek more physical affection when she was a little drunk. You even found it adorable, and you took advantage of it to hug and kiss her constantly.
But before that, you had to make sure she drank some water and ate something, because otherwise she would suffer from a hangover tomorrow.
“Come on, you big baby,” you said, patting her gently on the side. “Get up. I'll bring you some water.”
Emily groaned. She made absolutely no effort to move.
“Jesus, you're so stubborn,” you laughed again, gently stroking her hair. “You're going to want to die tomorrow if you don't let me bring you something.”
Another groan, but the woman finally gave in, rolling over to her side of the bed.
“Good girl,” you said, leaning over to press a small kiss on her forehead. You noticed her eyes were closed, her brow furrowed, and there was a small pout on her lips. Sometimes you melted at how adorable she was when she got moody like this. This was no exception, but you really had to bring her something or she would be miserable the next day. “I'll be back as soon as I can to snuggle with you, okay?”
And as if by magic, the woman's face softened, giving way to a small smile. You couldn't help but roll your eyes with amusement. God, you loved this woman and how ridiculous she could be from time to time. You felt like you could never get bored of her.
You quickly got up to head to the kitchen.
There, you took out a plate to serve her what was left of dinner and put it in the microwave to heat it up. Meanwhile, you looked for the reusable water bottle Emily used when she went to the gym, filled it with filtered water, and then took a sachet of lemon-flavored isotonic powder drink out of a drawer to dissolve it in the water.
Moments later, the microwave beeped to signal that it was ready. You took the plate out, grabbed some cutlery and the water bottle, and returned to the bedroom. Emily had taken off her pants and jacket, which were on the floor, and was now practically falling asleep under the covers, but you weren't going to let her off that easily. You approached her, leaving the plate and bottle on the nightstand next to the bed, and gently shook her.
“Wake up, sleeping beauty,” you said with a smile. “You have to eat something.”
The only response you got from her was another grunt, refusing to open her eyes.
You let out a short sigh.
“Emily, you leave me no choice,” you warned before snatching the blankets away and starting to tickle her. Emily was quite sensitive to that, so her first reaction was to let out a high-pitched scream and then laugh.
“Okay! Stop, stop!” she shouted between laughs as she desperately tried to push your hands away.
You continued for a few seconds and then stopped.
“You're human again, that's good,” you smiled before reaching for the plate of food and handing it to her, which she received while looking at you with fake hatred.
“You're the worst. I hate you,” she said, slurring her words a little due to her condition.
“And you're a worse liar,” you accused, planting a kiss on her cheek. “Now eat.”
After about ten minutes, Emily had practically devoured her food. It was clear she needed it. Now she looked a little more awake.
“Drink more water. I don't intend to take care of you tomorrow,” you said before lying down on your side of the bed, pulling the blankets over you.
The woman looked at you as if you had just committed a crime.
“You won't?” she said, pouting again.
You were silent for a few moments. Of course you would. You always did.
“Fine, I'll do it. But only if you drink all the water.”
It didn't take Emily long to drink everything left in the bottle in one gulp, while you watched in disbelief.
“Emily, what... That's not how you were supposed to do it.”
“You told me to drink all the water,” she reminded you, wiping her chin with the sleeve of her T-shirt.
“I should have been more specific...” you huffed, but you couldn't help a smile from appearing on your lips.
“Cuddles?”
When the woman asked that, you looked up. She had the same expression on her face that a dog would probably have when hearing the word “walk.” Your heart melted at the image. Even if you resisted, you couldn't do it for long.
“Come here,” you patted the mattress gently, next to you.
Your girlfriend immediately snuggled up to you, hugging you and resting her head close to your neck. You could feel the slight tickling sensation of her breath and the pleasant warmth emanating from her body.
You couldn't help but reach out and run your hand through her hair, and you felt her smile against your skin.
“Are you comfortable?” you asked softly. The moment felt so intimate that you were afraid to break it.
Emily gave a small nod. Her eyes were closed and her body was relaxed. The scent of alcohol mingled slightly with her perfume, creating a strangely pleasant combination.
“You look adorable like this,” you admitted with a smile, leaving a small, soft kiss on her forehead.
The blonde didn't bother to answer that, she just snuggled closer to your body, wrapping one of her legs over yours as you continued to pamper her.
No one but you had the privilege of knowing that Emily was weak for kisses and hugs. Especially if they happened while snuggled up in bed. She seemed like a cat seeking affection, even though she was a dog person.
The two of you fell into a pleasant silence for several minutes, to the point where you thought your girlfriend had finally fallen asleep.
You looked down to see her, and for a few seconds, you stayed like that.
You had always liked how Emily looked when she was relaxed like that. For some reason, you thought she looked even more beautiful than she already was.
Your expression softened, and you felt a wave of affection and warmth spread through your chest. It was impossible to resist the temptation to press your lips against her skin again, though this time more delicately and carefully, before whispering:
“I love you so, so much...” you murmured with a small smile. The adoration and love in your voice was obvious. “You are the most important person in my life.”
Emily's heart squeezed with affection when she heard you. It wasn't the first time you'd said it, but for some reason, this time it felt more special than other times. More vulnerable. More genuine.
She opened her eyes to meet yours, which looked at her as if she were the most precious thing in the world. With a tenderness and love that deeply stirred her heart. And maybe, just maybe, it was because she was a little drunk, but the woman's eyes filled with tears.
When you saw that, you immediately got worried.
“You...” the blonde began to say, but immediately cut herself off. Her voice sounded slightly shaky. “I...” she tried again, swallowing a little to try to dissolve the lump in her throat. “I love you too.”
The woman couldn't hold it in any longer and ended up shedding her tears.
“Hey, baby, no...” You immediately brought your hands to her cheeks to wipe away her tears. “Why are you crying?”
Emily was a mess. The gentle, loving way you touched her made her crying intensify a little more, letting out small sobs.
“I don't—I don't know,” she said, sitting up a little in bed as she let out a frustrated huff and wiped her tears. "I'm sorry, I—I just—"
You quickly sat up next to her, putting one of your arms around her shoulders to pull her closer and give her some comfort.
“God, look at me,” she said, letting out a shaky laugh. “I'm a mess,” she shook her head in exasperation. “You just...” She paused for a moment, considering her words. "No one had ever looked at me like that."
That confession had been everything.
No one had ever looked at her like that.
No one had ever loved her like that.
Not like you did.
Not with so much love and tenderness.
Not with so much certainty.
And realizing that had been overwhelming.
When you heard her, you felt your heart practically break into pieces only to be put back together again in a matter of seconds, and you held her in your arms as tightly as you could.
“Oh, honey...”
Emily sniffed a little, hiding her face in your shoulder.
“Ugh, I'm being so stupid...”
You frowned slightly.
“Stop. Don't say those things about yourself,” you murmured, gently stroking her back. “I don't think that.”
For several minutes, you simply let Emily vent while you held her, giving her the comfort she needed. She wasn't usually very emotional, so that moment felt as important as it was special. Throughout, you gave her little kisses or caresses to help her relax, until, finally, at some point, she fell asleep.
You knew the next morning could be complicated, but you were ready to take care of her. Always.