Chapter Text
The rhythmic, heavy patter of a Saturday morning rainstorm drummed against the glass of Zach’s apartment window, completely blurring the campus outside into a wash of grey and green. Inside, the world was reduced entirely to the radius of a mattress, an oversized duvet, and the quiet, steady sound of breathing.
Zoey stirred slightly, shifting her weight as the cool morning air hit her bare shoulder. Before she could even fully register the chill, a pair of strong, familiar arms wrapped securely around her waist, pulling her flush against a wall of radiating body heat. She let out a soft, contented hum, melting backward into him as Zach buried his face into the crook of her neck, his breath warm against her skin.
"Mornin', baby," Zach mumbled, his voice thick and raspy with sleep. He squeezed her gently, his fingers lightly tracing small, soothing circles over the fabric of her oversized t-shirt.
"Good morning," Zoey replied, her own voice barely above a whisper. She turned within his embrace, shifting until she was facing him. Her eyes adjusted to the dim room, taking in the sight of his messy, sleep-mussed brown hair and the soft, incredibly lazy smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "What time is it?"
"Doesn't matter," he murmured, his eyes blinking open just enough to look at her with an absolute, unprompted adoration that always made her chest ache. He reached up, his thumb gently brushing a stray lock of hair away from her forehead. "Rain cancelled morning practice. We have nowhere to be, sweetheart."
Zoey smiled, resting her palm flat against his chest, feeling the steady, calming thud of his heartbeat beneath her fingers. For someone who used to live her life strictly by a digital calendar—allocating precise blocks of time for studying, coding, and meals—the concept of a completely open schedule used to give her anxiety. But with Zach, time felt less like a constraint and more like a luxury.
"No soccer?" she teased softly, arching an eyebrow. "Are you sure you can handle an entire morning without running across a field, honey?"
Zach chuckled, the low vibration rumbling directly against her palm. He leaned forward, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to the tip of her nose, then to her cheek, and finally to her lips. It was a lazy, unhurried kiss that tasted like warmth and comfort. "I think I'll manage just fine right here, princess. In fact, I'm highly motivated to stay in this exact position for the next three hours."
"Is that a statistically proven fact?"
"One hundred percent," Zach grinned, pulling the duvet higher up over their shoulders, sealing them into their own private, warm cocoon. He shifted closer, hooking his leg over hers to anchor her completely against him. "You're like a human radiator, angel. I'm just practicing efficient energy conservation."
Zoey let out a soft laugh, resting her chin on his chest so she could look up at him. "Using physics to justify being lazy. I taught you well, MacLaren."
"You taught me a lot of things, beautiful," he said softly, his playful tone softening into something incredibly sweet. He ran his hand down her spine, his touch light and reverent. "Like how much better life is when I get to wake up next to you."
The sheer, unadulterated sincerity in his voice brought a sudden, warm flush to Zoey's cheeks. She hid her face against his chest, her arms wrapping around his neck as she held onto him tight. "You're incredibly sappy when you're tired, you know that?"
"Only for you, baby," Zach whispered, kissing the crown of her head and resting his chin right there, his hands securely locking her against his heart as the rain continued to pour outside.