The Only Exception

My Only Exception

My mind was still spinning from the morning's events. The feeling of Billie's body pressed against mine, the taste of pancakes and syrup on her lips, the easy laughter we'd shared with Finneas—it all felt too good to be true. I was afraid to blink, afraid that if I did, I'd wake up and find myself back in my empty apartment.

As the afternoon light began to fade, a familiar anxiety started to creep in. I knew I had to leave. My neighbor, bless her heart, had been feeding Midnight and I couldn't impose on her any longer. But the thought of leaving Billie, of being alone again, was a physical ache in my chest.

"I should probably get going soon," I said, the words feeling foreign and heavy on my tongue. We were sitting on the couch, side by side, our legs tangled beneath a blanket. Billie was scrolling through her phone, but she stopped and looked at me, a soft frown creasing her brow.

"Why? Just stay," she said, the word simple and direct, just like it had been the night before. But this time, it wasn't a question or a plea; it was a statement of fact. Her hand found mine and laced our fingers together.

A small smile touched my lips. "I would love to, but I probably should get some clothes. And I really need to feed Midnight, I don't want to bother my neighbor anymore than necessary." I leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to her neck, my lips brushing against the cool skin. I kissed her again, a little more deliberately this time, trailing my lips up the side of her neck to her earlobe. Her eyes fluttered closed, and a soft sigh escaped her lips.

"You could come along, though."

A wide smile spread across her face, and her eyes lit up with a mischievous spark. "You think?" she murmured, her voice a low rumble.

"I know," I said, and she leaned in, her lips finding mine in a slow, sweet kiss.

The drive to my apartment was filled with comfortable silence, broken only by the low hum of Billie's car and the music she put on. She kept one hand on the steering wheel and the other on my thigh, her thumb stroking a slow, steady rhythm that sent shivers through me. My mind was a mess of quiet happiness and nervous energy. I loved the normalcy of it, the simple act of driving together, of just being.

When we pulled into the parking lot, the sight of my building, so familiar and yet so distant after being away, felt strange. It was a stark contrast to the sprawling, peaceful sanctuary of Billie's home. It was just one night, but it felt like everything had changed.

We went up to my apartment, and as soon as I opened the door, a small, furry blur shot out and wrapped himself around my legs, purring loudly. "Hey, you," I cooed, scooping Midnight up into my arms. He was a black cat with big, green eyes, and he had a way of looking at me that made me feel like the most important person in the world.

Billie leaned against the doorframe, a soft smile on her face as she watched me. "He's adorable," she said.

"He's a menace," I laughed, nuzzling my face into his soft fur. "But he's my sweet little menace."

I fed Midnight, and then we went to my bedroom so I could grab some clothes. I rummaged through my closet, pulling out a handful of shirts and jeans, and stuffing them into a bag. 

As I did, I could feel Billie's eyes on me. I turned around to find her standing in the doorway, her gaze fixed on me, a soft, unreadable expression on her face.

"What?" I asked, a blush creeping up my neck.

She just shook her head, a small smile on her face. 

"Nothing. You just... look gorgeous."