The morning sun filtered through the blinds, casting soft lines of light and shadow across Rachel’s face. She stirred slightly, her fingers curling into the blanket draped over her. Her limbs were heavy with exhaustion, her body weighed down by the long hours of researching and stress.
Slowly, she blinked her eyes open and realized she wasn’t in her own apartment. She was still at Garrett’s place. The faint scent of coffee lingered in the air, and the distant clatter of dishes told her he was already awake.
She sat up slowly, the blanket falling around her legs, and raked her fingers through her tousled hair. Her sweater slipped slightly off her shoulder, and she pulled it back up with a sleepy sigh.
The events of the previous night came rushing back—the hours of research, the fatigue, and then Garrett’s arms around her. The warmth of his lips still lingered faintly on hers, and the memory made her chest tighten. She smiled slightly, her fingertips brushing her lips as if she could still feel him there.
The sound of footsteps drew her attention. She turned her head to see Garrett leaning against the doorframe, two mugs of coffee in his hands. He was wearing sweatpants and a fitted, faded T-shirt that clung to the lean muscles of his torso. His hair was still damp from the shower, and the sight of him looking so effortlessly disheveled made her heart skip unexpectedly.
“Morning,” he said softly, walking toward her.
Rachel smiled faintly, her voice still husky from sleep. “Morning.”
He handed her a mug, and she cradled it between her hands, grateful for the warmth. She took a small sip, sighing softly as the coffee spread through her system.
Garrett sat down on the couch beside her, closer than he probably needed to be, but she didn’t mind. Their legs brushed slightly as they both leaned back, sipping their drinks in comfortable silence.
After a few minutes, he glanced over at her. “You sleep okay?”
Rachel smirked, giving him a teasing look. “Considering I passed out on your couch like a hobo? Surprisingly well.”
He chuckled, the sound low and genuine. His eyes lingered on her longer than necessary, and when she turned to meet his gaze, something unspoken passed between them.
Her smile faded slightly, her lips parting as if she were about to say something, but she stopped herself. Instead, she traced her finger along the rim of her mug, suddenly feeling shy.
Garrett watched her for a beat longer before he set his coffee down on the table. Without saying a word, he reached over and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, his fingertips lingering lightly against her skin.
Her eyes flicked up to meet his, startled by the softness in his touch. She barely had time to breathe before he leaned in and pressed his lips against hers.
The kiss was slow, unhurried, and more deliberate than the night before. His lips moved over hers with a lazy tenderness, as if he were savoring her, memorizing the feel of her mouth against his. She sighed softly into the kiss, tilting her head slightly, and he responded by deepening it, his hand slipping to the back of her neck.
Her coffee mug was forgotten, abandoned on the table as her hands slid into his hair, tugging him closer. She felt the faint scrape of his stubble against her skin, the warmth of his palm cupping her cheek. The world outside faded—the body swap, the research, the uncertainty—none of it existed in this moment.
When they finally broke apart, their foreheads pressed together, their breaths mingling softly.
“I could get used to waking up like this,” he murmured, his voice low and husky.
Rachel let out a soft, breathless laugh. “Oh, yeah? You like your women half-asleep and disheveled?”
He smiled faintly, his thumb brushing over her bottom lip. “No. Just you.”
Her heart flipped in her chest, and for a brief, fleeting moment, she wondered how the hell they had gotten here. How had this man, who had once been nothing more than Caelan’s best friend, turned into the person who made her pulse race?
But before she could dwell on it, Garrett’s lips found hers again, and she gave in without hesitation.
The sun had climbed higher in the sky by the time they returned to their research. They sat on the floor again, papers and books scattered around them, laptops open with multiple tabs and windows flashing with half-baked scientific theories.
Rachel, wearing one of Garrett’s oversized hoodies, sat with her legs tucked beneath her. Garrett sat across from her, leaning back against the couch with his legs stretched out. They were technically working, but their eyes kept meeting over the stacks of papers, small smiles lingering on their faces.
Rachel glanced down at a printed article, scanning the text with a frown. She chewed absently on the end of her pen. “I swear, if I have to read one more article about cosmic energy fields, I might actually scream,” she muttered.
Garrett smirked, reaching over and tugging the pen from her mouth. “You’re gonna chip a tooth.”
She rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out at him playfully. “You’re no fun.”
Without thinking, Garrett reached over and brushed her hair back, his fingers lingering for just a moment too long. Rachel stilled slightly, her breath catching.
His voice was quieter when he spoke. “You’ve got ink on your face.”
She blinked. “What?”
He smiled faintly, his thumb brushing lightly over the corner of her mouth. The touch was brief, but it sent a ripple of warmth through her.
She raised a brow. “Is this your new pickup line? ‘Hey, you’ve got ink on your face’?”
He grinned. “No, but it’s working, isn’t it?”
She laughed softly, leaning into his hand without meaning to. Her eyes met his, and suddenly, the research between them was forgotten.
Without thinking, she leaned forward, her lips brushing softly against his. The kiss was slow and lingering, and when she pulled back, he chased her lips with his own, unwilling to let her go just yet.
“Rachel…” he murmured softly, his voice low and rough with emotion.
She smiled against his mouth. “What?”
He opened his eyes, and the look in them made her stomach flip. He stroked her cheek lightly with his thumb, his gaze searching hers.
“I’m falling for you,” he admitted quietly, the words heavy with quiet certainty.
Her breath hitched slightly, her eyes wide. She hadn’t expected him to say it out loud. Not yet.
But before she could respond, he kissed her again, slow and sweet, as if giving her the space to decide if she was ready to accept it.
And when she pulled back, her eyes softened, and she smiled faintly.
“Good,” she whispered, her voice barely above a breath. “Because I’m falling for you too.”
His breath left him in a quiet rush, and he let out a soft, disbelieving laugh before he kissed her again, deeper this time. His hands slipped around her waist, pulling her closer until she was practically in his lap.
Their bodies fit together perfectly, and for a moment, it felt like the rest of the world had fallen away—the books, the research, and the impossible task of helping their friends.
=================================
Later that evening, they sat on the balcony of Garrett’s apartment, wrapped in blankets against the cool breeze. The sky was painted in hues of pink and gold, streaks of lavender blending with the approaching darkness.
Rachel sat beside him, leaning her head on his shoulder. Garrett draped an arm around her, pulling her closer, and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
The city lights twinkled below them, distant and far away, but neither of them cared. They sat in content silence, occasionally sipping from their wine glasses.
Garrett ran his fingers slowly through her hair, absently tracing circles on her shoulder with his thumb.
“Do you think we’ll ever figure this out?” Rachel asked softly, her voice thoughtful.
He exhaled slowly, tilting his head against hers. “I don’t know,” he admitted honestly. “But we’ll keep trying.”
She turned her head slightly, tilting her face up to look at him. “You really think we can do this?”
He smiled faintly, his eyes soft as he leaned down and brushed hi
s lips against hers.
“I think we can do anything,” he whispered against her mouth.
And in that moment, she believed him.