The next morning waking up next to Andy was something I could definitely get used to. Calling out sick felt like a crime. I woke up at my normal time as if I had to go to work. I realized I had the entire weekend to sleep in. I needed to sleep. This was gonna be my mental health weekend. 

Andy noticed me being restless.

"Is everything okay darling?" Andy asked sleepily.

"My body has that natural clock honey," I remarked as I tried to readjust.

"Oh," he remarked as he glanced at the clock with one eye.

It wasn't even 5 a.m. yet. I always got up at 4:45 a.m. every day to get ready for work and be out the door by 7:00.

"Good lord it is not even 5. You get up that early for work every day?" he asked as he readjusted.

He fixed the pillow so he was looking at me. 

"Yeah," I replied as I readjusted and scooted up.

He took his hand and put it on my face.

"You are crazy darling," he remarked half-asleep.

Sleepy Andy was cute and funny. He was coherent enough to understand what I had said, but obviously thinking about the fact he wanted to go back to sleep.

"If I can't doze back off, I'm gonna go sit in the living room and put a movie on," I told him quietly.

"Nuh uh stay here," he remarked as he moved his fingers across my forehead.

"But I'll be interrupting you," I told him.

"You told me you wanted to wake up next to me because you are sick, so stay here," he pleaded still half-asleep.

I chuckled at his reasoning. The night light illuminated his face and he had both eyes closed as he pleaded with me.

"I can't say no to you," I remarked.

"Good," he commented as he sleepily leaned to kiss my forehead.

My little heart fluttered. 

I closed my eyes and somehow managed to fall back to sleep. I don't remember anything till I woke up to Andy getting out of bed. Was it Andy's presence that made me so comfortable and relaxed? He was like my security blanket and it was too much faith I was putting into him. 

"Where are you going?" I asked without moving.

"To the bathroom darling," he replied quietly.

"Oh," I replied chuckling.

"Yeah I'll be back I promise," he told me as he went out the door down the hall to the bathroom.

I readjusted. I knew he'd have to go home eventually cause of Sam and it made me sad.

After a few, he came back to the doorway.

"Do you want the coffee pot on?" he asked.

"Yes please," I replied. 

He disappeared again and went to turn the coffee pot on. 

He then rejoined me back in bed.

"Did you sleep well?" Andy asked randomly.

"Actually, yeah I did. I feel like it's cause you were here," I told him.

He smiled at me. 

"Maybe. I feel the same. It's like comforting like being next to you is like a blanket of security," he remarked.

What I was feeling wasn't totally one-sided which was relieving. 

"I promise this isn't supposed to sound rude but when are you going home?" I asked him.

He chuckled.

"Waking up to me wasn't all that you hoped?" he asked jokingly as he brought me closer to him.

I shook my head.

"No it's wonderful waking up next to you it's just Sam I'm worried about," I told him.

"Well, I was hoping you'd come and stay at my house tonight perhaps darling. Ain't I supposed to be taking care of you since you are sick?" he asked me while using air quotes when he said sick.

I smiled.

"I mean if you'd like me to," I told him.

"Of course darling. I know we can't get enough of each other in like a honeymoon phase kind of way," he explained.

"I do want to go have lunch with Violet though," I told him.

"Darling, you can do whatever you want to. We have our separate lives and I understand that. That also gives me a chance to make sure my house is clean for you. Oh and groceries too," he listed off.

I chuckled.

"Okay, so I'll call Violet in a few and we'll have lunch then I'll drive over to your place this afternoon," I listed off.

"And I'll cook us a really nice dinner," he told me.

"It sounds perfect," I told him.

Just then, I smelled the coffee.

"I'll go get us coffee," I remarked as I sat up.

"I'll go with you," he told me as I grabbed my robe.

"Wait I forgot. You finally get to see the mug I bought you," I told him.

"Oh, that's right. You got it when you went shopping with Violet, right?" he asked as we walked to the kitchen.

"Yes and I know it's probably cheesy but I thought you'd like to have your own cup at my place since we've been official for a while," I commented.

He reached for my hand as we walked down the hall.

"It's really cute. I love sentimental things like that," he told me.

"Like the necklace you got me?" I asked as I gestured to it.

He smiled.

"Yes," he replied as we reached the kitchen.

I really couldn't believe this was my life. Like not in a superstar kind of way. A love that I had always wanted was mine. And it was reciprocated. 

I got into the fridge to get the half-and-half I used. I mindlessly walked through the kitchen as Andy sat down at the table.

He watched me.

"You know darling, this is the most comfortable I've seen you in our whole relationship," he commented.

"I think I finally got rid of first-day jitters," I told him as I poured the coffee into the cups.

"I'm glad. I mean I think everyone is like that in a new relationship for a while," he commented as I brought him his coffee.

"Right and like our past history is kind of a walk through pins and needles sort of deal. Though mine wasn't nearly as bad as yours," I told him as I sat down next to him with my coffee.

"Being cheated on is just as bad," he remarked as he looked at the cup.

The mug I had bought had a guitar on it. It said, "rock forever." 

"This is cute darling," he remarked as he smiled.

"I'm glad you like it," I replied as I looked down at my coffee.

After drinking our coffee, we both made breakfast together. Days like this I didn't want to end.

We got ready and went our way for the day. I had lunch with Violet and by 4, I was back in Andy's arms. Not literally though.

Sam had become my best friend at his house. When an animal accepts you, you know you are wanted.

"Dinner will be ready in a few darling," Andy remarked as he stood behind me.

I was sitting on the couch with Sam. 

I leaned back to look at Andy.

He was just looking down at me. Sam had his face snuggled up against me.

"It's really cute how Sam trusts you," he explained as he leaned down to kiss me.

"Right I mean not only do you make me feel accepted but when the animal does, you know things are going well," I commented.

Just then, the timer went off.

"Hold that thought," Andy remarked as he went back to the kitchen.

I smiled as I looked back at the TV.  I had put it on MTV and was mindlessly watching the videos.

After a few minutes, Andy joined us.

"So dinner is just cooling off now. The cheese on the chicken sort of crisped up but that's okay," he commented.

"And for dessert?" I asked him.

I was a sweet's girl. I always needed something sweet after dinner.

"Me?" he teased.

I chuckled.

"Okay," I replied with a serious tone.

"Wait no darling I was just joking," he commented nervously.

I turned to kiss his cheek.

"You are pretty sweet though," I replied.

Andy had turned completely crimson.

"I," Andy remarked.

"Was just kidding?" I asked him as I looked at him.

"Yes," he replied seriously.

I giggled at his frustration.

I stood up and held my hand out to him.

"Let's go eat," I told him.

"Sounds good," he remarked as we walked to the kitchen.

He had made some sort of baked chicken with cheese. The cheese was crispy but I loved burnt cheese.

He pulled the chair out for me. 

"Thank you, honey," I told him.

He smiled at me.

"I think the nickname is cute you've chosen," he told me.

"I still like calling you Andrew though," I commented as he poured us some iced tea.

"I know you do," he chuckled.

"Dinner smells good," I told him as I grabbed my napkin and put it on my lap.

"Thanks, darling," he remarked as he brought the food to the table.

A nice way to start the weekend. Putting my mental health first was wonderful.