OMG I'M ON A ROLL. HAHA. I THINK IT'LL LAST FOR A FEW MORE CHAPTERS UNTIL I TAKE A LITTLE BREAK AGAIN BUT ENJOYYYYYY. (P.S. Appreciate your comments a whole load!!! Especially my girl Rachel, I see you! Thank you!!)
Vanessa's eyes fluttered open, her mind slowly emerging from the depths of slumber. As consciousness washed over her, she realized something was off. Blinking groggily, she glanced around the unfamiliar surroundings of the hotel room, her heart skipping a beat as she took in the sight of the elegant furnishings and the soft morning light filtering through the curtains.
A wave of confusion washed over her as she tried to piece together the events of the previous night. Then, as if on cue, memories flooded back – the laughter, the conversations, the shared moments of intimacy. She remembered the Oscars, the after-party, and the unexpected turn of events that had led her here.
Drawing the covers tighter around her, Vanessa glanced down at herself and stifled a gasp. She was still dressed in her Oscar gown, the luxurious fabric draped haphazardly over her body. A rush of embarrassment flooded through her as she realized she had fallen asleep in her dress, a testament to the exhaustion that had settled in after the whirlwind of the awards ceremony.
But despite the disorientation and the lingering traces of sleepiness, Vanessa couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment. The memories of her conversation with Zac, of their shared laughter and the heartfelt confessions, lingered in her mind like the remnants of a beautiful dream.
With a soft sigh, she allowed herself a moment to revel in the warmth of those memories before reluctantly pushing herself upright. Just as she was about to make her way out of bed, Zac appeared in the bedroom.
"Good morning, sleepyhead. Did you manage to get some decent rest?" Zac's gravelly voice broke through the morning haze, his appearance rumpled yet effortlessly attractive as he emerged in a slightly disheveled version of the crisp white shirt and dress pants from the previous evening. Staring at his torso which showcased more of his chest than before, due to the few unbuttoned buttons, Vanessa thought to herself, 'Damn, did he always look THIS good in the morning?' She unconsciously smoothed her hair and wiped her face for any garish makeup remnants.
"Honestly, yeah I did." While waking up in her dress and makeup from yesterday was uncomfortable, she had felt an overwhelming sense of comfort and peace as she slept.
"That's amazing." Zac said. "Coffee?"
"Yes, please," Vanessa reached for his outstretched hand and carefully grasped the warm mug in her hands. "How long have you been up?"
"Eh, not too long." Zac had been awake for over 3 hours. He had spent most of it overthinking. He contemplated waking her up or finding a way to inform Laura of her whereabouts. He even contemplated ordering room service but thought against it considering there was no privacy in the open plan room and he didn't want to disturb her or have a nosy staff member make assumptions about the two of them. He finally decided to take matters into his own hands and figured out the Keurig machine in the room and had been nursing the coffee cup waiting for her to wake up.
"I didn't want to wake you up last night... so I hope it's okay I transfered you to the bed," said Zac.
"Oh no, that was so kind. Yeah, I figured I was out like a light haha. Were you on the couch? Shoot, I'm sorry I hope you were comfortable."
"Oh, yeah don't worry about it. It was great. Besides, I literally slept on the road last week when Dylan and I went camping because he forgot the sleeping bags, so I'm used to anything. Haha."
"Haha. Oh gosh, it's 10," exclaimed Vanessa mid gulp as she glanced at the clock. She made quick work of the coffee and slid out from under the covers. As Zac approached her to take the mug from her hands, she couldn't help but shiver slightly, a combination of the cool morning air and his presence sending a pleasant tingle down her spine.
"Sorry," he said, noticing her reaction, "I don't have much else to offer, but you're welcome to have my jacket." He retrieved his jacket and with a gentle gesture, he draped it around her shoulders, the warmth of his gesture enveloping her.
"Thank you…" she smiled softly. Vanessa stared up at his eyes which seemed even more electric in the morning light. What would happen if she stayed a bit longer? Before she could get anymore distracted, she stopped her thoughts in their tracks.
"I should probably get going," she murmured reluctantly, feeling the weight of impending responsibilities pressing in on her.
"Yeah..." His response was tinged with a hint of disappointment, though he tried to mask it with a casual tone.
"Last night was..." Zac trailed off, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he searched for the right words.
"Special," she finished for him, her smile mirroring his own as she met his gaze shyly. The memory of their shared moments from the previous evening lingered in the air, a sweet reminder of the connection they had forged.
"Yeah," he agreed softly, his eyes reflecting the warmth of the morning sun filtering through the window. "It really was."
Their shared silence spoke volumes.
But reality beckoned, pulling them both back to the present moment.
"I guess I should get going," she repeated, a touch of regret coloring her tone.
Zac nodded, his expression tinged with a mixture of longing and resignation. "Yeah," he echoed, though his eyes lingered on her, silently pleading for just a few moments more. "I'll walk you out."
As Vanessa approached the elevator, she shrugged off his jacket but Zac held up his hand and silently declined her attempt to return it. She wordlessly processed his gesture and draped it across her shoulders once again.
Perhaps, unconsciously, he wanted something of his to be connected to her and perhaps she, too, needed a memento of the night they shared.
Unable to sum up what last night had meant for him and the uncertainty of their future he settled for a chaste kiss and a soft, "Take care, Van."
"You too," she replied with the same tenderness, the spot on her cheek now burning.
As Zac made his way back to his room, Dylan emerged from a nearby hallway, dressed in his workout gear ready to hit the gym. Just as he was about to call out to Zac, something caught his eye—a glimmer of sequins, a flash of brunette hair, and a woman in an elegant evening dress making her way towards the elevator, clutching her heels.
Vanessa? Dylan's mind raced with questions. Had she been with Zac? ALL night?
With a wry grin and a newfound sense of excitement, Dylan quickened his pace, his thoughts swirling with the possibilities. This was going to be an interesting family brunch.