The morning after their heart-to-heart, the sky was a brilliant shade of blue, cloudless and open—a mirror to Chloe’s newly unburdened spirit.
“Good morning, Lloyd!” she said as a groggy Lloyd shuffled into the living room.
“Morning,” he responded, his voice still thick with sleep.
Watching Chloe bustle around the kitchen, carrying dishes to the dining table, Lloyd couldn’t help but tease her gently. “I see you managed to wake up on your own this morning.”
“O-Of course I did!” Chloe retorted, a slight pout finding its way onto her cheeks. “I may be many things, but a serial oversleeper I am not!” With the troubles plaguing her mind gone, Chloe had enjoyed the best sleep she’d had in days.
As Lloyd took his seat at the table, his eyes surveyed the sumptuous spread before him. A simple salad paired with a comforting bowl of soup, alongside crispy bacon, perfectly fried eggs, and toast generously smeared with margarine and topped with a dollop of sweet jam. It was a meal thoughtfully balanced to provide energy for the day ahead, a veritable feast for the working man.
Lloyd started with a large bite of toast. “This is new.”
“Do you like it?” Chloe replied, beaming. “It’s cherry, from Miss Ciel’s shop.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever had cherry jam. It’s a nice change from strawberry and orange. I like it.”
“I do too! It’s a bit sweeter than strawberry, isn’t it?”
“Here, try it with a fried egg on top.”
“Oh, do they... Do they go well together?”
“Everything goes well with egg yolks.”
“Right. I almost forgot about your love of eggs.”
Their conversation flowed effortlessly, a stark contrast to the tension of the previous day. Both of them keenly felt the difference. It was like a return to the easy rapport they shared before confessing their feelings, when things were simpler.
After finishing their meal, Lloyd made for the door. “I’ll be back at the usual time.”
“All right,” Chloe said playfully. “Try not to trip over anything at work today.”
“That won’t happen again,” Lloyd assured her with a touch of somewhat misplaced confidence, his chest puffing out in pride. He knew the previous day’s distractions were a thing of the past, now that he understood the depth of Chloe’s love for him.
As he prepared to leave, Lloyd instinctively reached out to stroke Chloe’s hair.
“Is this also...just because?” Chloe asked with a curious tilt of her head and a smile.
“You said you liked it when I stroked your hair.”
Chloe’s smile widened. “I didn’t say I liked it—I love it.”
Lloyd’s expression softened as he continued to gently caress her hair.
“Aren’t you going to be late?” Chloe teased after a beat. “If you are, how are you going to explain it to your cohort?”
“Ah, right,” Lloyd said, a bit startled, eliciting a giggle from Chloe. “Okay, I’m off now.”
“Have a good day, Lloyd!” Chloe called after him, her smile stretching from ear to ear.