It had started with a tweet.
He had wanted a spar. She'd accepted. They met, had a good time.
He had the most amazing smile. The best laugh.
He was so nice...but he was a bro. There she went again, friendzoned. He had other women he was interested in, attractive women who had more worldly and also intimate experience than she did. Friendzoned. Again.
It was fine. Heidi knew how it worked. Just friends, be supportive, don't act weird.
He was so kind, so warm.
She wanted to spend time with him. With her friend. She'd climbed into his bed hoping to bother him into going out for a jog only to have him pull her in to just keep sleeping. It had been the best sleep of Heidi's life.
He was so warm, she felt safe in his arms.
There was morning banter, something Heidi found she could very, very easily get used to. The only issue she'd had had been the accidental discovery of something she hadn't been expecting. It had startled her until she had a chance to calm down. Things had gone back to normal.
He was her Tuckella and she was his Heidward.
She felt more comfortable around Tuck than she had ever felt around anyone, even her best friend. Despite her efforts to she didn't have to impress him, things just felt natural, and most importantly he didn't make her feel bad about herself. He treated her like she was special, doted on her like she was important to him.
It was the best friendzone ever.
Next had come the date. No one had ever taken her on a date before.
And then..the kiss.
They were small kisses. Little pecks and sweet shows of affection behind closed doors. That was all Heidi would give him, she wanted him so badly for herself, she didn't want to share her first ever boyfriend. And so she hadn't out a label on it, she was scared to even bring it up; that fear of if she labeled him as boyfriend would he get upset and leave her. She cared about him so much.
He wanted to be her boyfriend. He wanted her.
Only her.
He wanted her and she didn't have to be the one to bring it up. Tuck was hers.
She loved him so much.
And so there she laid, glancing at a clock near a large bed in their room in Spain to check the time. Four am and he was still asleep. Good. Heidi smiled and looked to the man beside her, fingers tracing the line of his jaw and then down the length of his neck, and then finally his bare chest where her hand stopped just above his heart. She could feel it under her palm. 'I love you,' he had said, 'so much.' Tuck had told her this probably a dozen times throughout the night.
He had been sweet, warm, gentle. Heidi couldn't have, wouldn't have, done it any differently. He was the best. There was no contest. This man who she had given all of herself to, who she trusted completely, who she never wanted to ever be apart from, loved her.
He loved her.
He loved her.
Her heart raced the more she thought about it and her breath caught, her eyes watering with tears she had to quickly wipe away just in case he woke up. She loved him so much.
She thought back to the past day, the dinner, dessert, and Heidi found herself giggling quietly. It wasn't quiet enough, he slowly woke up from the sound of her giggling alone. He knew that giggle, that giddy little sound she made when she was nervous or excited. Heidi smiled sheepishly when he pulled her close and sighed, eyes opening and lips spreading in a wide smile.
"Mornin', beautiful," he said softly before he leaned in to press a kiss to her lips which she more than happily returned. "What time is it?" Tuck's voice was a content mumble and his face ended up nestled against Heidi, his lips brushing soft pale skin and his eyes closed again. His arms tightened around his girl, holding her pressed so close she could barely move enough to see the clock past him.
He was so distracting.
He called her beautiful. Heidi couldn't help but smile, making a happy little noise while her fingers danced lightly across his bare back, her fingertips just barely touching his skin. She loved his skin. His eyes. His smile, the way his cheeks dimpled and he could show her exactly what he was feeling just with one single expression. She had even grown tolerant of his stupid snore.
"Four thirty," Heidi whispered, gasping quietly when she felt rough fingers gently trace small shapes against her skin as she had been doing to him.
Tuck chuckled. "What're you doin'? You hate bein' up this early."
She blushed, glad for the darkness. "Nothing.."
She felt his grin. "I'll give you 'nothin'," Tuck offered in a low voice that made her shiver. "C'mere, baby." He gave her a squeeze just to hear her laugh.
"I love you, Tuck."
"I love you, Heidi," he replied, his voice thick with sincerity and emotion. Heidi's heart fluttered. He loved her. He really loved her.
She loved him so much.
