Angel on a Mission

Chapter 16

Gabrielle's POV

I woke up to the sound of a gentle knock at the door. I fluttered my eyes open, still caught in the haze of sleep, and slowly sat up in bed, trying to shake off the remnants of my dreams.

"Come in," I said sleepily, my voice still thick with slumber.

The door opened softly, and Art peeked his head inside, wearing a bright smile that immediately lightened my mood.

"Good morning!" he greeted enthusiastically, his warmth contagious.

"Good morning to us indeed" I replied smiling wide, my words still laced with sleepiness.

"Breakfast is ready," he continued cheerfully. "You can take a moment to wash up first if you’d like. I’ll wait for you in the dining area," he said, gesturing encouragingly.

I nodded appreciatively as Art left the room, leaving the door slightly ajar behind him.

This was my first morning at Art’s place, and the cozy atmosphere filled me with a sense of comfort. I had slept soundly, and now the prospect of sharing breakfast with someone brought a smile to my face.

I made my way to the bathroom, where I took a careful shower, letting the warm water wash away the leftover drowsiness. Once I finished, I dried myself off and got dressed. A few parts of my body still ached a bit, and during my shower, I noticed a few bruises that were reminders of past mishaps. But I reminded myself that my injuries weren’t too severe, and I wasn’t overly concerned; rather, this situation was certainly a learning experience.

I opted for a beige waffle knit v-neck lounge romper, which I paired with snug white fluffy slippers. After getting dressed, I brushed my hair and styled it half-up, feeling a bit more polished as I admired my reflection in the mirror.

Once I was all done, I exited my room and joined Art in the dining area. As I walked in, Art stood up and graciously pulled the chair out for me.

"Thank you," I said with a smile as I settled into my seat. He then sat down across from me, and we began our breakfast.

Art had prepared an array of fruit slices and golden toast, and we shared the meal together. It was a genuinely nice experience, especially since I had someone to share it with instead of eating alone, which I often did. I couldn’t shake off the slight feeling of guilt that came from knowing Art had done all the cooking, but he quickly assured me it was completely fine, saying he enjoyed having me around.

I felt optimistic about the upcoming days with Art. He was quite a character, full of life and interesting stories, which made our time together all the more special. It was refreshing to have someone like him near me. I had cherished my solitude in my cabin, but there was something special about being with a kindred spirit like Art.

"How was your sleep?" Art asked, breaking me out of my reverie.

"It was good. Thank you for letting me stay with you," I replied, genuinely appreciative.

Art smiled back, his eyes sparkling. "You're welcome. It's nice to have you here. I finally have someone I can talk to, especially in the mornings. It feels wonderful."

I smiled in agreement, feeling the warmth of our budding friendship.

"How are you feeling? Does your body hurt?" he asked, concern flickering across his face.

"A little bit, yeah, but it's nothing I'm too worried about," I said with a shrug, trying to reassure him.

"Any bruises?" he inquired, his tone still carrying a hint of worry.

"There are a few," I admitted.

"I'll prepare something for that later," he promised, to which I nodded appreciatively.

"Thank you," I said, and he responded with a friendly nod.

"What do you have planned for today?" I asked out of curiosity.

"Nothing, really," he said, almost dismissively.

"Really? You don’t have any human activities, events, or gatherings to attend?" I pressed, intrigued.

"I already canceled everything last night," he explained with a nonchalant shrug.

"What? Why?" I was taken aback.

"Because I have a guest over and it wouldn’t be right to leave my guest alone," he said, his tone light.

I sighed, feeling a mix of guilt and appreciation.

"Art, you really didn’t have to do that. If I had known you’d cancel your plans just because I’m here, I wouldn’t have agreed to stay," I said, my expression turning into a slight pout.

"It’s nothing important, Gabrielle. It was just golf that I canceled, and my friends understood," he reassured me with a casual air.

I sighed again, feeling conflicted about his generosity. Art then gave me a comforting pat on the back.

"Come on. We haven’t seen each other in so long. Of course, I want to spend my time with you," he told me with sincerity.

I pouted once more, and this brought a chuckle from him that made me smile despite myself.

"How about we watch a movie together? How does that sound?" he suggested, and my eyes lit up with enthusiasm.

Art laughed, delighted by my reaction, and we made our way to the living room. We settled down on the couch, and he turned on a movie for us to watch.

In the middle of the film, Art got up and disappeared for a moment. When he returned, he was carrying a bowl of something that piqued my curiosity.

"What is it?" I asked, my brow furrowing with confusion.

"It's popcorn. It's a snack made from corn," he explained, holding the bowl out to me.

I gazed at it skeptically for a moment before popping one into my mouth. My eyes widened slightly as I experienced the delightful crunch. Art chuckled at my reaction, clearly amused, and I began snacking on the popcorn as we continued to enjoy the movie together.

One movie turned into another and then another. Eventually, I began to feel quite tired and yawned after the fourth film.

"Why don’t you take a nap for a little bit while I prepare our lunch?" Art suggested kindly.

"I can help you make lunch," I offered with another yawn, my voice heavy with sleepiness.

Art chuckled softly at my insistence.

"It's perfectly fine. Just rest," he said gently, handing me a pillow before gently nudging me to lie down on the couch. He then grabbed a soft blanket and draped it over me.

"I’ll wake you up when lunch is ready," he promised, and I nodded gratefully. He gave me a gentle pat on the head and headed off to the kitchen.

I closed my eyes, allowing sleep to overtake me for a while.

I woke up a little later when I felt a gentle shake on my shoulder, and as I opened my eyes, I saw Art standing there with his warm smile.

"Lunch is ready," he announced, his expression bright and inviting.

I pushed myself up and rubbed the grogginess from my eyes.

"Come on," he urged, extending his hand to me. I took it, and together we walked to the dining area.

Art pulled out a chair for me to sit in, and I settled in front of an array of delicious-looking food that had already been prepared.

"Thank you, Art," I said appreciatively as I admired the spread before me.

"You're always welcome," he replied, his smile soft and genuine.

As we both began to eat, I savored every bite of Art's amazing cooking. While I was used to making only basic dishes for myself, typically just salad and a few simple meals, Art seemed capable of creating anything. It was a delightful experience that I knew I would want to replicate in my own kitchen one day.

"How is it?" Art asked as he watched me enjoy my meal.

"It tastes so good! You’re amazing," I said in awe, genuinely impressed.

Art chuckled, clearly pleased by my compliment. "Thanks! It’s so nice having you here to enjoy the food I prepare," he said, causing a warm smile to spread across my face.

Living with Art was turning out to be an unexpectedly lovely experience, and I was grateful for the companionship.