A sunny day

Greg’s POV

Before I could answer, Anna appeared behind me, pulling her robe tighter around herself. “Lily! Margo! Sarah! What are you guys doing here?” she asked, sounding more surprised than upset.

She quickly squeezed past me, trying to shield them from my half-naked appearance, but it was too late. They were already giggling, their eyes darting back to me every few seconds.

“We were just in the neighborhood,” Margo said with a mischievous grin. “Thought we’d stop by and see if you wanted to grab brunch before work.”

Anna glanced at me, and I could tell she was trying to gauge my reaction. She knew how much I valued our quiet mornings together, but I could also see the slight panic in her eyes. She was embarrassed—not just by her friends’ sudden arrival but by the way they were ogling me like I was a piece of meat.

I decided to make the best of it. “Why don’t you all come in?” I offered, stepping aside. I figured I might as well put on a show since they were already enjoying it. I walked toward the kitchen, aware of their eyes still following me. I smirked to myself. It wasn’t often that I found myself being the center of attention in my own home, especially not in this way.

Anna shot me a look of mild exasperation, but she didn’t protest. Instead, she motioned for her friends to sit on the couch. “Sorry about that,” she whispered to me as I grabbed a frying pan and started making breakfast. “I didn’t know they were coming. I can get rid of them if you want.”

I shook my head, cracking a couple of eggs into the pan. “It’s fine. I don’t mind a little company,” I said, then added with a grin, “Plus, I think they’re enjoying the view.”

Anna rolled her eyes, trying not to laugh, but I could tell she was amused. She turned back to her friends, who were now sitting on the couch, still whispering and giggling amongst themselves.

I could hear every word, thanks to my super hearing. They weren’t even trying to be subtle.

“God, look at those abs,” Margo whispered, her voice tinged with admiration. “Anna, you are one lucky woman.”

“I can’t believe she keeps him all to herself,” Sarah muttered, her eyes glued to my back as I flipped the eggs. “If I had a guy like that, I’d never let him out of bed.”

Lily nudged Sarah, trying to keep the teasing to a minimum but failing miserably. “Shut up, you two. Anna’s going to hear you.”

Anna pretended not to notice their comments, but I could see her cheeks turning pink. She got up and walked over to me, standing close enough that her friends could see her staking her claim. “Sorry about them,” she whispered, half laughing, half mortified. “They’re usually not this… blunt.”

I chuckled, flipping the eggs one last time before sliding them onto plates. “Don’t worry about it. I’m flattered, really.”

Anna rolled her eyes but smiled. “I bet you are.”

We shared a quick, secretive kiss in the kitchen, both of us amused by the situation. I could hear her friends trying not to squeal from the couch, clearly still enjoying the show. I plated up the breakfast and brought it over to Anna, placing a gentle kiss on her cheek as I set the food down.

“You’re ridiculous,” she said under her breath, but I could see the affection in her eyes.

“You love it,” I whispered back, and she did. I could feel it in the way she squeezed my hand before taking the plates to the table.

After a few more minutes of hushed chatter and stolen glances, Anna finally managed to herd her friends out the door. “Okay, okay, we have to go if we’re going to make it to brunch and then work on time,” she said, shooing them towards the exit.

“But we’re not even dressed!” Margo protested, laughing as Anna practically pushed her out. “And what about Greg? We were just getting to know him.”

Anna gave them a stern but playful look. “You’ve gotten to know him plenty, and you’ll get to know him more another time, but I need to get ready for work, and so do you.”

With some final giggles and waves, the girls finally left, leaving Anna and me alone again in our apartment. I leaned against the counter, grinning at Anna as she closed the door and locked it, letting out a sigh of relief.

“You know they’re going to talk about this at work, right?” I teased, crossing my arms over my chest. “I’m pretty sure they’ll be writing sonnets about my abs by the time you get to the office.”

Anna smacked my arm lightly, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “Don’t let it go to your head. They’re just bored. Besides, they’re all single, and you’re kind of a rare find.”

“Kind of?” I feigned offense, placing a hand over my heart. “Only kind of?”

She laughed, pulling me close and kissing me softly. “You know what I mean. And don’t act like you didn’t enjoy all the attention.”

I shrugged, still holding her close. “Maybe a little. But mostly, I just enjoyed watching you try to keep them in line.”

Anna shook her head, smiling as she rested her head against my chest. “I guess I need to train them better. Or maybe not bring them around when you’re half-naked.”

“Or,” I said, lifting her chin so our eyes met, “maybe you could just tell them I’m all yours.”

She smirked, a teasing glint in her eye. “Oh, I think they got the message loud and clear.”

We spent the next few minutes making fun of her friends, laughing about their comments and how flustered Anna had been trying to keep them in check.

It was moments like these that made all the struggles and the running worth it—just being able to laugh together, to share the little things, and to find joy in the simple act of being with one another.

As Anna got ready for work, I finished making breakfast, whistling a tune as I set the table.

She joined me in the kitchen, looking stunning in her work clothes, her hair perfectly styled and her eyes sparkling with the happiness that came from our shared moment of lightheartedness.

We kissed, I gave her her food and she started for the door as we kissed again before I opened the door to see a man smiling at us.

“Who are you?” I asked as he chuckled.

“If it isn’t the outcast and the fox,” he said, which told me we had been caught.