27.1 THE MORNING AFTER

I woke up at the crack of dawn despite going to bed past midnight. Usually, lack of sleep would make me grumpy, but not today. No, to me, this morning seemed incredibly beautiful. Of course, nothing could compare to the beauty of seeing Jester at my door, waiting for me as if it were the most natural thing in the world. He was already dressed in his uniform like I was, and though I’m sure he must have slept less than I did, he looked sharp and fresh. Like a polished knife, glinting in the sunlight.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed his lips. “Good morning,” I said brightly.

“Good morning,” he replied, a lot less brightly, though he returned my kiss. He pried my arms from around him, and Jester gave me the first scowl of the day—it just made him all the more adorable in my eyes. He really can’t look ugly, no matter how much he scowls or glares at people. “You are incredibly cheerful this morning.”

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