Jessica
Her head in Ava's lap, Jessica lay spread out on the couch. Gentle fingers carded through her hair as she fiddled with the rings on Ava's free hand. They'd been there for hours by the time Zyan and Carter reappeared from the bedroom. It was 10 p.m., six hours since they'd gotten back after a month of vacation, yet they still looked like they hadn't slept in five days.
"Good evening, sleepyheads!" Ava greeted them happily.
Zyan grunted and headed toward the kitchen, while Carter swayed on the spot and rubbed at his bleary eyes.
"You should sit down before you fall over," Lucy told him, but the only response she got was a dismissive wave of his hand.
"Honey, why don't you order food for all of us?" Carol asked her husband Nate, who drew his brows together.
"Why me?"
Carol shrugged. "Why not?"
"Fine." He stood up and headed toward the bathroom.
"Don't forget to order veggie for Jessie!"
"Yeah, yeah!"
"Thanks, darling!"
"Why does he always leave to make a phone call?" Lucy asked.
"He doesn't like it when people listen in," Carol answered.
Lucy only hummed in response.
About five minutes passed before Zyan and Carter reappeared from the kitchen, both clutching their mugs like they were their lifelines.
"Move your legs, Jess," Zyan grumbled.
Jessica took her time but complied. "Alright, grumpy-pants. God, you're even worse when you're tired."
Zyan's only response was a grunt, followed by him downing half his drink.
"I think I recall you mentioning pictures earlier," Carol prompted as she looked at Carter, who'd sunk into the cushions beside Zyan.
"Later," Carter replied.
Carol looked like she was about to protest when Nate returned.
"Food's on its way!"
"Good. I'm starving," Zyan mumbled into his mug.
"It should be here in an hour," Nate said.
"I'll have starved to death by then, but thank you."
"There's a fully stocked kitchen in our apartment right across the hall," Ava pointed out.
"That far away? Too risky. Death would find me on the way."
"That would truly be a pathetic way to end your existence," Lucy commented.
"I guess you're not in the mood to watch Hell's Kitchen, then, huh?" Jessica said. Zyan shot her a look. "I'll take that as a 'no.'"
Zyan remained grumpy for the entire hour until the delivery person showed up on his doorstep. He wolfed down his portion in record time and passed out a mere ten minutes later. Carter hadn't even finished eating, yet he didn't look like he'd be moving any time soon with Zyan's head pillowed on his shoulder.
"Do you want us to leave?" Jessica asked, voice low so she wouldn't wake Zyan.
Carter shook his head. "It's fine. He's out cold. You can put on a movie if you like, just nothing with too many explosions."
Half an hour later, Carter was out like a light.
Jessica suppressed an urge to take a picture of him and Zyan, and instead switched off the TV and gestured for everyone to leave. They skittered around each other as they cleaned up the take-out boxes and put on their shoes before they left to continue their evening at Jessica and Ava's place.
They could still celebrate Carter and Zyan's return tomorrow, when they were less exhausted. After all, they had all the time in the world.