Chapter 59

Lisa was sprawled across the couch, the soft hum of her favorite playlist filling the living room. She had just finished a long day at work, her brain fried from endless meetings, emails, and decisions she didn’t want to make. Her hoodie—a gray oversized number with fraying cuffs she’d had since college—was warm and comforting, wrapping her like a hug from herself. She sighed, closing her eyes, and let the quiet of their apartment envelop her.

But peace was fleeting.

A mischievous giggle echoed from the doorway, followed by a sudden pounce.

“Hey!” Lisa squealed as she felt the familiar tug of her hoodie being yanked off her shoulders. “Jennie!”

Jennie, grinning from ear to ear, held the hoodie triumphantly over her head. The oversized sleeves dragged past her fingertips as she spun around, clearly proud of her catch.

“You know this is mine,” Lisa said, sitting up, hair tousled and cheeks flushed.

Jennie shrugged innocently, though the sparkle in her eyes betrayed her. “Technically, it’s not mine, but… it looks way better on me.” She pulled the hoodie tighter around herself, engulfing her small frame in Lisa’s comfort.

Lisa groaned, sinking back into the couch. “You’ve literally stolen every hoodie I own. I’m starting to think you’re a hoodie kleptomaniac.”

Jennie tilted her head, clearly amused. “A kleptomaniac of love,” she corrected, pressing her face into the soft fabric. “These are your hoodies, so… they smell like you. It’s like wearing a hug.”

Lisa felt heat creep up her neck, partly from embarrassment and partly from that warm, fluttery feeling Jennie always managed to induce with just a few words. “You’re ridiculous,” she muttered, though her heart was secretly melting.

Jennie hopped onto the couch beside her, tucking her legs under herself. “Ridiculous… or adorable?” she teased, bumping Lisa’s shoulder with her own. Lisa pretended to glare, but the corners of her mouth betrayed her.

“You know,” Lisa started, trying to sound authoritative despite the smile threatening to break through, “if you keep stealing my hoodies, I might start hiding them.”

Jennie gasped dramatically, clutching the fabric to her chest. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“I would,” Lisa replied, crossing her arms, though her resolve was flimsy at best. She knew how Jennie’s puppy-dog eyes could dismantle any argument in seconds.

Jennie leaned closer, resting her chin on Lisa’s shoulder. “Then I’ll just… have to find new ways to steal them. Like…” She paused for dramatic effect. “…when you’re sleeping. Or cooking. Or—”

Lisa laughed, cutting her off. “You are impossible. You know that, right?”

Jennie smirked, pressing a kiss to the side of Lisa’s neck. “I know. And you love me for it.”

Lisa shivered, half from the sudden affection, half from the hoodie still draped over Jennie’s shoulders. “Maybe I do,” she admitted softly, letting her hand brush against Jennie’s. The warmth of her fingers was mirrored by the soft fabric surrounding Jennie. “But you’re taking this a little too far sometimes.”

Jennie pulled the hoodie even tighter, making herself as cozy as possible. “I call it… self-care.” She tilted her head, looking up at Lisa with those big, hopeful eyes. “And besides, it’s not like I wear your hoodies all the time. Just… sometimes. Mostly when you’re not looking. For research purposes.”

Lisa shook her head, trying not to laugh. “Research purposes, huh?” She wiggled her eyebrows. “What kind of research requires me to be completely uncomfortable with my own clothing?”

Jennie grinned, leaning into Lisa’s side. “The love research kind. You know, seeing how fast you melt when I do this.” She hugged the hoodie tighter, nuzzling her face into the soft material.

Lisa’s heart practically melted on the spot. She tugged lightly at the sleeve, trying to reclaim her hoodie, but Jennie held firm. “I swear… if you start using that look on me, I might just keep it forever.”

Lisa sighed, realizing defeat was inevitable. “You’re impossible,” she said again, though this time it was soft and fond, not frustrated.

Jennie beamed, clearly proud of her victory. She wiggled deeper into the hoodie, her eyes closing in contentment. “And yet, you love me anyway.”

Lisa rolled her eyes but couldn’t stop the smile spreading across her face. “Yeah… I do.” She reached over, wrapping an arm around Jennie and the hoodie. “Just… maybe, buy me a new one sometime?”

Jennie laughed, nuzzling against Lisa’s neck again. “Deal. But only if I can keep stealing them.”

Lisa chuckled, shaking her head in mock exasperation. “You’re a menace. You know that?”

Jennie pressed a quick kiss to Lisa’s cheek. “And you love me for it.”

Lisa leaned her head back against the couch, Jennie’s small weight and warmth pressed against her side. The world outside the apartment could wait. Here, with Jennie curled up in her hoodie and that ridiculous, perfect smile, everything was just… right.

Minutes passed in blissful silence, punctuated only by the soft hum of the music and Jennie’s occasional contented sigh. Lisa caught herself glancing down at her hoodie—well, her hoodie on Jennie—and realized she didn’t even mind that it had been stolen. Not really.

Because in that moment, with Jennie’s head resting against her chest and the soft fabric wrapping them both in comfort, it felt like more than just a hoodie. It was a small, perfect reminder of the life they were building together—messy, cozy, full of laughter, and entirely theirs.

Jennie, of course, didn’t help by squeezing the hoodie tighter and letting out a satisfied sigh. “This is officially the best hoodie ever,” she declared, as if Lisa hadn’t noticed.

Lisa snorted. “Yeah, yeah. Just wait until I hide it next time.”

Jennie pretended to pout. “Fine. But you’ll never stop me. Hoodies are meant to be stolen… especially yours.”

Lisa shook her head, laughing. She wrapped an arm around Jennie and whispered softly, “You know, I think I secretly like it.”

Jennie grinned, eyes sparkling. “I knew it.”

And with that, they settled into a perfect, quiet evening—the kind where hoodies were stolen, hearts were full, and nothing else mattered except being together.