Samantha let Xavier sleep for almost six hours, observing how exhausted he looked and savoring the chance to hold him. She reflected on wanting to keep him close, content just to feel his warmth while Pooter, her cat, also curled up beside them.

Near 12:47 p.m., Xavier woke disoriented, then pulled Samantha into a sleepy hug. He admitted he felt like he had teleported from work and apologized for oversleeping, but Samantha insisted she had not wanted to wake him.

Pooter climbed toward Xavier, and Samantha teased that he had once wanted to kill the cat. Xavier gently joked back that Pooter had lacked a butthole when they met, then checked the cat’s gums and ears out of habit, showing his attentive side.

After kissing Samantha’s forehead, Xavier said he would take a quick shower and then do whatever Samantha wanted. They agreed to pick up something for Samantha’s mother’s dinner and to get In-N-Out because Xavier had barely eaten since the flight.

Before he entered the bathroom, Samantha told Xavier he had talked in his sleep. When he asked what he said, she replied he had whispered, “come on Eileen.” Xavier joked that he always wanted Samantha to look at him the way she looks at mustard, making her laugh before he closed the door.