Page 24 of So Much More
I giggle. “Well, it’s been eight months since they wrote to him, and I haven’t heard from him yet, so you might still be in luck.”
“The only rational explanation for that is he lost your contact info.”
I pull his head down to me and kiss his cheek. “You’re sweet, you know that?”
Randall shrugs. “I do my best.” Then he gives me a look that sends a rush of heat through me, and he smooths a strand of hair off my face. “You going to be okay?”
I nod, even though I don’t want him to leave me.
“Want me to stay until you fall asleep?”
I nod again. “Yes, but there’s a tiny problem with this whole scenario of you tucking me in.”
“What’s that?”
“You can’t bolt my door from the outside without a key. I’ll have to do it from inside.” I would give him a key, but I don’t currently have an extra one.
“Then I’ll stay right here until you fall asleep, and then I’ll go sleep on the couch.”
“No. You’re too tall to sleep on my couch. You’ll be in pain tomorrow.”
“I’ll be fine. We spoon on that couch all the time.”
The mention of spooning makes me want his body curled around mine. I close my eyes for a second and hope I’m not crossing a line when I say, “Can you handle sleeping here with me? Just for tonight? Everybody fully clothed?”
He studies my face for a few moments. “Yes, I can do that.”
“You sure?”
“Yup.”
“I think Daniel left some sweatpants and a shirt the last time he was here. He’s a little smaller than you, but they should still work.”
I tell him where to find the clothes and a new toothbrush. While he’s changing, I second and third guess my request for him to stay the night. When he comes back into my room looking like every woman’s dream in the tight gray sweatpants and white T-shirt, I know for sure this is a bad idea, and I say so.
“This was a terrible plan. I shouldn’t have asked you to do this—not after everything we talked about today.” I toss the covers off me. “Change back into your clothes and I’ll let you out.”
I try to get out of bed, but Randall lightly presses on my shoulders to keep me in place. “No, we’re mature adults who can handle sleeping in the same bed without tearing each other’s clothes off. I want to be here for you. Please let me do that.”
nine
Ihope I sound more confident than I feel, but I’m not about to walk out Wendy’s door after she asked me to stay. In all honesty, I need to do this for me as much as for her. I need us both to know I can exercise the kind of control this situation demands.
After locking the door and turning out the lights, I climb under the covers next to her. We’re on our sides facing each other, and I can barely make out her features in the darkened room.
“You good?” I ask.
“Mmhm.” She giggles.
I smile at the sound. “What’s funny?”
“You smell minty fresh.”
“That’s because Iamminty fresh. So are you. It’s too bad I can’t kiss you.”
“Nobody to blame but yourself.”
“If there were ever a situation to change my mind, it might be this one,” I admit.
