Ilaughed uneasily and wished I’d thought to bring my bear, Bernard, with me fromthe bus. I could’ve used the comfort of something—someone—who knew thoseancient wounds and tears I had shed a long time ago. “Chad, seriousconversations should never happenrightafterincredible sex.Especiallynot when you’re ridiculously tired.”
Hechuckled lightly and kissed my jaw. “Nah, you’re right.”
Heclimbed out of bed, and for a moment, I thought he was leaving. Panic arose andI sat up, ready to ask where he was going. He picked his underwear up from offthe floor and as he pulled them on, said, “I suddenly feel ridiculouslydehydrated for some reason,” he winked, “so I’mgonnarun out there and grab some water.”
“I’llcome with you. Igottapee, anyway.” He picked up hist-shirt and tossed it at me. “Oh, this isbringin’ backmemories of when I wore your hand-me-downs,” I commented before pulling theshirt over my head. I watched as it draped over my body and smiled. “Yourclothes fit me a lot better when we were kids, though.”
“See?”He outstretched a hand for mine and tugged me up from the bed. “You’re tiny.”
Weleft the room on tiptoes, moving through the dark and quiet apartment. Enteringthe kitchen, Chad flipped on the light and opened a couple of cabinet doorsuntil he found the glasses. It was comfortably weird, watching him move aroundmy kitchen in nothing but his underwear. My mind tripped along, trying toprocess it all, and my lips curved with a smile.
Glancingat me as he filled the glass with the filtered pitcher from the fridge, hewhispered, “Whatchasmilin’about?”
“Ijust like this.”
“Sodo I,” he replied with a gentle lift of his lips and putthe pitcher back.
Iwished I’d gotten more of a chance to relish in the moment. But it was thenthat Morgan’s door flew open and Benny jumped out, wielding Morgan’s hairspraylike a baseball bat. His wild eyes darted around the kitchen before settling onus, and he lowered the can.
“Oh,thank God it’s justy’all,” he breathed, pushing hishand into the mess of his hair. “I thought we werebein’robbed.” Then, he turned into Morgan’s room. “Babe, it’s just Molly and the hotguy friend.”
“Thehotguyfriend?” Chad muttered before sippingfrom the glass and handing it to me. “Do you call me that?” I shook my head inreply.
“Waita minute,” I heard Morgan gasp. “The hot guy friend ishere? Right now?”
Bennynodded as he watched us. “Yep.”
“What’she doing?” she asked.
Therewas movement coming from her room, and I groaned, anticipating her ambush atany moment. I hoped Chad was ready for the interrogation.
Bennyshrugged, gesturing toward Chad’s nearly naked body. “He’s, uh … well …”
“Ishould put on some pants,” he muttered toward me, and I nodded encouragingly,but it was too late.
“Oh,never mind, Benny. What good are you?” Morgan hurried out into the kitchen andgasped, flattening her hands to her chest. “Benny. Baby. I am so attracted toyou, you know that, but please don’t mind me as I gawk a little right now,because oh, my God, hisnipplesarepierced.”
Chadnarrowed his eyes at me. “Give me my shirt.”
“Butthen I’d be naked,” I hissed under my breath and through gritted teeth.
“Fuckin’hell,” he grumbled, wiping a hand over his mouth. But he smiled, and my God, itwas like the sun made a special early appearance in my kitchen at nearly fivein the morning. He resigned himself to the situation and turned to my roommate.“Hey, Morgan. Sorry if we wokey’all.”
“Well.”Morgan stepped closer, peering at him and then me. “I thought I heard somethingbefore, but I figured I just had a dream, so went to back to sleep. Butthen, I woke upagainand thought I heard someone yelling. And now, there’sthis.” She crossed her arms and smirkedat me. “Nice shirt, by the way, Molly. Wasn’t Chad wearing that earlier?”
“Oh,wow, Morgan. I mean, he’sstandin’ in the kitchen inhisfreakin’underwear,but you comment on the shirt I’mwearin’. You’re aregularol’ Sherlock, aren’tya?”I teased, giggling maniacally and in desperate need of sleep.
Chadlaughed and ran a hand over his hair. “Well, uh, I guess I’m justgonnause the bathroom and go to bed. Sorry, again, forwakin’y’allup.” He offered ahalf-salute, half-wave in Morgan and Benny’s direction before kissing my cheekand heading for the bathroom.
Morgangave Benny a gentle shove. “Baby,go back to bed,” shetold him, and he smiled awkwardly at me before turning into the room andclosing the door behind him. Morgan hurried toward me, grabbed my hands, andasked, “So, you guys are a thing now, right?”
Itwas still so new, so elating, and I nodded with an unstoppable grin. “Yeah … Iguess we are.”
“Okay.This is officially the cutest thing ever. You guys werebabiestogether.”
“I’maware.” I giggled, attempting to rub the blush from my cheeks.
“I’mstill allowed to stare at him a little, right? I mean, I’mkindagrandfathered in, aren’t I? I was staring at himmonthsbefore he was your boyfriend.”
