“I wasn’tthatdrunk.”
“You cried.”
“That had nothing to do with the booze and everything to do with life.”
My eyebrows knit together. “The life your friend is growing?”
She glances away, not meeting my stare as she says, “That, and in general.”
She’s quiet, and I can see the wheels spinning in her head. Whatever it is that’s going on with her friend is something that hits close to home for Haley; I just can’t find the angle it’s hitting from.
“So…” I clear my throat, licking my now dry lips.
“So…” she mocks.
“What, uh, what did you have in mind?”
She bristles. “I’m not sleeping with you, Gaige.”
My face heats up, shock and mortification hitting me in a flash. “I-I…I d-don’t…” I stammer, something I haven’t done since I was ten, unable to even get a sentence out. I’m embarrassed. I don’t get fucking embarrassed.
Haley’s loud laugh assaults my ears. “I’m just screwing with you—but, you know, figuratively, not literally.”
For the first time since I set foot in her apartment, I relax, expelling a heavy breath and dropping back onto her couch fully.
“I actually just thought we could talk…or sleep.”
I look to her. “Sleep?”
She lifts her slender shoulder. The oversized sweater she’s wearing slips down, exposing her bare skin, and in true asshole fashion, what’s the one thing I notice? There’s no bra strap.
She’s not wearing a bra.
I quickly snap my gaze forward, pushing away any and all thoughts I’m having right now, including the ones of a shirtless Haley.
“Yeah. Last night… It’s the first night in a long time I’ve slept well. And I…” She takes a deep, encouraging breath. “I think it’s because of you.”
Something strange happens, a tingle of sorts. It starts in my toes and travels slowly throughout my body, stopping right in the center of my chest. I like how she attributes her peaceful sleep to being with me. It’s…comforting.
And strange. So fucking strange.
I glance over at her. She’s nibbling on her lip, worry setting into her face. I can tell she’s concerned she just scared me off. She hasn’t. Not yet. Her eyes drop as she starts picking at a random string coming from her frayed sweatpants, waiting for me to say something.
I don’t know what to say.
Last night was…good. Itfeltgood. I’ve tried my hardest all day to push it out of my head, to not dwell, to just keep moving forward, but it’s been hard. Last night felt like something I could want again. It felt normal and good to be able to relax, to be a little carefree, to justbearound someone.
And the sleep? Damn. Despite being on edge when Haley found herself next to me, it was one of the best nights of sleep I’ve had in ages, hardwood floor and all. I didn’t have to worry about anyone attacking me, or some drunk person stumbling into my room. Hell, even not having to lock the door felt good.
Let’s not get into how Haley felt next to me, not now—especiallynot now. Not when she’s sitting beside me in her ridiculous outfit or when she’s telling me about how I made her sleep better, when she made me sleep better.
I believe my answer lies within that admission.
“I…” My voice makes us both jump. I offer a silent apology hidden in a grimace. “I think I’d like that.”
She lights up instantly. “Thank you.”
She stands. I follow.
