I blink. “What?”
She scoots back, pulling back the covers. “I want you here with me.”
I run a hand through my hair, my head shaking, heart pounding. “Gabi, I don’t think—”
“Please?” she interrupts, her big blue eyes pleading. “I feel safe with you.”
I can’t deny her. I never could. “Fine.” She scoots back even more, and I hastily remove my hoodie before climbing into bed beside her. All night, I waited for her, my mind consumed by worst-case scenarios, but now, with her cuddled up against me, it feels like I can finally breathe again.
“You’re so warm,” she murmurs, trailing her hand over my chest. My heart pounds harder, faster, beating only for her. “And cozy.” She nuzzles into my neck. “I missed this.”
I wrap my arm around her, as I rub along her back, feeling the soft fabric of her t-shirt beneath my fingers. “I missed this too, pretty girl.”
She inhales sharply, lifting her head to meet my gaze. “I love when you call me that.”
Her eyes hold mine, and my heart pounds as they flicker down to my mouth.
I stop breathing.
Fuck.
Pressing a kiss to the top of her head, I murmur, “You need to sleep,” closing my eyes before she can act on the impulse she’ll undoubtedly regret in the morning.
Gabi is the most beautiful girl I’ve ever laid eyes on.
Even with her makeup smudged on her face, hair tousled against her pillow, and soft snores escaping her parted lips, I can’t tear my gaze away from her.
I hardly slept last night, my eyes glued to her as she slept, making sure was okay and didn’t puke.
But looking at her now, I feel more awake than ever.
It’s really hard for me not to believe there’s a God when something as beautiful as her exists.
A smile curves my lips as I reach out and brush her hair back, tucking it behind her ear. She lets out a groan as she stirs, starting to blink awake.
“Chris?” she murmurs, her voice thick with sleep.
I chuckle at the sight of her with one eye open and the other squeezed shut. “Expecting anyone else?”
“Oh, god,” she groans, closing her eyes. “Please stop screaming.”
“How much did you drink last night?” I ask, a little worried. She would get drunk in high school, but never like this.
“I don’t even know,” she says. “I lost count.”
My brows dip. “Why the hell did you drink so much?”
She sighs, shaking her head. “I need a shower,” she says, ignoring my question. “And food. And sleep.”
“How about one thing at a time?” I offer.
“Food first.”
“Good,” I say with a smile. “Because I made pancakes.”
She shoots up, sitting upright in bed. “You did?” The hangover seems to hit her all at once as she drops her head in her hands and groans. “Oh, fuck.”
“You’re such an idiot,” I tease, sitting up alongside her.
