His eyes glimmer as if he knows something I don’t, and then he lifts me from his lap. “What time do you have to be at the studio?” he asks as he stands.
“I don’t. Today is our free day. The only thing I do on Thursdays is go to the club. Well, as of this week. Before I would grab a shift at the restaurant, but I needed a break. Even if I can’t afford it.”
He moves into the bathroom, and I hear the shower start. I’m not in the least picturing him in there, naked and wet.Muscles always look hotter when they’re wet. “I have work and an appointment this morning, but I can get away early. I’ll feed you before you have to work tonight, then we can go together.”
That green monster from last night, thinking about him at The 1st Circle, rears its head. “Last night wasn’t enough. You need some moreentertainmentalready?” My attempt to sound teasing fails miserably. I sound like a jealous girlfriend.
“Nope. I have another fight tonight,” he shouts. “But for the record, I wasn’t beingentertainedlast night. Not the way you think, anyway. Where I was wouldn’t have been conducive of a hookup.”
“Oh.”Good job at only thinking the eye roll. Why can’t you remember that when he’s in the room?
“So, do you want to go eat? Or would you rather I cook?”
“First off, you cook?” I fall back on his plush mattress, my eyes getting heavy again. “Second, I haven’t agreed to any of it. It sounds like a date.”
“Or two friends hanging out before work,” he counters loudly.
“Are we? Friends, I mean.”
“For now?” I jump when his voice appears in the room. I didn’t realize I’d closed my eyes. It’s barely nine a.m. More sleep is needed, and this bed is so comfy.
With one eye open, I notice he’s back in the room. His dark curls are damp from his shower. A dark purple t-shirt clings to his fit frame and emphasizes his green eyes. He stalks across the room and leans over me, his weight on his fists as those jadepools stare down at me. I know I should sit up, but the incumbent sleep has weighed me down, making it impossible to move or even think.
“What do you mean for now?” The question is so garbled from sleep, I’m surprised he understands me.
“You’ll figure it out eventually. Now, sleep. You need it.” I’m about to argue that I’m fine, but when I open my mouth, I yawn. “See you later, Halfpint.”
I swear his lips brush mine before I pass out, but it must’ve been a dream.
When I awake, I’m sprawled across the massive bed like a starfish, still only taking up a small portion. I lay here for several minutes, staring at his black and silver light fixture, deciding it’s too modern for Jagger. I expected modern with vintage elements when I thought about where he might live, so while pieces fit, it feels like it’s missing his heart.
And if I think aboutthattoo much, I’ll fall down the rabbit hole ofhimall over again. Despite the drugs, which he shocked me by actually throwing out, Jagger has been great to me the past few days.
It’s strange because it’s seldom, if ever, that I meet someone I feel drawn to. I don’t involve myself in other people’s problems. Haunted eyes and sad stories don’t get to me because everyone has them.
Yet, somehow, he does. No matter how high I build my walls, he keeps finding a way in.
It makes me realize I can’t let Jagger get too close. Friendship or otherwise is more than I have time to deal with. Maybe it makes me selfish, but I have to prioritize myself right now.
Except in a matter of days, he’s already gotten too close. Which means I need to stop this now before it’s too late to turn back.
This endless circle of thinking the same thing with different words is more than proof. Along with the niggling curiosity about the nightmare he was having. And wondering if it’s why he does drugs.
Great job of trying to excuse bad behavior, Poppy.
Raspberries rumble my lips with resignation because that means I need to get my ass out of this bed. I should never have gone back to sleep. I have a mountain of a list to handle before I go to work tonight.
I sit up with great reluctance, scrubbing my hands over my face before enjoying a phenomenal stretch. My head is rolling around my shoulders when I spot my phone charging on the nightstand with a note under it.
Clicking the side button as I grab it, I see it’s already noon. Not surprising at all, but it means the time I have to get everything done has just shortened. I need a shower and a change of clothes. One can be done here, but the other requires going back to my apartment.
God, I just want to go back to sleep.
I grab the note from the nightstand and grin. Then I mentally chastise myself for grinning because I am not allowed to get happy over a damn note.
Days, Poppy. You’ve known him for days.
Then I read the damn thing and grin again.
