I internally kicked myself while I sat so incredibly still, watching her hover in front of the couch. The whole debate flashed through her big brown eyes as she eyed the middle cushion before she nervously dropped her gaze and took the opposite corner. My eyes shuttered, realizing a few seconds of foresight would have made all the difference.Fuckity fuck dammit.
Liam was gone, and I had just blown my one chance to be close to her this weekend. The googly-eyed sand people judged my poor decision making from the coffee table, and I didn’t blame them.
I never knew five feet could simultaneously feel so close and yet so damn far away as we sat on the same couch, feeling miles apart.
By the time the world’s longest movie was over, Sara was fast asleep, curled up on her corner with me quietly scrolling my phone on my corner just letting her sleep—until it finally dawned on me that she hadn’t moved in quite a while.
Not even an inch.
“Hey.” I crouched in front of her, gently brushing a hand over her knee, but she didn’t stir. “Movie’s over.” I murmured, but she didn’t respond at all.
My pulse spiked.
“Sara?” I wasn’t whispering anymore as I came to the sickening realization that something was wrong.
I’d been sitting here while she was fucking unconscious—for God knows how long.
“Come on, sweet girl.” My voice cracked as I reached for her face, just waiting for her to stir.
Any second now.
But she didn’t.
“Wake the fuck up.” I demanded, terror slicing through me.
Was she even fucking breathing?
“No, not like this, please not like this.” I begged, frantically shoving her hair out of the way as I jammed two fingers against her throat, desperately searching for a pulse. “Please stay with me, baby.” My voice broke, knowing I’d done this. I’d pushed her to go on that walk when she was so incredibly weak. She’d told me she was too exhausted, and if she—because of me?—
The corner of her mouth pulled, and for a split second, Ithought she was having a stroke, but her eyes flicked open. “Gotcha.” She laughed sleepily.
I gaped at her, feeling dizzy as I struggled to register that she was totally fine. “Are you shitting me right now?” I might actually have been in shock.
Sara grinned deviously, pillow creases lining her face as she slowly pushed herself up. “Now we’re even.”
“Even?!” I demanded, head dropping between my knees with a disbelieving laugh.
“Aww, come on, Kensington. Don’t tell me you’re not up for a little harmless prank.”
I blew out a shaky breath before collapsing back onto the floor in a heap of frayed nerves. “Yeah, harmless prank. Right.”Holy fucking shit.
She tapped my foot with hers, and I pushed up to my elbows. “Too much?”
“You’re never too much for me.” I joked, but I couldn’t find it in me to laugh. Not when I’d thought I’d fucking lost her for the longest second of my life. I felt like I wanted to puke, wondered if I actually would.
My payback was carrying Sara to bed. “Come here, you little troublemaker.” I leaned forward to scoop her up. “Let’s get you to bed.”
“What are you doing?” Her brows shot up as my arms slid around her. “I’m perfectly capable?—”
“It’s cute that you think this is optional.” I scoffed, and she sucked in a sharp breath as I lifted her all too easily, pulling her against my chest. “Because it’s definitely not.” I had to touch her, feel the breath rising and falling out of her from under my own palms, because that moment had flipped a switch for me that I didn’t know if I could ever turn off.
Despite her every protest, I smiled to myself because even as she argued with me, her head was tilted against my shoulder, pressing closer while her fingers clutched my shirt like maybe she didn’twant to let go.
Best feeling ever.
I couldn’t help but linger at the edge of the bed as I gently set her down and found her gazing up at me. “Carter?”
“Yeah?” I responded all too eagerly.
