Ipull back the covers and help Clover into bed, wanting to get her comfortable so she can focus on resting and recovering.
“Is this too weird?” she asks, settling herself around the pillows.
“What?”
“Me being in here?” She looks around the room tentatively. “In your… bed?”
I chuckle softly. “No, it’s not.” What I don’t add is the second half of the thought–I want you here. A primal part of me hums at the fact that I have her here, in my bed no less. I want her close to me, where I can keep an eye on her.
I gesture to the chair nearby. “Do you want me to sit there, or–”
“Can you stay here?” She puts her hand on the mattress beside her.
“Of course.”
She gives a wobbly smile, and tears gather in her long lashes.
“Hey,” I whisper, scooping her to me so she’s pressed against my chest, the uninjured side of her head over my heart. “What is it?”
She sniffles. “I feel so stupid. I know I should’ve called it off. I just didn’t want to let anyone down today.”
Smoothing her hair down, I move to stroke her back. “I understand.”
“I was so in my head about–” she cuts herself off, biting down on her lower lip. “I wasn’t in the right headspace.”
Dread pools in my gut. “Is this about what we did in Napa?” The words scrape out of me. I so badly want her to know that it meant something to me. Thatshemeans something to me.
“No, no.” She breathes quickly, surprise coloring her face. “It’s not about that at all.”
Then what the hell was it?I want to ask, but I want to respect her privacy and let her tell me when and if she wants.
“You should probably get a little rest, we were up so early.”
I feel her nod against me.
“Can you… play a little music on your phone or something? It feels too quiet,” she admits softly.
I make a move to get off the bed, but her hands grip my shirt tightly.
“My phone’s back in the kitchen,” I explain, but her hands don’t loosen.
“Nevermind then.”
I lean back against the headboard, allowing her to settle in closer, and I begin to hum. Softly, quietly, just for her. She drifts off while I hum a slowed-down version of the song the band played in Napa. The one she liked the most.
I wake when she stirs against my chest, making a cute sleepy noise. Unable to resist, I drop a kiss on the top of her head. After a few breaths, she stretches her arms out and looks up.
“How long was I out for?” she asks, looking out the window for a clue based on the color of the sky.
“Not sure, I passed out too,” I admit. A loud meow sounds at the door, and I can’t help but chuckle. “I’ll let her in,” I say, moving to the door and letting in a rather pissed off looking Smokey. She saunters in without so much as looking at me, a silent “screw you” for shutting her out in the first place.
Rolling my eyes, I head into the kitchen to scavenge for some food. It’s been a few hours, and I’m starving. I put together a plate of a few snacks, some carrot sticks and dip, pretzels, a few of Jill’s shortbread cookies, and I make some popcorn.
When I step back into the room, I can see Clover’s still wrapped in the covers, only now Smokey’s taken my spot. I’d figured as much, so I toss one of her little cat treats onto the floor. She abandons her owner in a heartbeat, leaping off in search of it.
“Traitor,” Clover mutters.
I laugh and sit back on the bed, presenting the platter of food.
