My head was starting to ache with all my conflicting thoughts and twisted feelings.
Maybe I would be better off sleeping alone.
I turned to say as much to Dylan, but the naked loneliness and need in his expression had me rethinking myself.
“I’ll sleep here tonight. With you. But I’m going to need more information tomorrow. You’ve got this double speak thing going on that’s making my head spin.”
He gave a little half grin. “You sure that’s not the champagne?”
“I only had one glass. And then ate a bunch of cake.”
He tipped his head. “You are only nineteen. I thought maybe it’d gone to your head.”
“Is that why you don’t want to…” I nodded at the bed.
He sighed. “Let’s get ready for bed.”
My head was still a riot of confusion as I pulled on the large t-shirt he offered me. And it didn’t help that he left the room to “brush his teeth” before I even let my dress fall to the floor. Like he didn’t want to see me naked.
My heart felt heavy when I climbed into his bed. I didn’t care about my hair or my full face of makeup. I just wanted to go to sleep and get to tomorrow already.
Maybe it’d come with some much needed clarity.
I closed my eyes and feigned sleep when I heard Dylan return to the room.
The sheets rustled as he climbed into bed. And then he was wrapping his arms around me and pulling me against his very naked chest. My eyes burned with tears that I refused to let fall.
At least he kept his promise. But I was no longer interested in trying to seduce him. I was doing everything I could to just keep it together.
It was a long time before I fell asleep.
* * *
The next morning, I woke up to an empty bed. Dylan was long gone, judging by the cool sheets next to me. My heart felt heavy when I spotted the crumpled paper on his pillow. I almost didn’t want to read it. If he had to write it, it definitely wasn’t going to be good.
But I also couldn’t not read it.
My heart pounding in my ears, I picked up the paper.
Indy,
Have a few things I need to sort out. Ryan will take you in to work.
Love you,
Dylan
Now my heart pounded in my ears for a whole new reason.
He loved me?
And thought the best way to tell me was to write it in a letter?
Or was it habit? Did he even realize what he wrote? What it meant to me?
I wanted to call him and ask, but this wasn’t the kind of thing for a phone call or text. I needed to see his face.
Ugh.
