Every muscle ached as I removed my jacket and draped it over the back of a chair. I’d hang it up properly tomorrow.
Collecting some ice in a towel, I briefly considered opening a beer, but I would probably be asleep before I finished it.
It wasn’t until there was a knock at my door that I realized I’d made plans to see Audrey tonight. Shit.
We typically only saw each other late at night, fitting it in around our bizarre schedules, but honestly, I liked that about the situation. Audrey was someone who—so far—hadn’t gotten annoyed by my unpredictable hours, and because of her own habit of working late, actually understood.
I couldn’t exactly tell her to head home after she’d traveled over here at this time of night, but I could barely stand without swaying. How the hell was I going to have sex?
I opened the door half convinced I was going to apologize and send her home. She must have come straight from the office. Her hair was mussed, strands escaping her high bun in many directions, and her pants crinkled from wear.
But her eyes were bright and her smile wide, and she’d never looked more beautiful.
I was kicking myself for not having the energy to spend the night with her.
“Hi.”
“Hi.” A crinkle in her brow. “You forgot, didn’t you?”
“No, I …” I sighed, my shoulders sagging. “Yes. I’m sorry. I feel like an ass.”
“No, don’t! It’s fine.”
“It’s not.” I was suddenly sure she was about to leave, and I no longer wanted her to. “At least let me make it up to you with a tea or something.”
She stifled a laugh. “You think tea is going to make it up to me?”
“Hot chocolate?”
“Oh, now you’re talking,” she said suggestively.
I felt I was doing a pretty decent job hiding how awful I felt until Audrey moved in to kiss me against the kitchen island, her hand pushing against a particularly tender area of my chest, and I wasn’t able to hide my wince. “Ugh”
Immediately she pulled back, concerned. “Are you ok?”
“Actually, no.” I looked at her apologetically. “I’m sorry, I’m completely exhausted. We filmed a big fight scene today, and I’m a bit banged up. Then I forgot you were coming over, and I feel awful, but I just don’t think I’m capable of anything tonight.”
“You should have sent me home then,” she said, softly chiding me before straightening up and asking, “Do you have a bath?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Because I know exactly what you need. Do you think you can stay awake for the next ten minutes?”
“Should I be worried?”
She laughed. “Don’t you trust me?” She leaned in, careful not to lean against me, and kissed me lightly. “Just wait here; I’ll be right back.”
She stood and watched me with a smile, then disappeared in the direction of my bathroom.
I let my eyes drift, just for a moment, my head falling back onto the couch.
“Jace?”
“Mmm?”
“Oh. I almost feel bad about waking you.”
“Was I asleep?”
