“Better than being sprawled across the hardwood, don’t ya think?”
I can’t help but chuckle. I guess he’s got a point there. I slowly walk around the bed and climb in beside him.
He pulls the blankets up around me, and even though it’s selfish, I let myself enjoy his gentle care. Austin’s always been this way. Sweet and pure to his very core. It’s nice to know nothing’s changed. “Sleep well, Luc,” he murmurs, then he rolls to his side, putting hisback to me.
I settle into his bed. It’s comfortable. I wonder how opposed he’d be to letting me do this more often. My stomach does a nervous flip. I don’t want to feel like a burden or like someone he has to take care of. He doesn’t owe me anything, least of all a spot in his bed, but maybe tomorrow I’ll get the courage to ask if I can start sleeping in here with him.
For tonight, though, I’m gonna take what I’m given, so I roll to my side, facing the wall, and close my eyes. It doesn’t take long to drift off, knowing Austin is beside me.
Chapter 13
Austin
I’mcoveredinLuca.This is new.
Sure, as kids, and even in our early teens, we slept in the same bed together. But I’ve never woken up quite like this.
Luca is sprawled across me, his head resting on my chest, hair tickling my chin, an arm wrapped around my stomach, and his legs draped over mine. I chuckle a bit to myself. At least he’s comfortable, I guess. I’m good with anything as long as he’s able to sleep and not toss and turn all night long.
I have to pee, though, so as much as I hate to, I’m gonna have to move him. The problem is that I’m not really sure how to without waking him up. My bladder gives a dull throb. Okay, so I’m just gonna have to move him. Otherwise, he’s gonna wake up in anot-so-pleasant way.
I try to carefully untangle him from me without pissing on myself, but he just tightens his hold, scooting a little closer and jostling my bladder. Fuck. “Luc,” I say, shaking him a bit. He stirs, letting out a little hum. “You gotta let me up. I have to pee.”
He grumbles. “Go then. M’not stopping you.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Yeah, actually, you are.”
“Talking ‘bout?” he says, confusion and sleep heavy in his voice.
Oh my God. I don’t have time for this. I grip his arm and damn near throw him off me. I can’t even be bothered by his annoyed little huff as I jump up and rush to the bathroom.
After I’m done and I’ve washed my hands, I step back into the bedroom. Luca’s sitting upright in the middle of my bed, looking confused and pink-cheeked. “Morning, snuggle bug,” I say, smirking at him.
His cheeks flame brighter. “Shut up. I don’t know what all that was,” he says, waving a hand around.
“First time we’ve ever cuddled.” I raise an eyebrow. “Better mark it on the calendar. I thought we had already done all the best friend firsts.”
Luca rolls his eyes, grabbing a pillow from the bed and launching it at me. It hits my chest with a dull thud before it falls to the ground. He gets up, face still red, and strolls past me. “I’m making coffee. Do you want any?”
I pick up the pillow and toss it back on the bed, smiling. “Sure thing. What do you want for breakfast?”
“I’ll make it,” he calls over his shoulder as he walks away.
I’ve been very against him cooking breakfast or dinner for me. Mostly because I don’t want him to feel like hehasto, but at some point he’ll have to, right? I can’t just ban him from cooking again.Even though I really want to. It’s not realistic, though, and also not fair. I sigh. “Fine!” I call back. “But I want biscuits and gravy.”
He groans. “Best I can do is toast and scrambled eggs.”
I grin, then make my way into the kitchen. “Fine. I can deal with that, I guess.”
Luca smiles at me, his eyes dropping to my chest, then he looks back at the coffee maker quickly. That gives me pause. It’s not like him to not be able to hold eye contact with me. When he first got here, he struggled a bit, but he’s been doing better with it. “You okay, Luc?”
“Huh?” He glances at me, then back to the coffee maker. “Yeah, I’m fine. Aren’t you cold?”
I glance down at my bare torso, frowning. “Not really. Are you?”
He shakes his head. “Nope.”
Ah, I think I know what’s going on. “Are you nervous about going to the diner today?”
