“Would you stay with me tonight?” she's not even close to being awake, so the answer is no, but man how I wish I could.
“Not tonight, Angel, but maybe another night, OK?”
“OK.”
I pull up the covers, tucking her in tightly so that I’ll walk away from her invitation. When she buries herself into her bed, and rolls over, facing away from me, I know that she wasn't asking me. I don’t know what we’re doing in her dreams, but in reality, I'm leaving her to sleep.
I close her door behind me, then walk across the hallway, to my own room, quietly closing that door behind me too.
Deciding the best thing for me to do is to strip down to my boxers, jump in bed myself, and read the new book in a series I've been reading is the best course of action, it’s exactly what I do.
I must have fallen asleep mid-chapter, because when I wake up the next morning to sunshine blazing through the window, because I forgot to close the blinds, the book is lying next to my hand on the bed.
I roll over to check my phone for the first time, and see a message from Max. He’ll be getting here a day later than expected. I send him back a message letting him know that’s all good, and we’re doing just fine here. I'm sure he’s sent Kassie a message to let her know as well, and I wonder if she’ll tell him the same thing, that we’re doing just fine here on our own.
It’s 8am, so I don’t bother with a shower, because I've got some more work to do outside. Instead, I pull on the same clothes I had on last night, only this morning I add some socks so that I can pull my boots back on when I leave the house.
I pull open my door, and see that Kassie’s is still closed. She must be still asleep.
I make my way into the kitchen, start up the makings for coffee, and tea. I even pull out the stuff for hot chocolate, because I'm not sure what Kassie likes first thing in the morning.
Then I gather ingredients for pancakes. I'm cooking off the last couple when I feel the energy in the kitchen shift, and I know Kassie’s here before I turn around.
“Good morning!” I say, hoping to sound non creepy.
“Good morning.” She sounds grumpy. I turn around slowly so that I see her face. “Did you carry me to bed last night?”
When I face her, I see that she's still in the same clothes she wore last night, and her hair is a mess.
“I did, yes. I asked if you wanted to stay on the couch, but you wanted your bed.”
“But, I couldn’t get up, could I?”
“I’m sure you could have, but you weren't making any moves to suggest that you were going to any time soon.” I smile, because honestly, I didn't mind one bit.
I would do it again in a heartbeat. I would do it for the rest of our lives if she wanted me to.
CHAPTER 10
Kassie
I wake up well rested,with a huge smile on my face, and stretch out my hand across the other side of the bed. I'm not sure what I'm looking for until I find it empty.
Bennett.
The last thing I remember about last night is finishing dinner, and watching a movie.
I must have fallen asleep on the couch, but if that’s the case, how did I get to bed?
That’s when my hazy sleep brain remembers that Bennett carried me to bed, and like an idiot, I asked him to stay! Like a smart man, he said no.
This morning, I can't decide if he's smart, or just not interested.
I stumble out of bed, not even looking for the time, because I can hear rattling in the kitchen, and I know I need to talk to him.
When I reach the kitchen, I can see that he’s been up for a while. He’s got the same clothes on as last night as well, only thismorning he’s got socks on his feet, which are helping him slide around the kitchen as he cooks breakfast.
What is that, pancakes? And, he’s gotten out everything to make coffee, tea, and hot chocolate? What is this man trying to do to me?
