Instead of answering right away, I think and try to sift through my thoughts and feelings before responding. How doI feel? There’s no world where Wren and Madden missed the show I put on the night before, so the cat is kind of out of the bag about that, but when I dig deep, I find, strangely enough, I feel…relieved.
I don’t have to hide my feelings anymore, and I don’t have to force Jesse to conceal his. Things are out in the open, for the most part, and it feels good. It seems the most challenging part was just taking that jump.
“Good,” I murmur with a smile, and when Jesse grins back, his is nearly blinding. It warms my chest to see it and know I did that, knowing that the small feat of my being open about my feelings for him is what put that look there.
“Yeah?”
I nod. “Yeah.”
My phone blinks from where it is charging on the bedside table, though I don't remember plugging it in. Jesse must have further proof that he always takes care of me in the smallest ways. “I’m sure your sister has texted and called me eight million times,” I groan.
“I texted her last night and told her we’d talk to her in the morning,” he murmurs, his fingers moving through my hair, scraping at my scalp as he does.
A pleasant shiver moves through me. “You did?”
He nods. “There was a good shot that if neither of us responded, she’d show up at my room demanding answers last night or first thing this morning, neither of which I was interested in.”
That’s a great point.
“I can’t believe you dragged me out of the bar,” I murmur.
“I can’t believe you kissed me in front of everyone,” he counters, and I smile, mirroring the one on his lips.
“I was tired of playing games.”
“Well, I for one am very glad you did.”
I nod, agreeing, leaning up to kiss him. As I do, my stomach growls at the words. He laughs, then rolls both of us off the bed and to our feet.
“It’s almost eight. I’m sure everyone is waiting for us for breakfast,” he says.
“We slept till eight?” Usually, if we’re on a ski trip, we’re at breakfast by seven to get on the mountain early. I wonder if Jesse included a delayed morning in his text to Wren, too.
“We had a long night,” Jesse says with a grin, and I roll my eyes.
“I need to go to my room. I can’t wear the same outfit I did yesterday.” A blush blooms on Jesse’s cheeks before he goes to his bag, digging before lifting something. “Are those my leggings?”
“You left them at my place the night of the hot tub. I washed them, of course. I was hopeful you’d be stuck there one morning.”
“Wow, condomsanda change of clothes? I really was a sure thing, wasn’t I?” I ask with a laugh, snatching the fabric from his hands. He shrugs but grabs one of his sweatshirts and tosses it my way as well. I start to change, then stare at the heels I wore yesterday with an irritated glare. “Unfortunately, we still need to go by my room. I can’t wear those.”
This time, his smile isn’t embarrassed but excited as he digs in his bag. Grabbing a box, he hands it to me.
“What is this?” I ask, though it’s clearly a shoebox.
“Shoes.” I furrow my brow, then open the box to find a brand new pair of my comfy slipper shoes, but these have a more durable sole. “The best of both worlds. Cozy and grippy.”
“Oh my god, where did you get those?” I ask with a laugh, opening the package and then sliding one on. It’s a perfect fit.
He shrugs one shoulder as he pulls a sweatshirt over his head.
“I was going to give them to you for Valentine’s Day, but you wouldn’t have accepted them. We weren’t there yet.”
I let out a loud laugh. “And now we are?”
“Now you’re mine, so you can’t argue as much when I spoil you.”
I tip my head. “I don’t think that’s how that works.” Still, I slide the other shoe on and stand, smiling at the exquisite coziness. God, this man gets me.
