“I will sleep somewhere else, and you could take my bed. Maddie would love it, and I don’t think you should be alone. You had a long, scary day. We’ll order some dinner, and we can hear all about the game that hopefully didn’t involve any suspicious injuries.”
I dropped my chin to my chest and laughed.
“Hopefully.”
“We’re here now, so you could go inside and pack a bag for tonight and the morning.” He jutted his sharp, stubbled chin toward my door. “I’ll make us all a nice breakfast and drive you back home. So, come home with me. I mean—” he winced, and I had to laugh “—come be with us tonight. Please.”
I should’ve told Jesse goodnight. Staying at his house tonight would complicate things even more between us, no matter where I slept.
Dread filled my stomach as my gaze drifted to my front door. I didn’t want to go home to an empty apartment tonight.
I wanted to be with Jesse.
And after everything today, I was too tired to question what I should or shouldn’t do or what I really wanted.
Especially when what I wanted was pretty damn clear, even if I was afraid of it.
“Okay.”
Jesse’s head jerked up.
“Seriously?”
“Are you taking it back?”
“No, of course not. I’m just surprised that’s all it took. I had a whole second part of the speech planned for when you said no.”
His sheepish grin made me want to grab his face and kiss the hell out of him.
“Well, I guess I’m just that tired and hungry. And your bed is pretty comfortable.”
I cringed when he arched a brow. His chest was comfortable too, and his pillows were soft and fluffy to rest my head on as Jesse plowed me into his mattress. But that wouldn’t happen tonight or anytime soon.
Or it shouldn’t.
“It is comfortable, and it’s all yours. I can either sleep on the couch or on the futon in the guest room. I just don’t want to leave you tonight.”
“I appreciate it. Want to come in?” I motioned to my door. “I don’t know how long I’ll be, and I’ll feel bad if you’re just sitting out here in the car. Plus, you don’t want to look like me, loitering in a car and casing the place, right?”
Jesse’s head fell back with a chuckle.
“Very good point. Sure, I’ll come in.”
I padded up my walkway, Jesse’s steps echoing behind me as I unlocked my door.
I’d picked this apartment because of its proximity to my mother and an easy setup for working. I had the far end of the living room blocked off for an office and a kitchen big enough to cook in without feeling cramped. Two large bookcases lined one wall, filled with old favorites and some finished products from clients, with pictures spaced out along my hallway.
I had one bedroom with an almost floor-to-ceiling window and a bathroom big enough to soak in the tub without my feet dangling over the side.
I’d always found it small but spacious, perfect for what I needed it for. But now, it seemed tiny to me—and stifling.
The usual familiarity of home felt like an old, itchy sweater, making me squirm until I could wiggle out of it.
I needed to think about what all that meant. But for tonight, I’d go to Jesse’s house, somehow shake the urge to crawl into bed with him, and get some sleep.
I’d seek some clarity for this internal mess I’d uncovered later.
“This is a nice place.” Jesse swept his gaze over my living room.
