Sleeping on a bed next to Evie’s bed was hard, but sleeping on the same mattress as her was going to take every ounce of my willpower. “I can sleep on the floor.”
“Don’t be stupid, Nick. You have a big game tomorrow. Get on your side of the bed. The pillow wall will do its job.
“All right.” I grabbed a spare blanket from the closet. “You can have your own covers too.”
We settled into our separate cocoons. Were we delusional to think a wall of feathers could hold back our desire?
Every time I felt like I was getting close to sleep, Evie would turn and a waft of vanilla would bolt me awake, like I’d taken a shot of espresso. The radiators banged and ticked as they worked overtime, but they couldn’t keep up with the temperatures outside. The thin wool blanket wasn’t long enough to go over my entire body, so I had to choose between covering my shoulders or feet. I curled into a ball and forced myself not to shiver. There was no way I was going to let Evie know I was cold.
I turned away and tried to covertly tuck the blanket under my back, but it wasn’t working. Then a cloud of warmth came over me. Evie had thrown her duvet over both of us. “You’re freezing.” Her breath was hot on my ear. “Don’t worry, the pillows are still there.”
The down pillows were squished by our bodies. She wasn’t touching me, but her warmth radiated through our “wall.”
I froze, but this time it wasn’t because I was cold. If I moved, it would be to pull Evie into my arms. I squeezed my eyes tightly. Sleeping on the busted-up couch would’ve been far less torturous.
“Evie,” I whispered.
“Yeah.”
I paused. I didn’t know what I was going to say. My brain had stopped driving and my body had taken the wheel. I did what I should’ve done earlier. It might end in heartache for both of us, but as I slid my hand underneath the plaid flannel of her pajama top, I convinced myself that one night might be worth it.
TWELVE
EVIE
Just like theradiators battling with the draft from the single pane windows, I was struggling with the hot and cold coming from Nick. One minute it felt like we were on the same page—theready to tear off each other’s clothesone—and the next minute it was like he was closing the book.
So, when his hand slipped up my shirt, I waited to see if he’d pull back—again.
A shiver ran up my spine. Nick’s hands were rough and calloused. Goose bumps followed the path his palms had taken up my body. Still, I didn’t give in. I had run after the man down the street like it was the final scene of a rom-com movie. Only, after the kiss he didn’t sweep me off my feet and carry me off into the sunset. No, he’d stopped everything. If it had actually been a movie, that’s when the record scratch sound would’ve happened and the voiceover would proclaim,That, folks, was the moment I knew it wasn’t going to happen.
Now, I tried not to writhe beneath the down duvet as Nick’s hand traveled from my side to my breast. “Nick,” I whispered.
“Yeah.” His voice cracked and he cleared his throat.
I was about to tell him that we should get some sleep, but then the pad of his thumb swept over my nipple. The sound that escaped from my lips didn’t sound like one I’d ever made before. It was somewhere between a meow and a moan. “Let’s have tonight and tomorrow—”
His lips interrupted me. Then his body was on top of mine. It was the weighted blanket I hadn’t realized I needed. I pressed my hips into his and arched my back, nipping at his lips as my fingertips grazed the back of his sweatpants. We were panting into each other’s mouths and our bodies moved hungrily against each other’s. His hand cupped my breast as he kissed along my jawbone.
“You are so beautiful, Evie,” he whispered as his kisses continued down my neck. My feet slid up his body to plant on either side of his hips. I pushed into the mattress, leveraging the pulsing parts of myself against his hardness. “I have never met anyone like you.”
It was such a cliché, but I believed it. I believed it because I had never met anyone like Nick. He was both a grumpy jerk and a kind and considerate man. It didn’t hurt that those qualities happened to be wrapped up in a guy with a six-foot-four frame and a V-cut better than a Hemsworth’s. “That’s because you’re under the spell of Chance Rapids.”
He paused with his lips on my breastbone, replacing his kiss with the palm of his hand. “I don’t think it’s the town, Evie.”
The spark that had been lit was stomped out, and just like before, I had no idea why. Nick slid off me. He rested his hand on my belly, then fixed my flannel shirt, patting it into place. “I’ll find a place to stay tomorrow.”
I turned onto my side to face him. He was on his side too. “What’s going on Nick? Do you have a girlfriend somewhere else or something?” It was an immature thing to say, but it was the only reason I could think of that would stop him from sleeping with me.
He sighed. “Evie. I am not a good person. The sooner you realize that, the better.”
I blinked. This was not the answer I was expecting. “Can you give me a bit more than that?”
“No.” He tucked my hair behind my ear. “It’d just be better for you to stay away from me.” The pillows had been tossed onto the floor. He grabbed them and rebuilt the wall between us. “I’m sorry. I really am.”
Instead of sadness, it was anger that coursed through my body. “I think you should find a place to go in the morning.” My voice was low and the tone maybe a little too harsh, considering a few minutes earlier I’d wanted to feel his skin against mine.
“I will.” The sad eyes were back. I wanted to hate Nick Tinsel, but I knew there was more to his story. Or maybe he was just like all the other guys, only he was bailing out earlier.
