That was more than I’d hoped for. I held up my hands. “Promise.” I would build a pillow barrier between us if it made her happy. Though I hoped it wouldn’t come to that. I liked the idea of having her within touching range.
She studied me for several beats. “You can use the guest bath to get ready. There are towels in there if you want to shower and extra toothbrushes in the cupboard.”
“A toothbrush is fine. I showered after work earlier.” I didn’t want to traipse dust and heaven only knew what else through Dad’s rehab room, so I cleaned up first.
“Okay.” She turned, heading for the stairs, but paused at the edge of the banister. “I, um, guess I’ll see you up there.”
Before I could reply, she took off.
Once she was out of earshot, I groaned softly and scrubbed my hands over my face. I really screwed up. It was like we were back at square one.
Well, almost square one. I got to sleep next to her.
“Mrroww?” Joe rubbed against my legs.
I looked down at the same time he looked up. A low chirp rumbled through him and his expression seemed to say, “She might be mad, but so long as you pet me, I’m not.”
Huffing a soft chuckle, I scratched the top of Joe’s head. “You’re not luring me to my doom, are you, by being nice? Your mama said you like to lure your prey to their death. Is this you buttering me up so I won’t suspect anything when you walk across my chest in the middle of the night a split second before you go for my jugular?”
Joe just pressed his head into my hand.
Sighing, I gave him one last good scratch, then straightened.
Making my way into the bathroom, I found the toothbrushes and went through a modified bedtime routine. After leaving my shoes by the door, I went upstairs. Mina had yet to emerge from the master bathroom.
I turned out the light, then shucked my jeans and shirt, before climbing into bed. Hugging the edge of the queen-size mattress, I made sure to stay on my side.
This was probably a terrible idea. I knew I could keep my hands to myself—I was an adult, after all—but that didn’t mean sleep would come willingly with her so close. Maybe I should take my pillow and go downstairs anyway. There were a couple of blankets on the couch. I could make do, even if it was too short for me to stretch out on.
Still hem-hawing over what to do, the decision was made for me when Mina stepped out of the bathroom.
A sliver of light silhouetted her figure for a brief moment before she turned the light out. My body tightened, and I had to remind it I would not be peeling that t-shirt and shorts off her tonight.
She padded softly across the floor to the other side of the bed. The mattress shifted only slightly as she got in beside me. Covers rustled as she got comfortable.
When the room fell silent, I turned slightly. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.” Her soft voice was barely above a whisper.
I pulled the comforter up, tucking it near my chin, and closed my eyes, wishing for sleep to come quickly. Heat radiated from her body under the blanket, reminding me I wasn’t alone. The sooner my mind fell asleep, and I was no longer aware of her nearness, the better.
The stillness lasted only a few minutes. She rolled over, tugging on the blankets.
Then she flipped her pillow.
A minute later, she flopped onto her back.
When she rolled again, I turned to face her. Every other night we’d slept in the same bed, she’d barely budged once she settled in.
“You okay?”
“I’m fine.”
I hummed. “Sure. That’s why you’re flip-flopping like a fish.”
“So, I’m a little stressed. Sue me.” Annoyance colored her voice.
I sighed. Why was she so combative? “Do you want to talk about it?”
