“Yeah, but I was given them tonight at the game. I don’t collect them or anything. I’m not a psycho.”
He picks up all three from the ground, scanningthem with the light coming from his phone. “I had no idea you were so obsessed with me.” He grins and flashes them in my direction.
“Am not.”
“Then why do you have three trading cards with my face on them?”
“Coincidence.” I shrug.
“You can admit it.”
“I’m not obsessed with you,” I deadpan. “They were handing them out at the game. I obviously got you so many times because there aren’t too many noteworthy Crowns players.”
“Not true, but glad to know you think I’mnoteworthy.” He chuckles, and his shoulders move up and down, causing his laugh to turn to a wince.
“You okay?”
“I’ll be fine,” he says, returning them to my bag. We stand, and I hand him the small bottle of ibuprofen. Setting my purse on the nightstand, I climb back into bed. The lid of the plastic bottle scrapes as he opens it, and the rattling of the pills fills the silence. He dumps them into his hand and throws them into his mouth, swallowing them dry.
“You don’t want some water?”
“Nah,” he says, climbing back in to join me.
We both settle into the bed on our respective sides. Disappointment starts to creep in as his breathing becomes steady.
“Hey, Ev?” I whisper.
“Yeah?” His voice is a little groggy, and I find it endearing.
“Thanks for tonight.”
The sound of him turning over causes me to turn as well.
“Are you thanking me for sex?” he asks, his eyes finding mine in the dimly lit space.
“No…I just meant…I don’t know. Being with you really turned my night around and…I don’t know…”
“You’re welcome for the sex.”
“Good night.” I giggle, rolling back over.
“Night.”
After a few minutes, his breathing begins to even again, and I watch the pink that’s still swirling outside my window, reflecting on everything that happened today and still unsure what it all means.
Chapter 14: Morning
Everett
December Eighteenth
The morning sun streams through the window, casting a soft glow throughout Claire’s room. She’s still asleep, curled into the crook of my body. Her pillow is nowhere to be found, and instead, she’s taken over one of mine. Inhaling deeply, the sweet scent of her hair fills my nostrils and makes all of my muscles relax.
It’s a very foreign feeling, and I’m not sure what the protocol for this sort of thing should be. My past doesn’t include many moments like this one.
There’s a part of me that doesn’t want to move. A part of me that enjoys holding her like this—like I’ve never held her before. The steadiness of her breathing and the warmth of her skin put me at ease.
Four and a half years ago, she and I would’ve nevercuddledbecause I would’ve never considered spending the night, and she would’ve never allowed it. We would’ve fucked, and then I would’ve gathered my things and left. But, now it’s morning, and I’m still here, unmoved, with the girl who, twenty-four hours ago, I never thought I’d see again, in my arms.
