I stand up and move back toward the bathroom. The house is nice, well loved and lived in clearly. There are pictures of smiling people and candid photos of kids playing. Knick knacks sit on shelves and the appliances are worn, not brand new chrome. It reminds me of my friends' houses growing up in the early two-thousands. My family's condo was never like this. It was professionally decorated and always had the latest gadgets.
"I brought you a blanket as well," I say as I move back to the living room. "I didn't know if you needed one or not."
"Mmm." He leans his head back and smiles at me. He does look tired already. It's only seven in the evening, but I've done more physical work today than I have in a very long time, if ever, so I'm feeling the same way. "Thank you."
I sit beside Nelson, a solid bit of space between us. I feel like this should be more awkward than it is, with me being his professor and all, but I've enjoyed my day. Plus, we're about to watch my favorite movie. I look over at Nelson and smile when he hits play. "I'm probably going to be looking at you randomly to get your reaction, just a heads up. I'll try not to spoil anything."
"You're going to be worse than my nephew, aren't you? He loves to tell me when he loves the next scene or tells me when I need to remember a detail for later on."
"I'll keep my mouth shut," I promise. I mime zipping my lips and nod as the Disney logo sound fills the room. "Oh you have surround sound? Even better!"
"No talking, huh?" Nelson turns his head to look at me and gives a smirk. I fight the urge to reach out and smack his shoulder.
"I won't talk about the movie," I grumble.
Our conversation dies down as the movie starts. I do glance over every couple minutes to make sure Nelson is still watching. We're about forty minutes in when he pipes up. "Isn't that the guy from those car-robot movies?"
"Transformers? Yeah." I want to shush him because the next scene is an important part to the plot, but I roll my lips inward and refrain from commenting. I hear Nelson chuckle softly and turn to look at him.
"You are fighting for your life over there to not say things. You keep biting your lips and fidgeting."
"Shh," I say in response. I didn't realize I was fidgeting or that he was watching me that much. I don't look away from the TV. "I'm trying to watch the movie."
"I'm having more fun watching you," Nelson says. That does get my attention.
"You're going to miss the good part if you don't watch."
"Ah, nope. You just ruined it. You told me something happens." He actually pauses the movie and I turn to look at him, shocked. "I can't watch it now."
"That's bullshit," I say. We're so close to the climax of the movie and I want to finish it. I glance to the TV and back to Nelson. "Please?"
There's a pause before he sighs. "Only because you're pulling out those puppy eyes."
Despite winning this round, five minutes later I can feel my eyes drooping. I jerk awake twice before I feel Nelson's hand wrap around my upper arm. He pulls me closer to him and I rest my head on his shoulder.
Before I know it, I'm blinking my eyes open to a darkened room. The movie is long since over and the screen shows the home tab. I hear a small noise beside me and lift my chin toward it. Nelson is also asleep and snoring softly. I move carefully to sit up and let out a silent yawn, stretching my arms over my head. My eyes find Nelson in the dim lighting and I take in how serene he looks when he's sleeping.
He must sense me admiring him or felt me shift on the couch because his eyes flutter open and meet mine. We share a soft smile as he sits up.
"I don't remember falling asleep," he says. His eyes look to the TV. "I'll have to finish it another day."
"I fell asleep almost immediately after laying on your shoulder."
Nelson clicks the screen on his phone awake and I see that it's after ten now. We really did sleep for a good while. "Let's move to the bed. My back is not going to like me if I stay on this couch all night."
I smile when Nelson holds his hand out to help me stand up. He doesn't drop it either as we make our way through the house and he pulls me into his bedroom. The room is just as dark as the rest of the house, but he flicks on a lamp beside his bed and turns to crack open a window. The room is filled with sounds of nature, much louder than any noise machine I've used.
"Is that okay?" Nelson asks. "I tend to sleep better with the noises."
"Perfect," I say. I don't know what creatures are outside the window making the constant noise, but I'm grateful I don't have to explain my need for light and noise tonight.
Without another word, we slip under the comforter and meet each other in the middle. We're facing each other, close enough to share a breath. It never occurred to me to ask him his preference until right now. Someone like him I'm sure is more comfortable with being the big spoon and top. I'm vers so it doesn't really matter to me. Just as I start to turn around to face away from him, he reaches out and stops me.
"I'm actually…" He hesitates and I'm about to slip out of the bed altogether, thinking he isn't comfortable with this. "I prefer to be the little spoon, if you don't mind."
"Not at all," I say with a smile. "Turn around and let's get some sleep."
I settle down with my arm wrapped around his body. He's warm and I bury my nose in the space where his body meets his pillow. His skin smells just like the woodsy shower gel he has in his shower and I fall asleep quickly.
