“Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed.”
Still not looking at her, he responded, “Noticed what?”
“Glitchy lighting, thunder with no clouds, downpours on sunny days, and now a couch that can’t handle a few books?” Another fit of giggles swept through her.
Stone joined in the laughter, his eyes not quite crinkling at the corners. “Seems I’m a bit of a jinx.”
Sophie, still snickering, nodded toward her bedroom. “Well, looks like we’re going to have to share my bed. Strictly platonic, of course. There’s no way I’m letting you sleep on wet blankets on the floor.”
“They’ll dry. I’ll be fine”
“I won’t sleep a wink wondering if they’ve dried yet. I’vebarelybeen sleeping a wink knowing you get up off the couch and make your bed on the floor every night after I retire to my bedroom.”
“There’s no need—”
“Stone, you’re not going to win this argument. I promise I’m not after your honor.”
“What makes you so sure I won’t be after yours?” Stone asked.
“I’ll build a wall of pillows between us. They will thwart all your non-cinnamon-roll-boyfriend-like ideas.”
“Is your bed even big enough for the two of us?” he asked, sounding not quite like himself.
“It’s a full. We’ll be fine.”
He swallowed hard enough she saw his Adam’s apple convulse. “Strictly platonic?”
Sophie offered up her pinky. “I pinky promise that I do not have any intentions other than platonic ones toward you.”
Stone’s nostrils flared before he linked pinkies with her. “Tonight only. Tomorrow, I’ll buy you a new couch. One long enough I can sleep on it.”
She had a sudden desire to hug him but resisted. Instead, she settled with words she hoped were the equivalent of a big teddy bear hug. “Thanks for being here, Stone. It means a lot.”
“Anytime, Sophie,” came his soft reply, the night wrapping around them.
Chapter 24
Stone knew he wouldn’t sleep next to Sophie in a bed barely big enough for one of them let alone two and a slew of pillows. Nevertheless, he played along. Arguing with a slightly tipsy Sophie wasn’t a battle he wished to win tonight. Besides, this would be the perfect test for Clarabelle’s spell. A spell he doubted had completely taken hold considering the broken couch. Either that… or… Well, he’d think about theortomorrow.
While Sophie had disappeared into the bathroom to brush her teeth, he had changed into a pair of sweats and a T-shirt. One of his own, not one of hers. When the bathroom door creaked open, he couldn’t help but glance over. Sophie stood framed in the doorway, the light casting her in a soft glow, clad in pink pajama bottoms and a matching T-shirt that read:Dreaming of My Book Boyfriend.
“Bathroom’s all yours,” she offered, her voice cheerful as she slipped under the covers.
“Wrong side. You’ll need to sleep over there.” He pointed to the other side of the pillows, heading toward the bathroom.
“But this is the side I always sleep on,” she protested with a hint of pout in her voice.
“Yes, but it’s the closest to the door. You’ll be the first target if someone bursts in here with guns blazing…unless you’re quick enough to grab your own and fire back,” he reasoned, half-jokingly.
She huffed. “Fine, but I’ll have to read to fall asleep on that side of the bed.”
“Not a problem. Why don’t we both start one of the thrillers we picked out?”
By the time he returned, Sophie was propped up on pillows, the covers pulled up under her armpits, a book lying next to her, and another on his pillow.
He crawled in beside her, the bed dipping as he did, but thankfully not breaking. He glanced at the title of the book she’d chosen. It was a paranormal thriller. “Good choice.”
“Want to take turns reading out loud?”
