Chapter 25
Three o’clock in the morning and Haley was close to crying. She was exhausted. Her head was pounding and she felt sick to her stomach. She hadn’t slept in five days.
Not one single wink.
Sadly, it had nothing to do with the cottage. The bed was firm, just the way she liked it. The air conditioner ran perfectly, keeping the little cottage at a cool 68 degrees. The only noise to be heard was the sound of the waves crashing against the beach. She really wished there was something to complain about because that would mean that going to one of the hotels down the road would provide her with the sleep that her body desperately needed.
No, the reason that she couldn’t sleep was quite simple. The bastard, who refused to leave no matter how many times she’d begged, pleaded, or threatened to kick his ass, was one hundred percent responsible for this problem. Being this dependent on another person for sleep wasn’t normal, but no matter how many times she’d tried to get that message across to her exhausted body, it wouldn’t listen.
She tried everything over the past three days. At first, she’d thought relaxation would do the trick, so she’d taken about a dozen hot baths, read a few books, and even went for a relaxing moonlit stroll along the beach. When that didn’t work, she’d moved on to vigorous activity. She tried swimming, went for a bike ride, and cleaned the cottage from top to bottom.
Absolutely nothing worked.
There was no way that she could handle another day without sleep, especially since Jason was determined to keep her here for four more days. She sat up in bed and kicked the sheet away. Damn it. If she was going to be stuck with him, then she might as well get something out of it, she decided as she threw open her door and stormed down the short hallway.
Jason looked over at her and sighed. She wasn’t really surprised to find him awake. It seemed this sleeping addiction went both ways, thankfully, because if she was going to suffer then, so was he. Granted, his inability to sleep might have more to do with the small wicker chairs that he was forced to sit in all night since she’d refused to let him sleep with her.
“I don’t know what you did, but you’ve wrecked sleep for me and since you won’t give me back my stuff, I’ve decided that you will allow me the use of your body for sleep,” she clarified, afraid he might get the wrong idea, “until we go home and I can get a prescription for sleeping pills from my doctor.”
Jason simply looked at her through bloodshot eyes. “Okay, move your ass,” she said, gesturing for him to head back to the bedroom.
“No,” he said softly.
She narrowed her eyes on him. “Don’t make me hurt you, Jason. I am way too tired for any bullshit tonight, so move your ass.”
He stubbornly shook his head. “Not until you promise to spend the last four days with me.”
“No.”
They broke up and she really needed him to accept that, especially since they had to go back to work in two weeks. She didn’t want to have to deal with this at work. He needed to accept this so they could both move on. It was already hard enough being around him and not being able to touch him without losing it.
She loved him so much and this was killing her. The best thing he could do for both of them was to let her go now before it destroyed her. She already knew that she’d have to put her house on the market and look for a new job as soon as she got back because there was no way that she was going to be able to see him after this without feeling like her heart was breaking all over again. She needed to put as much space between them as she could if she hoped to survive this.
“We have four days left, Haley. If you want to sleep, then you’ll give me what I want.”
“You need sleep just as much as I do,” she pointed out.
Jason nodded even as he said, “And I’m willing to go without it if that’s what it takes.”
“We’re not getting back together,” she said, feeling more exhausted than she had five minutes ago.
“I’m not asking for that, Haley. I’m asking for some real time with you.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“Yes,” Jason said, sounding as exhausted as she felt. “I just want some time with you.”
She considered him for a moment. At this point, she was willing to fork over her kidneys if it meant getting some sleep. “Fine,” she said slowly before adding, “But just sleep. Nothing else.”
He sighed as he got to his feet. “That’s fine,” he said, walking past her to the bedroom.
“Underwear stays on,” she announced as she walked into the room.
Jason yanked his underwear back up, probably too tired to argue, and flopped down on the bed. After a slight hesitation, Haley lay down and curled up against him. In a matter of minutes, she felt her body relax and started to drift off.
“Oh, my God, no! It’s going to bite me!” Haley squealed, jumping back as the small crab moved towards her.
Jason chuckled as he watched his little grasshopper run on her tippy toes, trying to get away from the small crab that did seem to have it out for her. Every time Haley changed direction, so did the crab.
