He sets the blanket on the end of the bed before lining up the pillow down the middle. I can’t help it, I have to ask, “What are you doing?”
“Getting the bed ready to sleep with you.” He cocks his head to the side as if it should be obvious.
“Why are you putting the pillows between us?”
“If there’s something between us, there won’t be any temptation to take things further. You don’t cross the pillow line, and I won’t either.”
I start laughing and immediately cover my mouth. I do not want Parker or Piper walking in on this.
“If that’s what makes you feel better, I guess.”
“It does.” After he’s done building a barrier between us, he lifts the comforter and slides onto the bed. “Good night, Paula.”
With those parting words, he turns off the lamp and rolls over. Oh, so I guess he has to be facing away from me as well. This does answer my earlier musings about if he’s attracted to me. He obviously is if he has to put an obstacle between us. I just wish he’d let himself act on it.
Normally, I can turn over and go straight to sleep. Having someone beside me in the bed has never been a problem since I've been sharing beds with my siblings my entire life.
But tonight, that isn't happening. Even though Tristan breathing has evened out, I know he's not asleep. He keeps tossing, turning, and pulling the covers tighter over him to strengthen the shield he's built.
He also makes a lot of noise when he moves. It’s so loud I’m surprised the entire house can’t hear him.
I'm not sure how long I lay there, but I can't take it anymore. I grab each pillow, one by one and throw them on the floor.
This time he turns toward me. “What are you doing?”
“Getting rid of these damn pillows. They’re annoying.”
“But I put them there for a reason.” He sounds frustrated, but not mad. Which is a good thing, because I don't care if he's mad.
“It’s a dumb reason. We are both grown adults and are capable of sleeping in the bed together. Besides with the pillows there, I can’t do this.”
I walk my fingers across his side before scooting closer to him, testing his boundaries.
“Paula, this isn't a good idea.”
“Says who?”
“Me,” he sighs. “You've been drinking. And I can't be intimate with somebody who doesn't feel the same way I do.” I’m surprised he isn’t ticking the reasons off on his fingers.
I knew that going in. I knew that from the first night I met him. But it doesn't stop me from wrapping my arm around him and getting a teensy tiny bit closer.
His entire body tenses for a split second before he relaxes into my embrace. He’s slowly letting down his barriers.
“Look, I can't say that me and you are going to be forever. Or, that we're going to be anything more than what is happening while we're on this trip, but I do like you. You make me feel like my best self and that I can do anything I put my mind to.”
“That's because you can,” he responds.
“I wasn't done.” I bop him on the nose, and he rears back a bit. “You're the one who told me to try things because you only live once, and life is too short. I am telling you that very same thing right now. Life is too short. We are obviously attracted to each other.”
I can tell by the bulge in his sweat pants. He’s not doing a very good job of hiding his lust.
“So, why not give this a shot?”
“I’m going to be real honest with you right now, Paula. You can always count on me, you know that. But ifwe do this, there's no way we can come out of this as friends. Not with any sort of attachment we have while we're here. Besides, your parents are right down the hall. What if they hear us?”
I lift my head and press a kiss to his cheek, then his chin, and lastly, his lips.
“I’m okay with that. Because I am doing the same thing. I am taking my shot and giving us a try.”
