One time, I said.
Clearly, it wasn’t going to be enough.
“Are you okay?” I ask, trying my hardest to focus on her face. That plan falls apart when my eyes trace the bare skin of her legs. With no shorts on, nothing is left to the imagination. Long. Toned. Shapely. They’d look so good wrapped around my waist or lying on my shoulders.
Snap out of it,Nate.
“Uh-huh.” Vivienne stands, deliberately avoiding my eyes as she looks anywhere but at me.
I’ll take that as my cue to leave.
I grab what I need, not caring whether the colors complement one another, and change as quickly as possible in the confines of my new safe space—the bathroom.
“I’m heading to the kitchen for a cup of water. Do you want anything?” I walk out to find Vivienne rooted where I last left her.
She’s trying to play it cool, pretending to study the dresser behind me, but her gaze keeps shifting—trailing down my body, and lingering too long on the front of my sweatpants before snapping back up.
She really isn’t making this any easier on me.
“I’m good. Thank you.” Vivienne gives me another crooked smile. And while I want to question her sanity, I’ve got no right when I’m losing my mind as well.
As soon as I step into the hallway, I blow out a breath of relief. The peace doesn’t last long, though, when I see my mother sneaking out of her bedroom.
Her eyes perk up at the sight of me, and I walk toward her, making sure she stays as far away from Vivienne as possible.
God knows what she’d do if she got hold of her.
“Oh, Nate, such perfect timing. I was coming over to give you this,” Mom says as she hands me a fuzzy red-and-black blanket with all sorts of geometric designs. “I was on a call with Grandma, and while chatting about how lovely Vivienne is, she gave me clear instructions to give this to you—said this blanket has special powers.” She laughs, shaking her head in amusement.
“What kind of special powers?” I ask, curiosity getting the best of me.
I’ve seen it once before. I just can’t recall when.
“Hard to classify, but she calls it the baby maker.”
The blood drains from my face as my mouth drops open in shock, something that only makes my mom guffaw louder.
Don’t insult your grandmother.
Don’t tell your mother she’s just as crazy.
“Thank you so much, Mom. Tell Grandma I’m infinitely grateful for blessing me with the powers this blanket holds.”
“No problem,” she says with a nonchalant shrug, retreating to her bedroom like she hadn’t insinuated I’d knock up my fake fiancée under her roof.
I chuck the thing to the side, wiping my hands down my sweatpantsmanytimes as I make my way to the kitchen.
Forget about normal tap water, I’ll need a priest to turn it holy. Three cups chugged and two prayers begging to spare me from this torture later, I’m on my way back to my personal hell.
I take a deep breath before creaking the door open, determined not to get distracted by the sight of Vivienne ormy growing feelings for her when I catch her sleeping on the wooden floor.
Table lights off, legs pulled close to her chest, a spare pillow under her neck, and the baby maker tucked across her body. Her teeth clatter, and a twinge of guilt shoots up to my chest.
We never discussed the sleeping arrangements. There’s only one bed, that much is obvious. But it’s the way she assumed I’d let her take the floor that makes me question my actions toward her this past day.
Without a second thought, I scoop the girl up in my arms, baby maker included, as not to add to her chill.But being this close to her after avoiding her for so long has its disadvantage—every detail of her face feels all the sharper. The dark lashes sweeping against her cheeks. The smooth skin that glows under the pale moonlight. Parted lips I desperately want against mine.
I place her body under the covers of my bed, tucking her in as tightly as I can. And like everything else she does, it’s hard not to admire.
