Kaylin didn’t realize she’d fallen asleep until she woke up and the credits were rolling. With her head leaned against Rusty’s shoulder, she sat up abruptly.
“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to do that.”
“It’s fine. You fell asleep and tried to stretch out.”
Kaylin realized his arm was draped over her shoulder.
“You can keep sleeping. You’re not bothering me.” He turned his chin to face her, his mouth only inches from hers. He brushed her loose hair off her shoulder. His fingers swept across her neck. Her skin prickled. “Cold?” He grabbed a blanket with his free hand and draped it over her body.
“No,” she said.
“Comfortable?”
“Yes.”
He turned his body into hers. “Is this okay?” he asked.
She nodded, feeling frozen in place. Kaylin worried if she flinched even a muscle the spell would break and he’d get up, leave her alone on the couch instead of letting her press against his chest.
He leaned in to kiss her.
7
Wishing For More
Kaylin awokeon Rusty’s couch the next morning, his body spooning hers. His long arm draped over her torso, his hand resting against her stomach beneath her shirt. Her mouth was dry, and her lips were chapped; she hadn’t experienced that from too much kissing since the homecoming dance her junior year of high school.
The light coming through the window was purple and pink; she’d have just enough time to shower and get ready for work. Then, she realized she hadn’t brought or asked for a towel. She sat up, shaking his shoulder gently. “Rusty?”
His eyes fluttered open, widening to register where he was and who he was with. He looked at her and smiled. Before Kaylin could smile back, his face dropped to a scowl. He sat up.
“I’m sorry,” he said. He stood quickly, rubbing his chin in that way that indicated a man was both thoughtful and confused.
Kaylin felt naked even though she was still in her pajamas. “It’s okay,” she said. This was not how she wanted waking up to go. “I just need a towel. Two, if you can spare them.” She crossed her arms protectively across her chest.
“Yes,” Rusty said, brushing past her to the bathroom. “Two. Got it.” He came back with two crisply folded white towels. He extended them to her from over the couch. They smelled like lavender soap.
Kaylin took the towels and hugged them to herself. “Thanks,” she said.
“About last night…”
“I didn’t…” Kaylin wanted to say, “mind,” but Rusty cut her off.
“That was unprofessional. I’m sorry. Sleep deprivation gets to me, as well as…” he gestured at her body. He cleared his throat. “I’ll need to accompany you to the hospital. We’ll take a ride together.” He didn’t want to take her to the hospital. He wanted to put her in a passenger seat and drive her far away from here, where some anonymous delinquent couldn’t bother her, where he could ignore setting up client calls and meetings with insurance agents and stash her in a hotel room overlooking the sea, all to himself.
“I can’t blow dry my hair in a car,” Kaylin said.
Rusty cocked his head to the side in slight confusion.
“Bike riding,” Kaylin explained, “is how I dry . . . never mind. It’s a joke. Sort of. I’m going to go now.” She scooped Codex off the couch and hurried out his door and back to the guest room, slamming the door behind her. “Stupid,” she said, letting Codex down to the floor. Her lips were still raw as she licked them. Her chin stung from rubbing against his whiskers as they’d made out on his couch, his hands on her hips and up her shirt. She turned on the water in the small shower but didn’t want to get in, didn’t want to wash the scent of him off her skin. When had a man like that ever looked at her twice? All she seemed to attract had been emotionally unavailable boys and men too much into their studies or work, and, most recently, creeps.That was just a hook-up, she thought to herself as she stepped under the water, wishing it had been more than that.
8
True Colors
Rusty droppedKaylin off at work, with only a head nod as a goodbye. She felt slapped, somehow, by the coldness of his sendoff, but it was her fault for thinking someone like that could want more from her than a convenient make-out session. The door slam after she was deposited on the sidewalk made her jump, then he was gone.
Kaylin finished her rounds and considered what to order for lunch as she hopped down the stairs to the breakroom in the correctional care unit, where she hoped to find Natalie poking at her salad, as usual. But then she remembered Natalie had gone to visit her parents. Rusty had told Kaylin not to go out to eat or pick anything up, and that she was only allowed to order in. The rule against going out made her only want to leave the hospital more. Thinking of a thick cheeseburger dripping with mayo made her mouth water. The hallways were dark, and she felt claustrophobic, knowing she couldn’t leave. Well, she could, she considered. He wouldn’t know. He wasn’t the boss of her. He wasn’t anything to her. She wasn’t even paying him! He still hadn’t mentioned a price. His hourly fee was probably exorbitant.I should get a discount for making out with him, she brooded.
