He’ll probably wake up when the movie ends anyway.
Except, he doesn’t, and I tell myself just another minute. Just one more moment to enjoy this.
Just one more.
11
HUDSON
Did I get a new pillow?
And leave the curtains open? Adrian’s black-out curtains are no joke—there’s never this much sunlight in the morning.
I finally open my eyes enough to look around and realize I’m still on the couch. I must have fallen asleep watching the movie last night. Damn. I was enjoying it too, but once Adrian offered to have me lay down, I didn’t stand a chance after a game.
I shift and realize that my pillow is not actually a pillow. I’m still laying on Adrian’s leg.Holy shit,he didn’t move all night? He looks far less comfortable than I was, half sitting up and slumped against the arm of the chair. I sit up fully and check the time. Still way earlier than he needs to be awake for the day on a Sunday.
I nudge him. “Hey, did you want to move into your bed? That doesn’t look very comfy.”
“Hmm?” he hums sleepily. “You want to go to my bed?”
I chuckle. “Nah, I have to go in for conditioning soon, but you should sleep.”
“M’fine,” he mumbles, but his brow is furrowed and there is just no way his neck isn’t going to hurt with the angle it’s at.
“I’ve got you.” I stand and position one arm under his knees and the other behind his back. “Put your arms around my neck, and I’ll carry you.”
He does what I say without actually opening his eyes, and he’s small enough that I lift him easily. He rests his head on my chest, and the way he trusts me so easily, even in sleep, makes me smile. Luckily his bedroom door is open, so even though it’s dark and I can’t really make out the details of the room, I’m able to carry him all the way to his bed without any obstacles. But when I lay him down, he doesn’t remove his arms from around me.
“Alright, Charming, you’re in bed, you can let go now.”
“Don’t wanna,” he grumbles, eyes still closed, hugging me closer.
“I wish I could stay too, but I have to go to work,” I remind him with a laugh. I can’t help it, Adrian is usually so put together, so energetic, and seeing this sleepy side of him that just wants to cuddle is adorable. He still hasn’t let go, and I really did enjoy how comfortable we were laying together on the couch last night. “We can cuddle later if you’d like,” I promise, peeling his hand away from my neck.
“Fiiiine,” he says through a yawn.
“Sweet dreams, Adrian.”
“Night, babe.”
Babe?Who does Adrian think I am right now in his half-asleep state? There’s a twisting sensation in my stomach as it sinks in that he probably wishes I was someone else. He said he wasn’t seeing anyone, but maybe it isn’t serious, or maybe there’s someone he wishes he was seeing.
I hope he isn’t holdingback from having anyone over because of me.
But I also don’t love the idea of giving up the time we have to hang out together.
That’s selfish though; if he wants to have a guy over, to his own house, he obviously should. I’ll have to ask him about it later.
I should really look at that dating app too.
Adrian is talking loudlyin his office when I get back a few hours later, so I head to my room to call my parents. My dad is napping, but my mom gushes about our game last night, going on and on about how excited they are to see us play in person soon. I’m excited too, but it’s weird to think it’ll be the last time with me retiring.
Hopefully we’ll have other things to celebrate though. Maybe I’ll meet someone soon, and they’ll also be eager to have kids. I’m trying to remain optimistic even if those new life milestones I’m hoping to reach seem further away than ever.
With that thought in mind, I think it’s time to really sit down and look through who’s on the dating app, no matter how much I don’t love the idea of trying to weed through profiles by myself. I go back into the living room, determined to make some progress while I wait for Adrian to be done with whatever he’s working on in his office, and am excited to see he’s already moved into the kitchen, grabbing some water.
“Hey! Did you end up having to work too?” I ask.
