“You mean in the bathroom when I was in my underwear and your shirt?”
A lopsided smile brightens his sleepy face. “Best day of my life.”
“I had just gotten thrown up in, so not really the best day of mine.”
“Did the kiss not improve your day?”
“Reid. Focus.”
He throws his head back and lets out the most dramatic sigh I’ve ever heard from a man. I arch an eyebrow, stifling a laugh. He rights himself, putting both hands on my shoulders and locking tired eyes with mine.
“Iwantto be in a relationship. With you. But you keep sending me mixed messages. And now I’m confused. And I’m scared you’ll tell me you don’t want to be with me. That’s only happened to me once before, but I think hearing it from you would break me way worse. Into a hundred thousand pieces. So I’m scared.”
“I’m scared too,” I admit to him.
“Of what?”
“Of you deciding I’m not good enough for you.”
“Jane, you are the best for me. I’ve never met someone who feels so perfect for me.”
I’m about to ask more, I want to tell him about Kate and Lydia, about what they said to me about him, but he lets out a yawn and I realize how exhausted he must be. I can’t corner him out here anymore. It’s probably better we talk about this sober anyway.
“Let’s pick this back up tomorrow,” I suggest, stepping out of his hands and continuing my trek back to the villa. I need to get him back to his own room where he can hopefully sleep this off.
“Absolutely.”
I only make it two steps before he grabs my hand and interlaces his fingers with mine. I freeze for a moment, glancing down at our hands, then back up to him. But he’s still walking like it’s totally normal. His gaze is ahead, his steps are sure, his grip is firm. There’s a strong chance he doesn’t even remember this tomorrow, so with a shrug, I let go of my worries and hold his hand the entire walk back to the villa.
Somewhere along the way, I realize I could do this every day, every time I walk somewhere with him.
I don’t want to walk anywhere without him.
And that thought is terrifying.
I am in love with Reid Matthews. Hopelessly. Desperately. Madly in love with him.
And that realization is even more terrifying.
Chapter 22
The espresso machine in this blue and white villa kitchen is much louder than I realized it would be. And my room is right off the kitchen with the door wide open where Reid is snoring loudly. Grimacing over the rumbling of the maker, I glance toward the door to find he hasn’t stirred one bit. He must be feeling absolutely awful this morning after everything he drank yesterday.
Once we got back to the villa it was almost comical trying to get him to find his own bed and get his shoes off. I got him to lay down in bed—even if it was my own—but he immediately rolled on his side and slung a strong arm around my chest, muttering an endearing, “please stay with me,” in my ear.
And I did. Without hesitation. I stayed with him all night long, his arms wrapped around me and his breath on my neck. It was totally worth the kink in my neck when I woke up this morning and tiptoed out of bed.
Despite myself, I smile at the sight of him curled up on the bed, a leg hanging out of the white sheets, a look of peace on his sleeping face. Once the espresso cup is filled with liquid heaven, I dump it into a cup with ice and top it with milk. I don’t want to drink cold coffee in the morning, but I can’t bring myself to use the steamer in case it wakes Reid up.
I’m quietly putting a straw in the cup when he finally stirs, groaning softly as he wakes up.
When he cracks open his blue eyes, I see the brief confusion that crosses his face as he takes in the room, then finally remembers he’s not at home and relaxes. His gaze finally lands on me in the doorway and I arch an eyebrow at him.
Reid lets his head flop back onto my pillow and rubs at his eyes.
“Good morning,” I chirp, much too enthusiastically for how he’s likely feeling. I lean a shoulder against his door, crossing one ankle over the other. “How are you feeling?”
He groans. “Not good.”
