“You won’t have the self-control, Blakey-bear,” I say, and like intended the nickname makes him roll his eyes at once.
“Is that so?”
I lean back until my spine connects with his chest and his jaw is within kissing distance. “It’s like you said—when you take me, neither of us will want it to stop.”
Chapter 21
Blake
We makeit back to campus just in time to throw some things into a bag and head out for the contest’s stargazing date.
The tents are set up in a wide half-moon, with plenty of space in between tents to give the illusion of privacy. I say illusion because while the tents seem sturdy they are in no way soundproof. Any attempt at touching Alexis—which I want to,so badly,especially after last night—would have to be soundless, which goes decidedly against my need to hear her scream my name again.
I grab our bags from the trunk and dodge Alexis’s attempts at taking hers off me. “I’ve got it, Sunshine.”
“I can do it myself, really?—”
I shoot her a look that saysdrop it,and she knows better than to finish her sentence. She tries to hide them, all those labored breaths and winces, but anyone paying even a little attention to her can see she’s in pain.
It’s my fault. I was the one who begged her to go to the game with me, and for purely selfish reasons, too. We might not have won if she hadn’t been there, but at least she wouldn’t have extra pain to deal with. The jersey, beanie, mittens and even my coatweren’t enough to keep her warm, and now I’m making her pay for my selfishness.
Stupid bastard.
One of the people in those god-awful Brookside U Communications shirts does a headcount. I guess we were the last to arrive, as she gives a sharp whistle that hurts my ears and motions for us to gather around.
She starts by reminding us about the cameras pointed at us always—can’t forget this is a marketing ploy!—and then rambles on about the activities they’ve set up, but I’m not listening, because Alexis just wrapped her arms around my chest and laid her head on my shoulder, her body all cuddled up into my side. She’s cold as always, but warmth spreads through my body in every place we collide, and a battalion of dragonflies swarm my stomach as I get thrown byher.
My love. My Sunshine. My Alexis.
“Sounds fun,” Alexis mutters. Sleep drips like syrup from her lips, and her eyes stay closed like she’s doing a little nap.
I shake my head with a smile. “Yeah, we’re not doing that. Or anything else, until you’ve gotten some sleep.”
I wasn’t listening, so I have no idea what she was referring to, but it doesn’t matter. She can barely keep her eyes open, and I’m not about to go fullWeekend at Bernie’son her.
She starts to protest, but I feel her body relax beneath my grip to the point I’m convinced my arms are the only thing keeping her upright. One of my favorite members of the crew, Noah, peeks out from behind the camera before lifting his eyebrow in question, jerking his chin towards a slightly drooling Alexis. I nod and give a thumbs up. While the rest of the group peels off to do whatever, I swoop my girl off her exhausted feet and carry her to our tent, tucking her in before setting up shop at its mouth.
I figure she’d be out for a few minutes, maybe an hour tops. Eventually someone comes to check on her again, and it takes some time to convince them that yes, she reallyisjust that tired but she’ll be up in no time. By the time Alexis’s adorably groggy face peeks out through the tent flaps, dinner time has come and gone.
“Blake, what the hell do you think you’re doing?”
I don’t take my eyes off the pages. “Reading. I got bored and took one of your books. Don’t worry—I’ll return it undamaged.”
“Not that, you weirdo. You didn’t wake me! We’ve missed all the activities!” Alexis hisses like it’s important somehow. It’s not.
“Those were thephysicalactivities, and not the ones we’re good at,” I say, and can’t help but smile as I notice her glare. “And we weren’t going to do those anyway. You’re right on time for trivia, though, and stargazing after that.”
“Oh.” She considers for a moment, the anger and panic already fading from her face. “So we still have a shot.”
“No harm done.”
She nods slowly. “Is there any food left?”
I grin, and as I meet her gaze I’m awarded with a smile that tugs at something deep inside my chest.
Though we haven’t said it, something has shifted between us, pushing us far away from the place we started. The Alexis I met that night would never have trusted me to watch over her as she slept, and would have ran when I showed her every messed up part of me. But not anymore. This version of her is bolder, more trusting, with a flirtatious streak that brings me to my knees.
I showed her my scars, bared my soul, and she didn't even flinch at my darkness, enveloping me in her light so it no longer felt as heavy. I’m too much of a coward to ask her what it means, if she feels the same way I feel about her. But I know that what I feel for her isn't going away–it's only getting stronger.
