“Oak? What’s wrong?”
They shook their head. “Nothing. Just… don’t go.”
I stared at them for a long moment, even though they were looking straight ahead at the television. I couldn’t tell what was wrong or what was going on inside their head, but if they were afraid to be alone right now, I sure as hell wasn’t going to leave them.
Unfortunately, I didn’t really know what to do to make them feel better, and Oak being drunk wasn’t helping the situation either.
After a minute, I opened my arms and quietly said, “Come here, darling.”
They glanced at me, then slid down the couch and straight into my arms. “I don’t want to be alone,” they murmured as they buried their face in my chest.
“Shh. I’ve got you. I won’t leave.”
“Promise?”
“I promise, sweetheart. I promise.”
I grabbed the throw blanket off the back of the couch and tugged it over our bodies as I twisted us so I could lift my legs onto the couch—definitely more cozy. Oak snuggled in further, and I let out a comforting sigh as I breathed them in and held them tight.
Oakley held onto me like they were afraid I’d leave, so I hugged them tight and whispered, “I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere. I promise.”
They sighed and snuggled in as I played with their short hair, running my fingers over it. I kissed the top of their head and left my nose there, breathing them in and closing my eyes, feeling truly at peace for the first time in weeks.
It wasn’t long before they fell asleep, but I stayed there, lying awake and thinking about how much I wanted this every single night, how much I needed this… how much it seemed that Oakley needed it too.
Jed was right. They really were ready, weren’t they?
I needed to have a conversation with them.
But first… Garrick.
Shitballs.
Chapter Eighteen
Oakley
Iblinked myself awake, confused for half a second.
Where was I?
And why the hell was my pillow so hard?
I blinked again, then sucked in a breath when my pillow moved.
Closing my eyes, I took a moment to gather myself.
I was lying on my couch, on top of Roman. Not just snuggled into his side or something, but actually. On. Top. Of. Him.
Like my entire body was lying on top of his like he was some kind of mattress. I was face down on his chest, and the only parts of my body that wasn’t on top of him were the bottom of my legs, but only because they were tangled up with his.
How had this even happened?
How had I gone from snuggling into his side to lying full out on him?
“Good morning, sunshine.”
I groaned. No chance of sneaking away before he woke up then. Shit.
