My sandpaper-like eyes struggle to peel open as the morning sunlight shines through the cracks in the blackout curtains. I take in the unfamiliar new room and note the sleeping presence wrapped around me like ivy. After we brought in my bags, we ordered a pizza, and laid in bed for the rest of the night. I predicted that yesterday’s events would be draining, so I prepared by letting Hannah know that I would be out for a few days.
I’ve never lived with anyone other than my family, but it surprised me how easy it was to fall into bed and just sleep with Brandon. It helps that I’m completely hooked and in this with him for the long haul. My heart broke for both of us last night. And as we fell asleep, I felt the pillow behind me grow wet from his silent tears.
I snuggle further into his arms and attempt to go back to sleep, but a kiss on the back of my head signals Brandon’s awake.
“Hi,” his husky morning voice greets.
“Morning,” I greet and place a kiss on his hand.
Brandon places another kiss on the back of my head andslides out of bed, heading toward the bathroom and taking care of business. We switch places when he shuffles back in, and when I’m in here, I look at my things already at home in his bathroom and smile around my toothbrush. Although my stuff is hastily placed on the vanity, for now, they have a temporary home. As much as the thought of living with someone else terrifies me, I couldn’t possibly see myself living with anyone other than him.
I open the door and turn off the bathroom light. My steps falter at the sight of him propped up on two fluffy pillows, shirtless. The thick white down comforter pools around him, making him look even more devastatingly handsome. I crawl onto the bed and fit myself into his side like a lock effortlessly clicking into place.
“I told Hannah I was taking the next couple days off,” I tell Brandon.
“I’m sorry,” he whispers.
I sit up and look at him. With his sleep-mussed hair, he looks younger than his thirty-one years—he looks like the boy I knew when we were younger. “Don’t do that. We both knew that us being together would come with some…complications. I knew we’d get backlash, but I think we underestimated their reactions.”
“Yeah.”
“At least we have your brothers.”
“Shit,” he swears under his breath and snags his phone off his nightstand. His eyes widen when he looks at the screen and I move back next to him to see what’s caused the reaction.
Malcolm: Mom and Dad blew up on us.
Evan: If Ford wasn’t in high school, I would’ve brought him to my place.
Ford: I can deal with them for a little bit.
Malcolm: You shouldn’t have to.
Brandon: Hey, Ford, I have plenty of room and I’m sure Angie won’t mind.
He looks at me like a deer caught in the headlights. “I should’ve asked you to make sure.”
“B, it’s your place. I’m just crashing here until I can find my own.”
His forehead scrunches and he tosses his phone on the floor. My amusement fades when he pushes me back on the bed and crawls over me, settling between my legs as he does. “My home is yours for as long as you want. Preferably forever, because as I said yesterday, I’m a great roommate.”
“I do remember you saying that. Even though I work those less-than-typical hours, you still want us to live together?” I ask, laying back down and running my hands over his forearms.
“Yes.”
I tuck my bottom lip between my teeth. “Do I at least snore? Because that’s my dealbreaker.”
He snorts and shakes his head. “Nope.”
I angle my head and narrow my eyes at him. “Are you lying?”
“Not at all.”
My hands run him his arms and over his shoulders, then hook around his neck.
“What are you thinking?” Brandon whispers.
“That I’m scared and sad and angry. But mostly I’m just sad. Or maybe it’s my anger disguised as sadness,” I admit and my fingers play with the strands of hair at the base ofhis neck. I chew on my bottom lip before asking my question. “Can we play the what-if game really fast?”
