“Sure.”
I glance at his bed and back at him. “Is it okay if I lay on your bed again?”
He puts his hand on my back and guides me there. I close my eyes in relief as soon as I lay down. My head and nose are throbbing. “I just need to let my painkillers kick in,” I whisper. I feel a large hand at my temple, but I don’t open my eyes. It doesn’t take long for that sort of floating feeling to hit me, and I fall asleep.
The next time I open my eyes, it’s completely dark. I can’t see anything. I reach for where my phone should be but don’t find anything. I suddenly remember I’m in Slater’s room. I try to let my eyes adjust, but I seriously can’t see anything. “Slater?” I whisper.
“I’m here.”
His voice soothes the growing panic. “What time is it?” I ask, totally out of it.
“It’s a little after midnight.”
I sit straight up in bed. “I’m so sorry.” I throw back the covers and sit up. “I should be in my dorm. I—” I shake my head, trying to wake up fully.
“Easy. It's okay. You were sleeping, so I just let you.”
“What about you? You’re on the floor. That’s terrible.”
“I’m fine,” he starts, but I continue.
“You should have just woken me up. I’m so sorry.”
“Hey.” There’s a hand on my leg, stilling me. “Everything’s okay. Take a breath.” I do, and the panic starts to ease. “I could have woken you up, but I didn’t want to. You were sleeping soundly. But if there’s a reason you need to be in your dorm, I’ll take you there.”
“Well, no; I just feel bad.”
“Don’t.”
“But you’re on the floor.”
“I’m fine.”
“But—” I start.
“Tessa.” The way he says my name makes me pause. “It’s okay. Do you feel like you can sleep more?”
I laugh. “Uh, yeah. This bed is amazing.”
“Good. Now lay down and enjoy it.”
“But you’re on the floor; I can’t do that to you.”
“You’re not,” he says in return.
“Slater,” I start.
“Tessa,” he returns.
I pause, unsure about what to say next. I feel horrible that he’s sleeping on the floor. “Do you want me to sleep on the couch?”
“No.”
“But—” I try again.
“Tessa, if you can get good sleep, that will make me feel better and sleep too.”
I take in his words. “Okay. If you’re sure...”
