I remember him telling me to lay my head in his lap when my eyes got droopy and how he let his fingers glide through the strands of my hair, playing with some of them.
When did I fall asleep?
And how did I end up with my cheek pressed against his chest?
“Shh… she’s sleeping,” Xander whispers, his voice muffled beneath me.
I feel a gentle hand on my head, and Joshua asks, “Did you guys have a good evening?”
“It was nice. We watched some movies. Sophia went to bed a few hours ago,” Xander says softly.
Right after the second movie, she excused herself with a knowing grin, telling us to stay and watch as long as we wanted. I thought about going to bed then too, but when Xander asked if I wanted to watch another movie with him, I just couldn’t say no.
I don’t think I even can tell this man no.
“Why didn’t you go to bed?” Clay asks, now sounding even closer.
“She fell asleep on me,” Xander answers, his shrug gently moving me with the motion.
“You could’ve taken her upstairs,” Joshua points out, his voice slightly agitated. “You know, to her bed. Where she sleeps.”
Is he mad at me?
“I don’t think I could’ve resisted joining her if I did. And I think you would have liked that even less,” Xander huffs out, making me furrow my brows.What is he even saying? Is he trying to provoke him?“Which bed should I put her in?”
“Xander,” I murmur, knowing I have to get up before they get into it even more.
“That’s a good choice since it’s my bed, too,” Clay chimes in.
Not helping the slightest, jerk.
“No,” I mumble, pushing myself up from where I was lying on Xander and standing. “I meant I can walk, Xander. Thanks.”
I take Joshua’s hand and lead him toward the stairs. My eyes are barely open, but I have to get him upstairs and make sure we’re good.
“I need to shower and change first,” he says, stopping to pull me into a hug. “But I’ll hurry and come back to snuggle with you under the covers, okay?” He kisses my forehead, easing my worries a bit.
“Night, kitty cat,” Clay says as he and Xander join us in the hallway, pulling me out of Joshua’s embrace and into his own.
My hands are on his chest, and I turn my head to look at Joshua, who is biting his lips while Clay is squeezing me to him. I can’t read Joshua’s expression, but a new tension surrounds us.
The moment Clay lets go of me, Joshua pushes him toward the door saying, “Come on, dickhead. You need a shower too. You fucking stink,” making Clay chuckle as they pile out of the door.
Xander leans down to kiss my temple before he makes his way to the door, following them without another word.
I don’t know if it’s the exhaustion pulling me under or if I’m imagining it, but I swear there is a strain between them. Much like the edginess I felt in the room when I woke up in the hospital. But every time I go to say something, it’s like they notice, and it quickly disappears, making me feel like I’ve imagined it all.
TWELVE
My heart feels full.
Slipping the yellow bracelet I made into my jacket pocket, I lean down to kiss Joshua’s forehead.
I got ready quickly and quietly so I didn’t wake him.
He looks so much younger with his eyes shut, sound asleep, nestled between the light pink sheets, and hair tousled. I’m so madly in love with this one, more than I ever imagined I could be.
Suddenly, thoughts of Clay and Xander cross my mind. I shake my head.
