Nix swipes his plate off the table before I can get to it and takes it to the sink. This is one battle I’m not going to win. Side-by-side, we rinse the dishes so they’re ready to go in the dishwasher. Since I clean while I cook, it only takes us a few minutes to get everything squared away for the night.
“I don’t know what your schedule’s like, but I usually read for a little while after dinner and then go to bed. I’m an early riser, which means going to sleep early.” He winces like he expects me to say something bad about his habits. Whoever gave him a hard time over something like that had better look over their shoulder. If I ever meet them, we’re going to have words.
“Works for me. Except for the reading part. I’ll watch something on my computer, but I have headphones, so it won’t bother you.” At least I hope not.
After we take turns using the bathroom and changing into our pajamas, we settle in on the couch in the small living area. Nix pulls a book that’s definitely seen better days from his bag, obviously a favorite given that it looks like it’s been read at least a dozen times. “Are you re-reading something?”
“Yep.” He makes himself cozy, propping himself up against the arm of the couch while bending his knees to make himself small. It’s unnecessary given that there’s plenty of space for both of us.
“But you already know what happens?” I wrinkle my nose. That book is long, too. There are way too many pages there for me to consider reading it once, let alone multiple times.
“So?”
I don’t have a good argument, so I pull upNetflix, pick the next episode of my favorite show, and connect my headphones via Bluetooth.
It’s only a few minutes before the hair on the back of my neck stands up straight. I turn to find Nix staring at me. “Is something wrong?” I ask, pulling my headphones off to hear him.
“Didn’t that show stop airing in like 2012?”
“Yeah?” I look back at the screen. It doesn’t feel like that long ago, but now that he mentions it.
“And you didn’t watch it until now?”
I can sense the trap I’m about to walk into, but I take the bait anyway. “I watched it when it was on TV, but it’s my favorite. I rewatch it at least once a year.” That’s a lie. I’m almost always at some stage of re-watching it.
“But you already know what happens?”
Yep, I deserve that one. “Good point. I get it.”
The smug little expression on his face should piss me off, but instead, it makes me smile. It’s good to see him happy after he’s been pouting all day over his house. If what it takes to make him grin is besting me in a verbal sparring match, then I might just start letting him win. Not all the time—I have to make it believable—but sometimes.
NIX
It’s the sign of a good book that I’ve completely lost track of time. Which is why the next time I look up, it’s way past my bedtime.
“Shit.”
Chase jumps at my outburst. “What’s wrong?” He yanks his headphones off his head and stands up. “Are you okay?”
“Sorry.” I duck my head, a bit ashamed of how loud I yelled. “I just realized what time it is. Time for me to turn in for the night.”
“Okay. Let’s go.”
Oh, together then.Yep.That makes complete and total sense. The bed looms in its corner of the room. Before this moment,I hadn’t given any thought to what the sleeping arrangements would be. A major oversight on my part. In my defense, I was far more worried about my house than anything else.
Thankfully, the couch is pretty comfortable.
“I’ll take the sofa,” I offer. It’s comfortable, which was a major reason why I selected it in the first place.
“Nix, that’s ridiculous.” Chase closes his computer and sets it on the coffee table.
“I’ll order a sleeping bag or something tomorrow for the rest of the week.” Maybe I should consider getting a pull-out sofa. They don’t usually look as nice, but it would be functional. Families might appreciate the ability to have children in the space. Another thing to look into tomorrow.
“Just sleep in the bed with me. It’s plenty big enough for the both of us.”
Oh, sure. Just sleep in a bed with my lifelong crush. What could possibly go wrong?
Everything. Everything could go wrong.
