Falling in love with Jordan Atkinson is no different.
CHAPTER 23
JORDAN
Once again, Libby and I are back where we started when we got to Ellie’s house two days ago: staring at the bed.
Libby insists that I will take the bed because I’m bigger and it makes sense.
I insist that she take the bed because I am a gentleman and there’s no way I’m making her sleep on the couch.
Libby has already told me that Ellie knows the truth, and she will most certainly tell Will, but neither of them will say a word about it. Ellie has offered to prepare Emmeline’s room for me, and she can sleep with Kat. But that will raise questions with the girls, and they’re in the spotlight with their parents enough that it’s not a good idea.
So here we are.
I draw in a deep breath, prepared to sacrifice for the woman I know will not back down on this bed thing. “We’ll both sleep in the bed,” I say with a firm nod.
“Jord…” She shakes her head. She doesn’t want to make me uncomfortable or push the limits after what I admitted yesterday. That’s been mentioned multiple times tonight. “I can’t do that to you.”
She’s already doing it to me. The bed situation won’t changehow much I want her. “Are you uncomfortable sleeping in this gigantic bed with me?” I ask gently.
More blushing, which sets fire to my insides. “No,” she replies in a soft voice. I almost don’t catch her next words. They’re barely above a whisper. “I trust you enough.”
“Okay. We both sleep in the bed; no more arguments.”
She quirks a brow. “You putting your foot down?”
“Absolutely.”
“Fine,” she huffs. “But I’m building a pillow wall.”
“What is a pillow wall?”
She gets onto the bed and starts stacking pillows down the middle. “This,” she says as she lays them out. “It will keep me from accidentally sleep-cuddling you.” She kneels on her side, hands on her hips, and eyes the pillow wall with satisfaction.
I’ll take accidental sleep-cuddling over no cuddling, but Libby makes the rules. “Looks great.”
She sits back. “I’m sorry?—”
I hold up a hand, stopping her. “You don’t need to apologize. I told you last night because I wanted to be honest. I didn’t want you to realize at some point and think that I was using you or our relationship for my own … satisfaction.” I scrub the back of my neck in embarrassment at pointing my physical desires out. “No more apologizing for it, okay? We’re honest with each other.”
She nods at me. “Okay.”
I wake up around midnight—it’s like sleeping at a hotel. No one gets their best sleep in an unfamiliar place—to find that Libby has moved to the couch. I get up and stalk over, standing above her.
“Libby Bennet,” I say firmly, to wake her up.
Her eyes fly open, and when she sees me towering above her, she has the decency to look sheepish. “It wasn’t fair to you,” she says.
“I will not be able to sleep on that bed if you’re on the couch.” I hold out a hand toward the bed, where the pillow wallis still intact. “And that pillow wall is epic. Can you please be a good girl and get back into bed?”
A blush rises in her cheeks. I hear the way that sounded—back into bed. Like we share one every night. Like we’re a real couple.
“Fine,” she says. She gathers up her things and stalks back to the bed. She plops down on it, lying as close to the edge as she can without falling off.
“Libby.”
She eyes me with a challenge that says,Here or the couch. Take your pick.
