What the fuck. I said this to him in confidence.
Leon’s eyes zoom in on the necklace around my neck then move over to Aaron’s. He’s known of the necklace, asked me to get rid of it because he felt uncomfortable knowing I still held on to someone else while dating him. Seeing now both halves of the necklace must help him connect the dots. “Du verdammte Schlampe.”
Maybe I would be a little more furious if Aaron wasn’t stroking his thumb over my thigh, having my body react in ways I’m not sure it ever has.
It’s calming, even when my ex has just called me a bitch.
“I have no idea what you said, but I’m certain it’s an insult. A lame one if you have to go about insulting my girlfriend in a language I don’t understand. That’s pretty low, don’t you think? Only cowards would even go as far as using insults to feel better about themselves.” He gets up from his seat, holding his hand out for me to take. And I do. I take it not only to appear like we’re an actual couple, but because as it seems, I enjoy holding his hand.
The slip-up at the airport earlier was me panicking, desperate to make us seem like a couple. But fuck, the tingles rushing through my blood at the contact had me wonder if it’s always going to be like this when Aaron’s skin is on mine.
It’s a good kind of rush that speeds up my heart rate, makes my breath hitch and long for him… maybe not so good after all.
27
Aaron
“but if it ain’t you, it’s a lie”—Always Been You by Jessie Murph
For someone who claims to be smart, I sure as hell am stupid as fuck.
Who in their right mind says sharing a room with the woman you’re attracted to is alright? Mind you, a woman that you’re fake-dating and wants absolutely nothing to do with you otherwise. Except for being friends, maybe? Eventhatis cutting it.
Sofia wanted to go to sleep the second we went back to her room after dinner, which, frankly, I understand given how it went down. She was pretty quick to fall asleep, too. Or maybe she pretended to be asleep so I wouldn’t speak to her. Either way, she is asleepnow.
I’ve been lying in bed for hours, trying to fall asleep as well. It appears to be impossible. Not sure if it’s jetlag or the mere fact that Sofia is lying too close to me. I’m not kidding, she is far too close. So close, my blood is starting to rush to a certain area that is not supposed to get up while her ass is a couple of inches away from my crotch.
I don’t have it in me to turn over, facing the other side. It has many reasons, one being I don’t want to move too much because I don’t want to risk waking her up. And two, I simply don’t want to face the other way. When I do, I can no longer look at Sofia, even if it’s just the back of her head. But sometimes she turns over and I get to see her face. She looks so peaceful when she’s asleep, and far too beautiful. Who the fuck looks goodsleeping?
Anyway, I grab my phone to check the time, praying it has only been a couple of minutes that felt like hours, but to my horror, it’s five in the morning. I haven’t closed my eyes even once, not sure if it’s a smart idea to try now. I’d sleep in and never get used to the time difference.
Might as well get up then. I hear someone talk in the hallway, so if I’m lucky, maybe Sofia’s parents are up, and I havesomeoneto talk to.
Though, just as I am about to sneak out of bed, Sofia turns over in her sleep. My breath gets lost in my lungs when she swings one arm over my body, followed by a leg.
I freeze, being so still, I can hear my own heartbeat.
Sofia’s head presses against my chest, and for a short moment there I pray to everything holy that she will never leave again.
The heat of her body rolls over my skin, tickling on the surface and bringing a surprising calmness to me. I can feel her deep in my bones, every inch of my body begging me to never let her go ever again. Screaming for me to keep her safe, protect her from her stupid sister and that godawful ex-boyfriend of hers ‘til the end of time.
When she sniffles and mumbles something in her sleep, my muscles relax, and I give in to her touch. Allowing her to use me as her pillow. When I think about Sofia ever using her actual pillow ever again, I would love to rip that pillow into a million different pieces until her only available option is me.
But that might be a step too far.
I’m not a jealous man. I don’t care who someone talks to or hangs up with. What they wear and how many other guys stare at them. But apparently when it comes to Sofia, I gladly become a pillow-serial-killer.
“All my fault,” she mutters, her body twitching. I can assure that flinch wasnother being cold but caused by whatever the hell is going on in her dream.
Even when we were younger, Sofia used to stammer one word or two when she was asleep. Lily used to tell me all about it, and I had experienced it sometimes when Sofia spent the night at my house or I at hers. But never had she been twitching or clutching her hands together.
Her grip on my shirt tightens, soft whimpers leaving her. They almost sound like the tiniest of sobs.
My arms find their way around her body, holding Sofia tightly against me, as I hope it will somehow make her nightmare go away.
I wish I could climb into her dream and fight whoever or whatever makes her cry in her sleep.
Never have I thought I’d be the possessive kind of guy but holding Sofia in my arms right this moment proves me differently. Knowing she’s comfortable enough with me to fall asleep in one room with me, then subconsciously rolling over in her sleep to find shelter in my embrace sure as fuck makes me want to rip off everyone’s head that dares disturbing what’s mine. She might not be mine yet, but she will be. Eventually. Hopefully.
