“Come on. We can talk tomorrow after you sleep.”
I stand my ground. “Reid, I'm not going to go upstairs and sleep while you stay awake out here all night. It’s not going to happen.” I cross my arms over my chest and lift my chin.
“I recognize that look.”
“Good. Then you know I’m serious.”
“Yes, Ry. I know you’re serious.” He shakes his head and looks up to the sky. “I’m in so much trouble.”
I look up with him. “Are you looking for help from up there because I’m pretty sure you’re on your own. Nobody can save you from me.”
He chuckles. “Truer words were never said. Okay, then what’s the compromise?”
I grin. “That was a blast from the past.” Reid used to always say those words when he was the peacemaker between Zane and me. “Well, you can’t sleep in my room. So, I’ll go to your house. I'll just sleep on the floor or the couch for now until we can figure it out.”
“No.”
“No, what? No, I can’t go to your house?”
“No to you sleeping on the floor.”
I wave off his concern. “We'll figure it out. If I can just borrow clothes from you to sleep in, I don’t have to go back inside.”
“Deal. Let’s go. My car’s this way.”
“Perfect. I have my phone on me, and that’s literally the only thing I care about tonight.”
“Come on.” He puts his hand on my lower back and leads me to his car.
“I’m sorry; we should have just done this earlier. We should have gone to your house after the party.” Another massive yawn overtakes me.
“It’s fine.” I can’t keep my eyes open as he drives. My head keeps bobbing, and the trip seems to take forever. He parks and is out of the car and opening my door before I’ve even fully realized we’ve stopped. He all but hauls me out of the car.
“I can’t believe how tired I am.” I swear even my speech is slurred.
“It’s the aftermath of your first shift. I can’t believe you’re still standing.”
He guides me inside, and I follow him to his room. “Here.” He hands me a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. “You can sleep in my bed. I’ll sleep in the room in the basement.”
“You don’t need to do that.”
“It’s fine. I literally just moved up here; most of my stuff is still down there. I’ll just grab a blanket and a pillow.”
“Reid.” That’s all I get out.
“Hey,” he waits until my eyes meet his. “I’m fine. Get some sleep.” He leaves a moment later, and it’s suddenly quiet. I quickly change into his shorts and t-shirt and then climb into his bed. It takes me only about five seconds to realize this is a bad idea, a really bad idea. I'm literally surrounded now in Reid’s scent. I think it’s going to take me forever to fall asleep, but it’s just the opposite. Being surrounded by his scent makes me relax faster and sleep harder than I have in a long time.
When I wake up the next morning, a quick glance at my phone shows it’s nearly ten. “Oh good grief.” It figures the first night I sleep here, I sleep in way too late. Thankfully, it’s Labor Day; and we don’t have classes today. I grab a sweatshirt of Reid’s from the closet and pull it over my clothes and throw my hair up into a bun. I finger brush my teeth, using Reid’s toothpaste and then make my way out to the living room. There’s no one in the living room, but the lights are on in the kitchen, so I turn in there and immediately wish I hadn’t. A shirtless Slate stands with his back to me seriously making out with who I can only imagine is Tessa. I just can’t see her. I take a silent step backwards, trying to escape before they can see me and run right into somebody. I know without turning around that it’s Reid. He puts his hands on my upper arms, steadying me.
“Put a shirt on, Slate.”
Tessa shrieks at the sound of Reid’s voice and jerks away from Slate, but he stops her by snagging her arm and pulling her back against him. “Morning, Reid,” Slate says in his low voice. “Riley.” He looks between the two of us. “I didn’t realize you were here.”
“She is, so the shirt rule goes back into effect.”
Slate scowls, and I quickly pipe up. “It’s fine, Reid. I’m a shifter; I’m used to seeing all sorts of nakedness.”
“You’ve seen Slater naked?” Tessa asks, eyes wide.
