I got up and stripped the covers and sheets off my bed.I opened a package of new sheets I’d splurged on a while ago.I hadn’t used them before because I guess I was waiting for a special occasion.I made the bed.Then I removed all my stuff from the top two drawers in my bureau and put it in my bedroom closet.
I went out to the living room where he was spreading the blankets on the couch.I stood there, slapping the wall with the side of my fist, stalling.
“What?”he said.
“Since you’re paying half the rent, it’s not fair for you to sleep on the couch.”
“You want us to switch—you sleep out here, and I get the bed?”
“There’s room for both of us in my bed, actually.”
He let that sit there while I felt the bottom drop out of my stomach.
“What are you saying, exactly?”he said.
“We could sleep together—just sleep.I’d like it if you did.Do you want to?”
“Sounds more comfortable than the couch.”
“I’m not talking about that.Do you want to sleep in the same bed as me and not just because it’s more comfortable than the couch?”
“Yeah,” he said.“If you’re ready.”
“I am.Just...sleeping, though.”
Chapter Nine: Sleeping with Him
He picked up his backpackand followed me to my room.
You’ve done it now, Porter.You’ve turned your key, and he’s turned his.There’s no going back.
He stopped in my bedroom doorway and looked around.
“I cleared out a couple drawers for you,” I said, pulling them open.“You can put your stuff in there so you’re not living out of your backpack.I’ll leave you to unpack.I’m gonna brush my teeth.”
“Sure.”
