When I came out of the bathroom, he was sitting on the end of the bed with his toothbrush in his hand.“Same.”He got up and went to the bathroom.
I took off my socks and jeans so I was just wearing boxers and a T-shirt.If I’d known he was going to see me in them, I’d have worn my favorite boxers, not these boring khaki ones.But I didn’t want to risk taking them off now because I didn’t know when he was coming back.
And then, he did.
“Uh,” I said, real chill.“This is what I wear to bed, so...”
He pulled off his socks and took off his jeans but, thank god, nothing else.I guess he slept in his boxers and T-shirt too, or he was trying to make me more comfortable.
“Which side of the bed do you sleep on?”he said.
“All of it?Oh...the right side, mostly.”
“Then I’ll take the left.”He pulled back the blankets and climbed into bed, lying on his back.
I climbed into bed and turned off the bedside lamp.He was inches away from me, and warm.The aquarium filter hummed, and the gold fairy lights over the headboard winked on and off.I always had them on at night because I couldn’t sleep if it was pitch dark.Some of my girlfriends had made fun of me for that.I hoped he wouldn’t.I shifted, trying to get comfortable.
“Sorry,” I said.“I haven’t shared a bed since I had a girlfriend.”
“Same.”
I loved his voice, smooth and steady.It resonated inside me.
“I haven’t had a girlfriend for a year.”Did that make me sound like a loser?
“That’s a long time.”
“Do you snore?”
He chuckled.“I don’t think so.No one’s complained.”
I didn’t want to sleep yet.I wanted to talk to him about things I could only say in the dark.“I haven’t been sleeping well lately.”
“No?”
“I’ve been thinking about you a lot, actually.”
He was silent.
“Eddie?”
“Yeah, I’m here.”
“Thanks for being so patient while I figure myself out.”
“It’s okay.”
“I’m still figuring.You know, this is a lot easier to say after a few beers.”
“Beer does that.It also ruins the sex.My ex-boyfriend, Tommy, is an alcoholic.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“I didn’t tell you about him before.”
“I meant, I’ve had sex when I was pretty buzzed.None of my girlfriends complained.”
“Did you enjoy it?”
