“There,” I muse. “Much better.”
He sighs, lying back. “Thank you. This is better,” he admits.
Nick points toward the massive TV hanging from the wall. “Wanna watch a movie?”
I take a seat right next to him on the couch, snuggling into the comfy cushion. “What are we watching?”
“You choose,” he says, eyes trained on me. One corner of his lip is twitching as he suppresses a smile.
“Nope,” I say, popping thep. “We have a rule at my house. Whoever is sick makes the choice.”
His lips tip down, and he looks at me with a blank expression, as though his brain is foggy and he can’t even drum up the name of a movie to suggest. He pouts his full lips, and it’s adorable. I would imagine not many people have gotten to see Nick West like this. Vulnerable and laid back.
“What’s something you’ve wanted to watch but never gotten around to?” I ask, hoping to spark an idea, because I do not want to have to choose. It’ll take an hour for me to settle on something. It was a complaint that Garrett had often. If it wasn’t movies I struggled to choose from, it was restaurants or paint colors. Really, any decision. For the most part, those days are behind me, because I have no choice. There’s nobody to take the reins.
Except for today.
Nick chews on his cheek.
“A series, maybe? We’ve got time to kill,” I offer.
His eyes widen. “Lord of the Rings? Would you watch those?”
I smile. “I’ll definitely watch those.”
I’ve seen them before, but it’s been years. It’s one of those franchises that Garrett would sometimes just have on in the background while he read or worked.
He pulls up a streaming app, searching forThe Fellowship of the Ring, while I quickly check my phone, in case Ava texted.
She didn’t, but I put the phone on vibrate so I’ll be alerted if she does.
“You know, you don’t have to sit clear over there,” Nick says.
I glance at the small amount of space between us. If I move closer, I’ll practically be on his lap. My cheeks warm at the thought.
“You’re sick,” I say, managing to scoot just a tad bit closer.
He frowns. “I’m not contagious.”
“That’s not…” I shake my head. “I only meant that I want you to be comfortable.”
He pats the spot next to him. “I think I’ll be rather comfortable with a gorgeous woman sitting next to me.”
“Flatterer…”
“Is that a word?” he asks, grinning from ear to ear.
“Sure is,” I say, smiling and sliding the few inches to seal the gap between us.
Our legs touch, and I just about melt into the cushion when Nick places his arm around me, pulling me farther in to his side. It’s been so long since I’ve cuddled with a man, and it hadn’t occurred to me how much I missed such a simple thing.
He lowers the comforter over our legs, and I settle in, completely comfortable and not at all awkward. I smile to myself, remembering my conversation with Ava surrounding said awkwardness. This feels good. It feels…right.
We’re halfway through the first film when my eyes get heavy. I feel Nick’s large arm pulling me down next to him, draping around my middle. We’re sprawled on his couch, spooning. My hand is by my side, holding his.
This is the closest we’ve been, and it feels wonderful. It’s something I’ve thought about on a few occasions—being with him like this, like a real couple. But reality is better than I could’ve imagined. Sadly, I’m too tired to bask in that for long.
“Close your eyes, Lyss. Get some rest.”
