Page 27 of Her Ex-Husband's Brother

She goes still for a moment. I feel the exact moment she remembers where she is and I wait for her to tense when she realizes she’s snuggled up in the arms of a stranger after all we did last night.

But instead, her bodyrelaxes. Which, fuck, is something I’m going to be thinking about later when I’m in the cold water.

She tilts her head up.

“You’re still here,” she says. There’s a smile creeping at the edges of her mouth.

“Leaving soon,” I say. “It’s not six yet.”

She makes a sound of acknowledgment and puts her cheek back against my chest. My arm around her is intentional now, slightly squeezing her to me.

Fuck, she feels so good held against me like this.

I look at the ceiling and think:now. Get up now.

I still don’t.

We lie there in the quiet for a while, the cabin getting incrementally lighter around us, and I’m aware of her easy breathing and her warm, soft curves pressed up against me.

Fuck, this feelswaytoo good.

Dangerous good in a way that makes me want things.

“I should figure out what I’m doing today,” she says eventually.

“Yeah.” I swallow hard.

“I don’t have a plan.”

“You’ll make one.”

She goes quiet again. Then, so quietly I almost miss it: “Thank you. For staying. I don’t know how one-night stands work or if that was cool to ask, but I really appreciate it.”

One-night stands.

I knew that’s what this was. It’s what I wanted and assumed it was all along. I’m glad she put it in words, like a boundary between us.

I don’t sayof coursebecause it isn’t of course. Nothing about last night was of course. I say, “Yeah,” instead, which isn’t eloquent.

And still the selfish part of me is disappointed I can’t ask for her number. Which is fucked up because I know she just left herhusband yesterday and the last thing she needs is mess like me in her life.

At least one of us has some self-preservation instincts.

She nods, cheek moving against my chest.

I’m about toactuallyget up.

I’ve decided.

I’m doing it.

I’m totally just about to swing my legs over the side of the bed here any second?—

When the knock comes. Three sharp raps at the cabin door.

Marie lifts her head. We look at each other. Clearly she’s not expecting anyone.

It’s barely past six in the morning and the authoritative quality of that knock makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.