Page 44 of Don't Think

“I’m so sorry,” she says, voice still thick with sleep.

I smile, bowing my head slightly. “Didn’t bother me one bit.”

“Yeah, but your shoulder must be a wreck. I move a lot in my sleep,” she says softly, gesturing to where her head was just a few seconds ago.

I shrug. “Honestly didn’t notice. I slept like a baby.”

She shifts on the cushion, creating space between us, and runs her hands down her face.

Somehow, even though we really didn’t stay up late last night, I still feel overtired. Maybe it was a mix of the sun burning my retinas nice and early, or my sleeping position.

I lean my head against the back of the sofa, staring at the ceiling fan while the blades spin rhythmically.

Turning my head to her, I point to it. “Looks like the power’s back on.”

“Thank God. At least this time I won’t nearly fall on top of you when we head downstairs.” She chuckles, but then her eyes widen. “Not—not like that,” she utters nervously.

Well, I wasn’t thinking that at first, but now I am.

I hold up my hand, trying my best to stifle a laugh. The way she gets so flustered is honestly adorable. I can already see the embarrassment creeping into her eyes. Then comes the pink tinge on her cheeks and ears.

I lightly tap both hands on my knees. “Are you ready now?” I ask.

Her eyebrows pull together forming three little lines, and it takes everything in me not to reach over and smooth them out.

“Ready for what?”

“To go downstairs,” I repeat her earlier statement. “We should probably see how much trouble they got into.”

“Oh!” She shakes her head. “Right.”

The second we hit the den, I wish I had come down here alone. I haven’t known Allie long enough to have this feeling about her, but I get the sense she’s not a fan of messes.

And this den is a fucking wreck.

Plastic cups are spilled across the coffee table, thankfully empty, followed by knocked-over beer bottles, and the sofa is even missing a bloody cushion.

I quickly scan the room searching for it before she notices, but it’s too late.

“Holy shit,” she exclaims right behind me. “It looks like they had a damn frat party with only four people.”

I turn around quickly, ready to apologize. But to my surprise, she’s actually smiling. Not the least bit upset, although her nose is crinkling while she looks around.

We walk deeper into the room, and my eyes find Ana, sprawled out on the love seat with a fuzzy Mexican flag blanket and her arm draped over her eyes.

“Uh, Jax?” Allie asks, nudging my arm softly.

I turn to look at her and see a smile dancing across her lips as she points to the corner of the room.

“Is… that normal?”

My eyes follow her finger, and I spot James fast asleep underneath the pool table.

I chuckle, unable to hold it in this time, and nod. “Only when he drinks.”

Careful not to step on the empty bottles littering my path, I walk over and swiftly tap James’s foot with mine, jolting him awake.

“Time to get up, bud,” I say, crouching beside him. “Donny boy would be so mad right now,” I add with a snicker.