Page 35 of Can’t Say No

DELANEY

“I’m really fine to sleep on the floor,” I say, laying out the one spare blanket I could find in this whole fucking cabin. It really is just my luck that the reservation got messed up. The reservation that I made, trying to prove to Mrs. Crane that I’m not some dumb pop star.

Really showed her, didn’t you, Delaney?

She was flustered when we broke the news to her, but Connor calmed her nerves by showing her the detailed room assignments we had sorted out. It took an hour to get everyone settled, and Crane made us all take an oath of “no funny business,” but finally, the cabin below our little loft descends into silence.

The loft, much like the rest of the cabin, is quaint and cozy. One side is open to the main cabin space below, while the other is lined with huge windows. I’m sure in the morning, the sunrise will be incredible. Any other day, I’d probably find it charming in a country bumpkin kind of way. But tonight, it’s stifling. Overwhelming. Making me so fucking anxious.

It’s not like Connor and I haven’t shared a bed before.

But we were children.

And not in a fake relationship.

And something about that goofy fucking grin has my stomach wound up in knots.

“Lanie Lou, don’t be ridiculous. If anyone is sleeping on the floor, it’s me. Gentleman, remember?”

That motherfucker smiles at me in a way that only he can, casually slipping in my nickname, and my heart skips a beat. I blame the copious amounts of coffee for my racing pulse. Definitely has nothing to do with the gleam in his eyes that makes me think, in certain scenarios, he’s far from a gentleman.

“Well, I feel guilty. I’m the one who made the reservation, so if anyone is sleeping on the floor, it really should be me.” I sit down on the makeshift pallet bed, arms wrapped around my knees as if I’m proving my point.

A shit-eating grin creeps onto his face as he flips the light switch, sending the loft into darkness.

It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to the moonlight, and in that moment Connor crosses the small room and drops down onto the floor beside me, wedging himself between me and the edge of the futon.

“Well then,” he says, mirroring my posture, his dark muscular arms wrapping around his knees, “I guess we’re both sleeping on the floor.”

I lean my weight into him. He doesn’t budge. “Connor, this is ridiculous. I really don’t mind sleeping on the floor.”

He leans right back, nearly toppling me over. “I really don’t mind either.”

In the moonlight, he looks so much more like the boy I used to know. Always smiling and joking around. There’s an ache in my chest, thinking back to those simple days. I don’t think I’ve ever been that happy.

I don’t think I’ll ever be that happy again.

“You’re still stubborn as hell, I see,” I grumble, yanking a pillow off the futon behind him.

“I could say the same thing about you.”

“I’m going to sleep, Connor,” I say, rolling away from him.

“So am I, Delaney.” I can hear the smile still plastered on his face as he scoots down beside me. Warmth covers me despite the thin blanket. Connor tugs me closer until my back presses against his chest.

“Connor,” I whisper-yell as he slides his arm under my head. His ridiculously comfortable, muscled arm.

Heaven help me.

“What are you doing?”

“Shhh,” he whispers back. “I’m sleeping.”

“Connor!” I yell louder this time, twisting in his arms to face him. “This is so dumb. Get up on that bed.”

He pops one eye open. “I will if you will.”

Groaning, I push up to my knees. “Fine. But I’m mad about it.”