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“Ryan? What are you doing?”
I nearly jump out of my skin with a scream as I hear Gabe's gruff, sleepy voice. My heart pounds against my chest, wanting to break out and run away. Swiveling to face him, I see he's found a pair of pajama pants to wear. “God, you scared me,” I say, my hand over my heart as if that would still it.
Gabe smiles slightly, his eyes still squinting as they try to adjust to the kitchen light. “What are you doing?” He repeats, looking around at his clean house.
“Oh, I woke up and couldn't sleep, so I picked up our mess.”
He shakes his head, walks over, and takes my hand. “You didn't have to do that,” he mumbles sternly, leading me back to the bedroom.
“I'm not tired,” I object, knowing there has to be more to clean out here.
“Too bad. You're coming back to bed with me.” He flips the switch to turn the light off and then we're in the bedroom. I lay on my back as Gabe slips underneath the covers next to me. Just like the first time we slept together, only this time he's awake and consciously doing this, he throws an arm over my waist and uses my chest as a pillow. “Now you can't go anywhere again,” he says smugly. I laugh, twirling a curl from the top of his head around my finger. “Fall asleep with me, Ryan.”
It's a simple request. One I would love more than anything. Not sure that it'll happen though.
“Okay,” I answer, feeling the need to say something at least.
A few minutes pass, and I think that Gabe has drifted off, but his head lifts suddenly to look at me. I couldn't fake sleep if I wanted to. My eyes are wide with surprise at his movement.
“You're not even trying.” He frowns.
“It's useless. I'm too awake.”
Gabe thinks about something for a moment before scooting up to lay beside me on his side. He holds his arm out, lifting the covers as he does so. “C'mon.” I move into his arms, one tugging me close as the other slips underneath my neck, working as my pillow the closer I get to him. Gabe intertwines our legs, and I'm cocooned in his warmth from head to toe. “Sleep, all right? We have to be up soon.”
So I press my forehead to his chest, over his heart. I force my eyes to close and my mind to shut off, thinking only of how warm he is, his heart pulsing next to me. Gabe glides his hand up and down my back. Before I know it, I'm falling asleep with him.
All too soon, Gabe's voice cuts through my sleep as he says, “Ryan, it's time to get up.”
“Mmm,” I hum, not moving at all. Being nestled against him has me warm and toasty. No way in hell I'm getting up.
“You'll be late for class,” he tries.
“Ugh, I don't want to go. It's terrible, dreary, and cold outside.”
Gabe chuckles. “Have you been out there yet? How do you know?”
“I watched the weather yesterday,” I tell him simply, dragging a laugh out of him. Lifting my head, I continue, “Can't we stay here today? As a birthday present?” Maybe that will work. Doubt it, but worth a shot.
His eyes widen. “Hold still. Don't move, okay?”
“What? Why?” I call after him, but he's already out of bed and out of the room. What did I say? Where is he going? Moments later, he comes back with a gift bag with Happy Birthday written all over it and white tissue paper sticking out the top. As I sit up, I'm practically dumbfounded as to what this is.
“I forgot about this yesterday,” he says, sitting back down next to me. “It's not m
uch because it was last minute, but I hope you like it.” Gabe puts the bag in my lap.
I stare at it before looking at him. “You got me a present?” Sure, I've received presents before, but never an actual birthday present. One that wasn't just money. My throat constricts as tears threaten to fall.
Gabe nods. “Open it.”
Wanting to take my time and remember everything about this moment, I gingerly pull the tissue paper out. I peer into the bag, pulling out the first thing I see which is a pair of black protective earmuffs.
“Now you have your own for next time,” Gabe says.
“Thanks.” I smile and then reach in, pulling out an orange gift card to the grocery store.
“It's orange because it's for you to support your Sunkist addiction.”
