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“Sorry.”
She giggles again. Only when she’s drinking does she giggle like that. Well, occasionally when she’s very relaxed forotherreasons.
“No, you’re not. Now turn around.”
I blink at her, so she makes a spinning motion with her finger.
I do as she asks and hear the zipper of those tiny denim shorts, then the quiet thunk as they drop to the floor.
No. Cool it. I repeat the words over and over, trying to get my dick to listen.
“Okay,” she coos.
Good Lord.
I spin around and look at her nestled in bed.
“Thanks for walking me home. I’m not drunk, but maybe I’m tipsier than I thought. Wait—is that a word? Oh, fuck. One beer less next time.” She shakes her head and grins at me, but it quickly falters. “Um, thanks. Like I said. I appreciate it.”
A little smile pulls at my lips and I almost say,don’t you know I’d do anything for you?But something about that seems wrong now. Instead I say, “Of course. I’ll, uh, let you get some rest.”
She nods, but as I’m about to slide the window open, her hand wraps around my arm.
“Lay with me, Ace? Please?” Her wide green and golden eyes shimmer up at me as her words pull me apart. “Just for a little while?”
I nod and climb into bed with her, wrapping an arm around her.
“Get some sleep,” I whisper in her ear.
I gently rub my hand up and down her arm and feel her whole body relax. It doesn’t take long before she drifts off. As much as I want to stay, I know I shouldn’t. I carefully climb out of bed and pull the sheets over her. Then I look down at her. She’s always peaceful when she sleeps. All those wild emotions are asleep, too. I lean down and gently kiss the side of her head.
“Goodnight. Sleep well, Beautiful.”
I haven’t used her nickname as much lately because it swells so much emotion in me every time I do. Sliding the window open, I quietly leave her bedroom, closing the window behind me.
By the time I get home, my parents are in bed and I’m crashing hard. Midnight is late when you’ve been up since five-thirty. Knowing I’ll be up just as early tomorrow, I quickly settle into bed.
But I can’t sleep.
My mind keeps returning to Rae. I’m glad I was there to walk her home tonight. She clearly needed it. Maybe I should’ve stayed. I wanted to. I want to wrap my arms around her and comfort her all night. I want to be there when she wakes up in the morning. I loved taking care of her tonight, being the person she relied on. I’ve missed that. I want that. I want to be the one she turns to for everything again. I want to be the one taking care of her. I want her. I want us.
Wait. Did I really think that?
I want us. I want us?
I think… I might be ready for us again.
Oh, shit.
Chapter thirteen
A Ghost of What We Used to Be
Aaron
Iwakeupwitha start at the horrible beeping from my alarm. When did I even fall asleep? I was reeling from the realization that I might be ready for a relationship with Rae again. I was twisting it around in my mind from every angle and figuring out fuck-all-nothing when I must’ve finally passed out.
I sit up with a groan, rubbing a hand over my face.
