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“Couldn’t sleep.”
“Shep?”
She smirks at me and tilts her head at an angle. “You could say that.”
Smirking, I lean against the porch frame and cross my arms.
I’m annoyed with my brother and his selfish, whorish behavior, but I won’t let her know. I want everyone here to enjoy themselves, and I refuse to bring a fucked-up attitude just because Shep and I have issues or because I’m a horny bastard that hasn’t had sex in more than a month.
“Are you sure he’s why you’re sitting out here in the cold?”
A tinge of envy takes over me, and I wish that I were her reason. I hate that I’m not and even more that I dare to feel this way.
She blushes. “Yes.”
She’s not ready to admit that she wants what I want. I refuse to give her a way out. Nia will have to tell me she wants this because I won’t push her, especially knowing this isn’t good for me.
“But don’t tell him that. It’s embarrassing,” she says in a soft voice.
“Don’t worry. I won’t tell if you don’t.”
“Where are you coming from?” she asks, changing the subject and looking me over from head to toe.
I run my hands through my sweaty hair pulling it back from my forehead.
“Running. I usually work out when I can’t sleep, which helps.”
“Have you done that often? Since you’ve been here, I mean?”
I nod.
“I didn’t know that you went jogging in the mornings.”
“Usually, everyone is still asleep when I get up and leave.”
“Did it work?”
“Jogging?”
She nods, and her curls bounce around her face.
“It did. I’m relaxed enough to hopefully return to bed and sleep the sleep of the dead. No dreams, just snore,” I say.
“Lucky for you. I doubt I can go back.”
“Never know. You’ve been out in this cool night air. It may be just what you need to fall back asleep. Come on inside with me,” I suggest.
“No, I tried it a bit ago and heard your brother and the girls. I’ll stay right here,” she says, patting the swing.
With any luck, my brother’s shenanigans are getting to Nia as much as they’re getting to me. Hopefully, it will push her over the edge.
“Well, maybe you should come inside anyway. It’s warmer in there. You don’t have to go upstairs.”
“I was looking at the stars in the sky and how the lake looks underneath the moonlight. It’s beautiful, like a painting on a very expensive canvas.”
“Aren’t you cold?”
Lifting her arms slightly, she says, “I’ve got on a hoodie, and this blanket is a heating blanket.”
