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“Wonderful!” I got up and moved toward the bathroom. “I’m going to brush my teeth quickly and then you can get in there, okay?”
She nodded, and I quickly moved about, completing my nightly routine. Ten minutes later, with the lights out, we were tucked into bed. Settling into the pillows, I murmured a good night.
“I think this is going to be an exceptional year, Riles. I’m glad we met.”
My eyes fluttered shut, and I was asleep in seconds, her soft fragrance wrapping around me.
Chapter7
Riley
Storm’s even breaths beside me told me she had fallen asleep. Not me though. I lay on my back, stiff. I was afraid to move. What if my shifting disturbed her sleep? I usually tossed and turned for an hour or more before I finally drifted off.
I also had never slept in a bed as large as this one. There was so much room compared to my twin bed at home. And this mattress? It was like lying on a cloud. The pillow under my head cushioned my neck perfectly, and the heavy comforter wrapped around me like a hug. It was, without a doubt, the most comfortable I had ever been.
Which I thought might be adding to my problem.
I was not used to this level of luxury by any means. Gingerly, I rolled to my side, trying not to disturb Storm. I needn’t have worried. She slept like the dead. I curled up on my stomach, my hand tucked under my head and my leg pulled up beside me. My nose nestled into the pillow and I inhaled. The scent of cinnamon and pine chased me into dreamland.
* * *
Sunlight streamedin through the window we had forgotten to pull the drapes over the night before. I could feel the rays on my skin. My eyes fluttered open and I stiffened. During sleep, I wrapped myself around Storm.
I had buried my face in her hair. She pressed her face into my neck. Both of us had our arms tangled around each other, Storm plastered to my side. I swallowed thickly, frozen. I wasn’t sure Storm would appreciate me holding her the way I was. But she was holding me as well . . .
Storm stirred, her nose brushing against the gland on my neck. She murmured sleepy words I couldn’t catch and then sat up, stretching. I shuffled away from the center of the bed and stared up at her, wide-eyed.
“Hello, sleepyhead. Sorry, I should have warned you. I am a cuddler.” She chuckled. “I hope I didn’t disturb you too much?”
I bit my lip. “Oh, uh, no. It was fine. I mean, I slept okay.”
She laughed again lightly. “I gotcha.”
She rolled from the bed and placed her arms on her lower back as she arched, her spine cracking. I slipped from the sheets as well, tilting my head side to side out of habit. It shocked me when I realized I didn’t have my usual morning neck kinks. I guessed sleeping on better materials made for fewer morning-after injuries.
“Are you okay if I snag the bathroom first?” Storm asked.
I nodded. She grinned and, with a hurried, “Thanks,” slipped into the room, closing the door behind her. I heard the shower turn on seconds later and I figured I would be safe to change out here in the bedroom. Opening my dresser, I felt my shoulders deflate. Not like I had many choices. On the list of to-dos today would be to find the laundry room so I knew where to go to wash my meager few items.
I wasted no time in changing into clean clothes. I stowed my pajamas in another drawer. They would get worn a few times before I washed them. Turning, I made my way back to the bed and set about making it. I fluffed the pillows and stacked them at the head. The comforter was laid neatly in its place, and then I smoothed out the wrinkles.
Storm was still in the shower, so I went to the island in the kitchenette and perched on one seat. Discovering it swiveled, I rocked back and forth, a smile tugging at my lips. I was still having a terrible time processing all that had happened since yesterday.
I heard the shower shut off and a few moments later, in a cloud of steam, the bathroom door opened, revealing Storm. She had a towel wrapped around herself and another around her hair.
“Go on in! I’ll get changed out here and then we can head out to go shopping.”
“Oh, but I don’t—”
“La, la, la, can’t hear you,” she sang out, sweeping across the room to the closet. “There is no use arguing with me. I’ll just win. Now go, freshen up. We have a busy day ahead!”
Knowing it was futile to tell her no, I did as ordered and entered the still damp bathroom. Closing the door behind me, I winced. I would go with her, but just to look. Looking couldn’t hurt, right? Maybe there would be something cheap I could pick up to satisfy Storm.
I dragged my feet through brushing my teeth and hair, trying to take more time than necessary. Finally, Storm must have had enough of my stalling because she pounded on the door, telling me to “get my rear in gear,” whatever that meant. Figuring it might be better just to face what was going to be a horrendous and embarrassing day, I left the bathroom.
Storm was sitting on the bed, scrolling through her phone, but looked up when she heard me. “You ready? Cool, let’s go grab some breakfast and then it’s mall time!”
I hid my wince and followed her down to the cafeteria to get some food. Far too soon, I found myself beside an excited, bouncing Storm on the academy provided shuttle to town. She chattered away beside me about all the stores she wanted to check out, and I nodded at what I hoped were appropriate times.
