AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Why are you being smug?” I ask him.
“Am I being smug?” He sounds genuinely surprised.
“I don’t know. It feels kind of like you are.”
“I don’t think so. I think you might still be a little muddled from too much wine.”
“Oh. Could be. I’m not much of a drinker.”
“I know you’re not.”
“I don’t like to feel like I’m not in control.”
“I know you don’t. But you’re safe with me. You don’t always have to be in control. I’ll take care of you.”
I turn on my side and scoot closer. “You promise?”
He reaches out and brushes a strand of my hair back from my face. “Yeah,” he says thickly. “I promise.”
“Okay then. I’m going to sleep now.”
“Good plan. Good night, Paige.”
“Good night.” I pause. It feels like there’s more I need to say. Something lingering that’s bothering me, bugging me, nagging at me. Then I realize what it is. “I love you, Chase.”
His silence is loud, thick. It lasts a long time. It upsets me. I whimper a little.
Then he finally murmurs, “You know perfectly well I love you too.”
I WAKE UP AT 2:36 IN the morning with a slight headache, a terrible taste in my mouth, and desperately needing to pee.
Rolling off the bed, I groan as my feet hit the floor.
“Y’okay, baby?” Chase mumbles from beside me, clearly mostly asleep.
“Yeah. I’m okay. Just got to go to the bathroom.”
“M’okey dokey.”
I giggle at his groggy reply as I stumble toward the bathroom. I have a hazy memory of drinking too much last night but not a lot of details. After I pee, I splash some water on my face and brush my teeth to help with the bad taste. My head is hurting worse now, so I get some ibuprofen from my cosmetic case and grab a bottle of water before I sit down on the side of the bed.
I take the pills and guzzle about half the bottle of water in several big gulps.
Chase shifts under the covers. He must turn over because his voice sounds closer than before. “Headache?”
“Just a little one. I’m really okay. Go back to sleep.”
“Okay.” He’s definitely more awake than before. I hear him let out a long exhale.
Something about the texture of his breathing gives me a twinge in my chest and a clench in my gut. I suck down more water, leaving only a few sips in the bottle before I screw on the cap.
Then I lie back down and pull the covers up over me, giving them a little tug when it feels like Chase has too many.
He adjusts position again and reaches out toward me. Before I know what’s happening, he’s pulled me over to his side, wrapping one arm around me.
It feels soft and cozy and needed. I snuggle against him, tucking myself under his arm and resting one of my hands on his belly.
The headache is still pulsing behind my right eye, but it’s not too bad. Overall this feels pretty good. Safe and protected and cared for.
