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“How does that feel?”
“Good. Thanks.”
I nod, then head back over to the other side. It’s a blessing and a curse to have the dogs with us tonight. They will definitely keep Penny and me from encroaching on the other’s side. Even though it would be a dream to wake up with her in my arms, tonight is not the night. We have chaperones.
The room descends into silence. The nightstand lights are still on, and I feel a little dumb, lying like this with the sheets tucked up under my chin, but I’m not ready to say good night yet. We stay like that for a few minutes. I think she’s asleep, so when she whispers to me, I jolt.
“Thanks for helping me out tonight. I know this wasn’t your plan for your first week home.”
This is my chance.
I could shrug off her words and tell her it’s nothing. That Noah would expect me to watch out for her and that she would do the same for me if the circumstances were switched.
I say none of that. Instead, I lead with my heart and tell her what I’m truly feeling.
“I would do anything for you, Penny. If you ever needed me, I’d be there in a heartbeat. No matter where in the world I am. You’re important to me.”
With that, I roll over and turn off my light.
Her light stays on for a few more minutes before she makes a move to turn it off. I smile to myself, knowing that she heard me. She finallyheardme.
Chapter Six
Penny
Ihave no idea how I slept like this. I am a human pretzel, bent in ways that should not be possible. And it’s all to accommodate two adorable, snuggly dogs.
So, you know, it’s fine. The twinge in my back is worth it if it means waking up to furry cuddles and tail wags. Plus, from what I can feel, my body is already a throbbing mess of bruises, so what’s one more minor ache?
Lola and Figgy’s black and gray fur is soft against my fingers as I pat their heads with my good hand. Instantly, they both pop up and crawl higher up the bed to lick my face.
“Ah! Yes, hello. Good morning, girls. Good morning, my beauties.” My body protests as I try to push myself back against the headboard with one arm for some support as I’m drowned in kisses.
Suddenly, there is a sound from down the hall. I can’t make out what it is, but the dogs must know because they leap off the bed and speed away. I laugh as their paws clatter on the hardwood floors.
Left on my own, I rub the sleep from my eyes and take a look around. The sheets beside me are wrinkled and cold to the touch when I run my hand over them. Carter must have gotten up early.
His words from last night echo in my head.
If I hadn’t been so exhausted and bone tied, I’m positive I would have been awake all night with his words circling my head. What the hell did he mean when he said I’m important to him?
Rationally, I know I’m a friend of his. That I’m important to him in that way. Yet the way he said it last night leads to me to believe that he sees me in a different way. Maybe in a more-than-friends way.
And I don’t hate the idea. In fact, it’s what I’ve secretly hoped for since I was a teen.
For all the guff I give him, he never takes anything to heart. No matter how sick the burn, how cunning the joke, he always laughs with me. He takes everything in stride. The part that I always noticed but never really thought too deeply about: he never gives it back.
Sure, he would tease me from time to time, but he never intentionally hurt my feelings. If he did say the wrong thing, an apology always came quickly after.
If I am going to be honest with myself, I’ll admit that I’ve had a crush on Carter for years. My childhood hero turned into my teenage crush, morphed into a grown-up fantasy that I always thought was out of reach.
Not because of his celebrity professional athlete status. That’s great and all (for him) but not something I thought would keep us apart if I ever gathered the courage to do something about my crush. No, I always kept my distance from him because he’s my brother’s best friend.
I didn’t want Noah to rethink his friendship with Carter, and I especially didn’t want my brother to think I was betraying him in any way. My thinking may be way off, but there are some things I’m not willing to chance. And being more than friends with Carter would be a big change to our current dynamic.
A bark downstairs draws me out of my thoughts of Carter. I’m going to have to face him soon. There is no getting out of that since I’m at his house, but hopefully, I can get Noah or Gretchen to pick me up today and take me home.
I’ve survived the night with no sign of a fever, so it’s for the best if I leave. I really need to think some things over. Possibly have a talk with my brother.
