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G:You alive?
I stare at the text with a mixture of confusion and excitement. When my brain connects to my fingers, I type out a response.
Me:Barely.
Me:About last night…
G:?
Me:I woke up in your bed?
G:I slept on the couch.
Me:Right.
Me:Still confused.
He doesn’t text back right away, and I bolt up the stairs to the loft. I debate waking her up to freak out with her, but Kee is sleeping like a rock. There’s mascara smudged on her cheek, her mouth is wide open, and she’s full-on snoring. We hardly ever get the chance to sleep in, and I imagine she had a wild late night, so I leave her to her peaceful slumber. Without thinking, I find my way back to the new comfiest spot in the bunkhouse. Gage’s room.
I didn’t realize the room smelled so strongly of leather and musk until I walked back in and retrieved the coffee on the nightstand. Now I understand the dramatics of old movie actresses who would put the back of their hand on their forehead and faint. I’d probably do it too if it wasn’t for the coffee offsetting the aroma of the room just enough to keep me on my feet. Either I drank more than I thought last night and it’s still in my system, or his scent isthatgood.
Deciding to ignore the fact that I shouldn’t lay back down in Gage’s bed, I jump back in. The stained concrete floor is freezing on my feet, and I need to burrow back under those heavenly-smelling blankets. After taking a few more sips of the coffee in bed, I shamelessly inhale the pillows and bring the comforter up to my chin.
I’d like to say that I didn’t throw them off and reach for my phone at the speed of light when I heard it buzz with a new text. But that’d be a lie.
G:You fell asleep on the way home. I could tell you were pretty tired yesterday and I didn’t want to wake you up by climbing the stairs to the loft, so I carried you to my room.
G:Did you sleep well?
Well, this is a far cry from my normal day-to-day life. I’m usually overwhelming myself with studies and work. Constantly worrying about the well-being of my family and career, never just about myself. Now Gage seems genuinely interested in whether or not I’d woken up or slept alright. Brought me to his bed last night. Left coffee for me. Plugged my phone in.
I pinch myself on the bicep. “Ouch,” I hiss.
Nope. Not a dream.
I wonder if this is what life is supposed to feel like. Someone checking in on you and caring for you, and you doing the same for them. Waking up well-rested and not immediately jumping into work clothes or firing up the computer.
Once upon a time, I thought the workaholic lifestyle was the only option for me. I’ve been determined to provide for my family and establish a high-paying stable career in order to do that. Now I’m second-guessing that a little bit. Knowing my Mom and Dad are just down the road and that I can visit them today warms my heart more than I thought it would. Having friends around. A simple life with the things that truly matter.
How did a few gestures from Gage get this big realization out of me? I shake my head. This is all crazy talk.
I moan and fling my arms out on either side of me while collapsing back on the pillows and staring up at the ceiling. I’d like to forget the last 24 hours ever happened. Like this man wasn’t concerned about me. And I wish I didn’t like it.
Me:I did.
Probably would have slept even better if my legs were wrapped around you all night.
G:Good.
Chapter 11
Gage
Ineed to hurry through the rest of what I need to get done this morning so that I can make it back to the bunkhouse before Blythe gets the bright idea to wash the sheets she slept on in my bed last night.
I could have easily walked her up the stairs to the loft. She was out cold and it definitely wouldn’t have woken her up. But the idea hit me that I could just carry her down the hall to my room and tuck her into my bed. The possessive side of me won over. Iwantedher in my bed.
I wanted to climb in next to her too. I had to take a cold shower and force myself to settle for the couch. When I woke up early this morning and went in to check on her though, I thought I was having a heart attack.
