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“Back to the bear thing then… and Bigfoot,” Jake uttered straight-faced as he looked at her and pointed at the loft. “Get up there and get some rest, would you? Bigfoot has opposable thumbs and can definitely open the door.”
“Thelockeddoor,” she reiterated, fighting back a smile.
“He’s a strong son-of-a-gun,” he said plainly – and pointed again. “Now, can I get some sleep?You are keeping me up with all this arguing about silly things when you should just trust the man of the house.”
“Because he’s a guy.”
“Finally!” he exclaimed. “She’s finally getting it… hallelujah, it’s a miracle.”
Jake yanked the quilt she’d draped over him, up over his shoulder and closed his eyes pointedly ignoring her only to crack one eye, looking at her.
“Go?”
“Fine. It’s your lack of sleep, and no one is going to put up with your cranky attitude tomorrow.”
“My attitude is the same every day whether I sleep or not.”
“Oh joy,” she retorted drolly, climbing up the ladder.
“Are you up there yet so I can finally sleep?”
“Keep talking, Big Mouth,” she muttered, climbing onto the mattress and pulling her quilt over her. “Heat rises, and with all that hot air? I should be good and toasty tonight.”
And heard his soft laugh from below.
“Good night, roomie,” he offered quietly.
“Good night – and you’re still a big mouth,” she retorted easily, but there was no sting to her voice – and was glad he couldn’t see her smile right now as she lay down, staring at the ceiling and thinking about today’s events and the man sleeping not ten feet away from her.
8
LENA
The next morning, she opened her eyes and listened to the sound of a noise downstairs before peering over the edge of the loft – and staring at the sight before her.
Jake was sitting there, cross-legged, on the floor with his palms facing upward and taking loud, deep breaths. She watched as he would inhale, hold it, and then exhale noisily before repeating. He had his shirt off, it was like he was trying to inflate his body as much as possible, followed by deflating. Were these his assigned exercises for his lung or to help him heal?
Mesmerized, she saw him lift an arm and slowly extend it toward the opposite shoulder, holding and stretching it before doing the same thing with the other arm. After several repeats, he raised both arms into the air, stretching and arching and wincing.
“Are you coming down?” he said quietly, not opening his eyes.
“How did you know I was up?”
“Considering the deforestation sounds going on up there suddenly came to a grinding halt, I figured you had finally woken up.”
“You’re a jerk, you know that?” she muttered, “And I do not snore.”
“Sure.”
“I don’t.”
“I just agreed with you.”
“You are mocking me – and I told you no one would put up with your cranky attitude today,” she reminded him, coming down the ladder, glancing back where he was sitting… only to see him crack open an eye.
“Who exactly is the cranky one?”
“Is the coffee ready?”
