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“Paxon?” I asked. “Is everything okay?”
He slowly blinked open his eyes and stared back at me, gaze dull with sleepiness. Then he was sitting up straight and clearing his throat. His gaze dipped down my body briefly before snapping back to my face.
I glanced down and blushed hard. I should have put on a sweater or something before coming down here. The hotel was a bit colder than my room was and my tank top was a little thinner. I crossed my arms over my chest and sat down, trying to hide my nipples poking through.
Paxon cleared his throat, trying to hide his own awkwardness. “Did we wake you when we left? I’m sorry. We tried to be quiet.”
“We?”
“Justin and me.”
I looked around but didn’t find Justin.
Paxon sensed my question. “He had to take a short walk, get some fresh air.”
“This late at night?”
Paxon rubbed at his eyes. “He’s just outside, maybe walking a lap around the building. He’ll be fine. No one would dare try to pick a fight with him.”
True. Justin could look pretty darn intimidating when he wanted to be.
“What are you doing up?” I asked.
“Nothing. How about you?”
I shrugged. We ended up just staring at each other for a while before he finally caved. I won.
“Still on a victory high,” he said. “Had trouble getting comfortable enough to fall asleep. Thought maybe I’d distract myself for a little bit before heading to my room.”
“Will you be okay for tomorrow?” Concerned welled up. I may not know anything about sports, but I did know how important sleep was for anyone.
“I’ve played on less. I guess there’s just a lot to think about with soccer, my teammates, college…” He hesitated. “You.”
“Me?” I swallowed hard, not expecting this shift in the conversation.
He and Toby did a bold thing at the party, but I hadn’t really pushed it. I leaned forward, deciding it was time to cut to the chase and get answers. To be upfront with everyone, just as Seth’s aunt had suggested. Peyton had experience. She knew what needed to be done.
And I guess it made sense.
Even as my stomach twisted with my spiking anxiety. Voicing these things was scary. What if he wasn’t interested? What if there was some kind of misunderstanding and I made a fool out of myself?
Better now than later, though. Better to be open about it all and understand where everyone stood.
Feeling even worse than when I needed to walk on stage, I met Paxon’s eyes. He sensed the change in my mood and stiffened, never looking away from me.
“Paxon,” I said and licked my lips as I gathered every drop of my nerves together. It would have been better to risk my voice trying to reach Mariah Carey’s high notes singing. “How about I help one of those thoughts that are filling your mind tonight.”
“How so?” he asked.
I glanced toward the unlit fireplace. It was pristine with wood already sitting inside, waiting to be lit. “I had the pleasure of meeting Seth’s aunt this past week.”
“Oh.” Paxon seemed surprised by that.
“I’m assuming you’ve met her before.”
“Haven’t met her, but I know about her. Seth talks about her a lot. She doesn’t come around often since she lives a few hours away, but the two are close.”
I nodded. That made sense.
