AllFreeNovel
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“You're not gonna give me a hard time about it like other people do?” He balls the bottom of his shirt in his fist.
“Nah, you like what you like.” His relaxing body urges me to keep talking. I need the distraction too. “What makes it your favorite?”
“When I was younger we had family nights on good days. My younger brother loved dinosaurs, so it was one we watched often. When I started dreaming we'd ride off on them some day and go far away from my dad, I started loving them too. I looked at them as a means to escape. I still do.” A tear falls from his eye and without a second thought, I reach over to wipe it away.
“Dinosaurs would be more economical than cars and they have sharper teeth than horses, so I can see why.”
He smiles, and I don't think I've seen him do that all day. His lips are crooked and dimples push out, and I almost want to smile too. For real this time. All the other ones I've done were for everyone else's benefit. This time it might be genuine, and those were reserved for one person only. When he left, he took them, along with my strength to love again.
Pressing my lips tightly together, I pluck my phone from my pocket, but a knock comes to the door, putting me on high alert. Phillip jumps in the bed, his eyes wild and uneasy.
“They're probably here for their dishes and to see if we need anything else. Stay here and I'll get the door.”
He digs his nails into the pillows and nods. Moving slowly, I get up from the bed and unlock the door before pulling it open. I'm met with Angel’s smile.
“I'm turning in for the night and thought I'd make sure you two were still okay before I did.”
“We're alright.” Holding up a finger, I turn around and grab the plates from the bed. “Here's these back. Thanks for everything so far.”
“My pleasure.” He takes the dirty dishes from my hands. “If you want to shower you can. There are towels in the cabinets and spare clothes in the closet. We keep them handy for guests. In various sizes.”
“Perfect. Showering isn't such a bad idea. May help Phillip sleep better.”
“Yeah, about that. I included something else with your purchase. A parting gift if you will. It'll help him swallow everything easier. Sleep well and don't worry. Everything will work itself out.”
“It usually does.” As soon as he turns to walk away, I close the door and face Phillip again.
“Would you like to shower before I start the movie? We can see if there is something more comfortable to sleep in too.” I walk toward the closet.
“Not right now. Maybe after. Are we both going to sleep in the bed?”
Stopping halfway, I shake my head. “I'll take the floor. If there's extra clothes in here then there's probably spare linens too.”
“That doesn't sound very comfortable. The bed's pretty big. We'd both fit on it comfortably.”
My jaw tightens. “The floor is fine. I've slept in worse conditions on missions. I'll be fine.”
“Okay. Can you lock the door again?”
“Of course.” Chuckling, I open the closet and grab the smallest clothes suitable enough to sleep in I come across. After tossing them his way, I grab something for me. My clothes smell like the airport and him. I'll sleep better in something else.
He's holding the pants and shirt in his hands when I turn around, staring down at them like they'll bite if he brings them any closer.
“Something wrong with the clothes?”
“No. They're fine. Looks like they'll fit perfectly too.”
“What's the problem then?”
“I don't sleep well in clothing. It's uncomfortable and I get hot easily.”
“How do you usually sleep then?” I ask, not sure I want to hear the answer.
“Naked with nothing more than a sheet covering me.”
My throat tightens and I adjust the collar of my shirt. Is he smirking? He went from a frightened lamb to a confident lion in a matter of minutes, his eyes lighting up the way they did when he had his lips around his lollipop in the parking lot.
“How have you been getting by in the warehouse then?”
