Page 40 of Something Blue

She sighed and closed her eyes. The world had finally stilled. The tips of her scalp vibrated as he ran his hands through her hair.

She was asleep within seconds. She woke up on the couch, a blanket tucked around her, her head still planted in Andy’s lap. When she stirred, he helped her to a sitting position.

“How are you feeling?” he asked, touching her forehead. “You don’t have a fever.”

She licked her dry lips. “Better. I’m really thirsty.”

He hesitated. “Are you sure?”

She nodded. “The excitement’s over. The only thing that might make me hurl is a love confession.”

He stared at her intently, then laughed loudly. “Okay. Scratch that idea.”

Sadie laughed along with him, though it worried her when a frown returned to his face as he sat next to her with a packet of saltine crackers and a glass of ginger ale.

“Are you okay?” she asked when his frown persisted.

His face cleared of all emotion before he smiled again. “Nothing. It’s nothing. I’m worried I made you do something I shouldn’t have.”

She smirked. “You tried plenty to get me to back down.”

He sighed. “I wish your so-called friends were better people. I feel like decking Chase for allowing Piper to treat you like she did.”

She shifted uncomfortably next to him. “Honestly, it wasn’t that bad, despite the fact that I couldn’t open my eyes or keep my food down.”

“Ha! Well, tell that to the scratches on my hands and arms.”

She looked down, only to find violent red scratches across his arms and across the tops of his hands. “Oh my gosh! I’m sorry. I need to clip my nails.”

He brushed away her worries. “It’s all right. I knew what I was getting into.” He patted her leg and rose from the couch, searching for the remote. “I’m glad you’re okay. You had me worried.”

She sipped her drink thoughtfully and ate a few crackers. “Thanks for being there for me. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

He smiled and sat closely next to her. “I don’t know what you would’ve done either. I can’t believe you thought about doing this alone. At this rate, I might not ever let you leave my side.”

She studied him, the tilt of his eyebrows and the strong set of his jaw. He was almost believable. The weight of the air in the room increased as the silence pressed upon them. It didn’t feel like the right time to bring up his invasive affection when he wasn’t in it for the long haul. Instead, she rested against him when he offered to cuddle with her. Enjoying it one last time couldn’t hurt any more than it already did.

17

Andy

When Andy opened his eyes, the morning sun shone through the blinds. He looked around, then froze as Sadie shifted against him. Sometime in the evening, they’d fallen asleep in each other’s arms.

Andy relaxed against the pillow. Her words from last night flopped inside his mind like a ping pong ball. Had she tried to tell him she wasn’t interested in dating him? Or was it because talking about dating, on top of all of their adventures, was too much head-spinning for one day? He sighed. Either way, he had no idea if he should tell her how he felt.

She stirred, lifting her head to meet his eyes. She held a hand to her temple and groaned. “Ouch.” She stood and edged away from the couch. “I didn’t realize I fell asleep.”

“Sit, you’re still dizzy from lack of water.” He helped her back to the couch and touched her flushed cheeks lightly. “And it looks like your color has returned.”

After he dropped his hands, she held her face for a few seconds before standing up and heading to the bedroom.

“I forgot the resort serves breakfast at ten. Do you want to go? They serve the best sausage and biscuits.”

He nodded. ‘Sounds good, as long as your stomach feels settled.”

“Stomach of steel.”

Tapping her nose, he laughed. “Unless movement is involved.”

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