Page 133 of Never Forever

“Nope, you’ve got to name the movie for full points,” Matt said like we were playing a serious game with actual rules.

“Predator,” I shouted as it came to me.

I yawned then, as the flames of the fire he’d built washed over me.

Matt had been right. The power had gone out just a few hours into the storm. The wind sounded brutal against the old house, but inside we were warm. Cozy even, in the sleeping bag and blankets. I was on my back with my head against his thigh, using it as a pillow. He seemed content to let me.

“You are the bane of my existence.”

“Oooh. TV switch. Bridgerton.”

“Season?”

“Two,” I answered confidently. “You watched it?”

“I actually read the books,” he said.

“Of course you did,” I yawned again, but tried to hide it with my fist.

“You can go to sleep, Carrie.”

I shook my head. “I don’t want to go upstairs.”

“You’re not doing that. Without heat, upstairs will be freezing. We’ll sleep down here.”

“Together?” I asked.

“Is that okay?”

“Hmm,” I answered, rolling onto my side, tucking my legs up and settling my head more soundly on his leg. “It’s like when we used to sleep in the truck bed.”

I could feel the stroke of his finger moving my newly cut hair, brushing it away from my eyes.

“Yeah, just like that,” he said. “When I would lie next to you all night and watch you sleep.”

“You slept too,” I said drowsily.

“Not much. I liked to listen to you snore.”

I snorted. “I do not snore.”

“And watching you drool.”

“No way!”

He chuckled. “Go to sleep, Carrie. I’m here and I’ll make sure nothing bad happens to you.”

“Promise?”

“Would you believe a promise from me?”

Would I?

I shouldn’t, but I did. Because he was Matt, and in this moment I wanted so badly to believe him.

“Hmm, yes,” I whispered and drifted off to sleep.

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