Page 13 of Sunshine

“Ooooo.” I hovered in anticipation.

Julian was wearing a pair of athletic shorts and a t-shirt, his usual sort of outfit, but he was paler than normal, and he had dark circles under his eyes. That was to be expected since his last text message to me had been at three in the morning.

“I’m shocked to see you before noon.”

He shrugged. “I got some sleep.”

“What do you want to do?” I gestured at my couch. “MoreRace to Win?Animal Crossing?”

“Ehhh, I’m still sort of worn out. Binge watch something?”

“Sure.”

“Actually…” The adorable omega looked a little sheepish. “I totally understand if it would make you uncomfortable, so tell me no if you would rather not…”

I scanned his face. He turned a little pink and looked at the floor. He never seemed embarrassed so I couldn’t imagine what he was about to ask.

“I was wondering if you wanted to uhhh…snuggle? While we watch TV.”

“Sure.” I frowned. “You seem nervous asking. Did I do something…?”

“No.” He shook his head. “I’m just exhausted, and I want to be around you. I’d love to just lay on the couch under a blanket and snuggle while we watch mindless TV.”

Understanding lit me up. “It was a stressful call last night, and you want to recharge.”

Julian nodded. “It was a bad car accident. But I don’t want to put you on the spot.”

“It’s okay.” I clapped my hands together. “I have some weighted blankets. And we should have some snacks and water, so we don’t have to move from the sanctity of the blanket fort.”

Julian laughed, relief making him look irresistible. “That sounds amazing.”

Anyone would want some comfort after a stressful job, but he was an omega and needed extra. I knew the drill, both of my sisters and my cousin were omegas.

I grabbed a weighted blanket off my bed, some pillows, and my two teddy bears, and brought them to the couch. “Stella, Luna, and Ember like stuffed animals too.” I spent a lot of time cuddling with my sisters and cousins, even when we were teens and “too old” for that sort of thing. It was like a giant slumber party.

I set the pillows and blanket down, then handed Lewis, my ancient stuffed panda, to Julian. “Here you go. I’ll just give him to you, so you don’t have to wrestle with keeping up your manly appearance.”

Julian put his arm around Lewis. “I so appreciate that.”

I got together some Goldfish crackers, potato chips, Nutter Butter bars, and the water and brought it all over to the coffee table. Julian was stretched out full-length on the couch, already looking more relaxed. He was leaning up on one elbow, his chin resting on his hand as he searched through the channels, stopping on the reality cooking competition we both enjoyed watching while we judged the chefs ruthlessly. I couldn’t cook to save my life, but it didn’t stop me from heckling people who couldn’t poach an egg.

I paused. “Where do you want me…?”

Julian tossed the remote onto the coffee table and patted the empty space in from of him. “Here? Wherever you’re comfortable. I can sit up if you’d prefer.”

“No, that’s okay.” I moved so I was lying in front of him, and he dragged the blanket over us both. Then he put his arms around me, and pulled me back against him, his forearms crossing my upper chest to cover my shoulders like a bear hug. I sighed happily, and he laughed.

“What?” I said. “This is cozy.”

I was trying not to examine why Julian was working so hard to not give me the wrong impression. He said he just wanted to snuggle. It had nothing to do with sex. He even had his forearm high enough that he was hugging my collarbone, with no danger of touching my breasts.

We were friends. I was allowed to snuggle with my friend. Even if we’d never snuggled like this before.

I settled back against his chest, stretching right out on the couch. I could see some of his tattoos, and I started studying them now that his arms were around me, even though my eyelids were starting to droop.

I’d never been so comfortable in my life. The blanket was warm and heavy, and with Julian’s slow breathing against my neck, I felt safe and warm, in a way I hadn’t since before my parents died.

“If this is why omegas like snuggling so much, I think I’m adding it to my needs as a beta.” Which were, biologically speaking, very little. But I could pretend.

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