Page 39 of One More Round

He doesn’t say anything for a few beats and now I’m worried it’s all settling in. He should hate me. Morgan should hate me. They all should.

Finally, he nods his head, like he’s made up his mind about something. “I get it. I don’t agree with it, but I get it. And I’m glad that your new life worked out for you.”

I can’t hold back the snort.

“No, I’m not being a dick. Maybe it sounds that way, and I’m sorry about that. But really, your life in Wisconsin was stressful. Everyone knew your story. You had a chance to start a new book—not just a new chapter—and you took it. I just wish I could have edited it a bit and maybe written myself back in.” He quirks a smile at me and reaches over to grab my hand. I let our clasped hands rest on my thigh.

“I get it, Gia.”

And I can’t help but smile back.

We don’t talk much the rest of the drive. He tells me to get some sleep and turns on some music. The darkness and sound of his low voice singing to the radio lulls me to sleep. And so I’m in and out of sleep the rest of the way, for what it’s worth. I never get anything from car sleep but a sore neck and possible embarrassment of my mouth hanging open.

It’s past midnight and since my parents are at the hospital, we head straight to their house. He parks the car in the drive and I slowly unbuckle and get out of the car. He grabs our bags and I head up the walk to the front door. As I punch in the code to unlock it, I feel like I’m going to pass out from exhaustion.

The house is dark, and I turn on as few lights as needed on the way back to what used to be my room. It’s still how I left it, which was pretty bare. Once we moved here, I didn’t have it in me to really make it mine. I flip on the light and toss my overnight bag on the bed. I open it and grab my pajamas. I turn to Simon.

“I’m gonna go to the bathroom real fast. You can change in here if you want.”

I head back out the door and into the bathroom right down the hall. I take my time changing and grimace as I stare at my red puffy eyes and disheveled appearance. Lovely.

I pad back into the bedroom as Simon is folding his jeans and tossing them over his bag on the floor. He’s in a pair of PJ pants and a white fitted undershirt. He’s also got his black plastic-rimmed glasses on, which sparks an electric jolt deep in my tummy. Dang, I love this look on him.

He takes a slow, long look my way starting from my bare feet to my short shorts and bright, yellow tank top until he gets to my face. This is where I figure the appreciative once-over will stop; when he sees the weak, rumpled girl he used to know. To my surprise, I only see heat in his eyes. His gaze lingers at my mouth and I can’t help biting my bottom lip.

Clearing his throat, he asks, “Hmm. Do you want me to find a couch or can I just crash here on the floor?” He’s looking around my room. “I just need a pillow and blanket and I’ll be fine.”

“Don’t be silly, Simon, you’re staying with me, in the bed.” I toss my clothes on the floor and walk to the bed, grabbing his hand as I pass him.

Pulling down the covers I crawl in toward the wall that my bed is pushed up against. He follows me in without questioning my decision. We silently pull up the comforter, settle into the fluffy pillows and, without any words, snuggle into one another. He’s got one arm wrapped around me, pulling me close into his side. I inhale deep and slow, breathing him in. I realize at this exact moment that nothing else in the world matters. I could spend the rest of my life in this space between real life and my dreams. Because being in Simon’s arms like this has only ever happened in my dreams.

Content as my mind may be, my body gets restless as I lie here in his arms. It gets worse with every passing minute. I tell myself to go to sleep, I need my rest if I want to mentally get through tomorrow. The yearning to have his mouth on mine only grows as the minutes tick by. I don’t even know if he’s asleep or not. I don’t want to risk checking in case he is. Or if he isn’t, I don’t want it to be awkward.

I’m waiting for things to be awkward honestly. We’ve fallen so seamlessly back into our relationship, even if it feels new and more significant than it was before. It almost feels too good to be true. Like I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.

“I can practically hear the wheels turning in your head right now,” he whispers.

I readjust my head on his shoulder when I ask, “How did you know I wasn’t asleep?” He chuckles at me.

“Because I can feel the tension rolling off you. You aren't relaxed at all.” I feel him tense. “If this isn’t comfortable for you, I can move.”

I snuggle into him more and tell him no. The arm that is wrapped around my body pulls me in tighter. I might as well climb on top of him if I want to get any closer. Of course, that’s what I want to do. To feel his body against mine as I lean down to kiss his amazingly soft but commanding lips. I would be lying if I said I hadn’t daydreamed about all the ways he could put those lips to use.

His hand slips under my shirt and his fingers nearly scorch my skin. But he doesn’t go any farther. While I’m turned on and want him to keep going in either direction, I know I don’t need this tonight. Even if I want it so badly.

Ugh.I have to get my mind off all the places I want his hand to explore.

“Is the team mad you left for a few days? Are you going to miss any important practices or anything?”

“Naw. We don’t have any tournaments coming up. Just a charity event. But no, I’m allowed time off,” he says with a laugh.

“Hey, sorry, I don’t know how the wholebeing a pro gamerthing works. Your job is to play video games all day so you can win lots of money. I was just wondering,” I defend myself jokingly.

“Says the girl who gets paid to watch TV all day,” he says.

“Touché,” I reply.

We find ourselves in another lull of silence. But I can tell he isn’t asleep this time because his thumb starts swiping back and forth on my waist. And damn it, heat is filling me up with desire.

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