Page 75 of I Could Be Yours

“Snuggles.” His big hand wraps around my waist, and he tries to pull me into him, grunting when my hand lands on his welts.

I stretch out beside him, pulling myself up higher on the bed. I grab my phone so I can message Rix once he’s out. He wraps his arm around my waist and nuzzles in close, throwing his leg over mine.

“It’s nice to feel like someone gives a shit about me who isn’t my family or Flip.”

My soft heart clenches, and I stroke his hair. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t give a shit, Nate.”

He makes a contented sound. “I like this. I like you. You’re beautiful. Everything about you. I just want to hold you. It’s nice not to be alone all the time. We can have this week, right?”

My silly, sentimental heart is already bruising. “Yeah, Nate, we can have this week.”

“Good. That’s good. That’s what I want. I’ll make up for this when I’m not high.”

I put my heart in a box and lock it away. Letting it get involved would be a huge mistake. He’s not forever, he’s for now, and I need to remember that. I can like him, and I can fuck him, but I can’t fall for him. I promised I wouldn’t do that again. Because when this week is over, I’ll be Essie, and he’ll be Nate.

But we’ll never be Nate and Essie.

CHAPTER 23

NATE

The sun isn’t even up when I crack a lid in the morning. The clock on the nightstand reads four forty-five, and my stomach feels like it’s eating itself. Also, my skin is itchy. But I’m wrapped around Essie, which is nice.

“There’s food on the table. Please make your stomach stop. It’s been yelling louder than a grandpa without hearing aids for the past hour.” Essie drags a pillow over her head.

I roll over and sit up, blinking into the murky darkness. My stomach gurgles embarrassingly.

“I can still hear your stomach, Nathan,” Essie says from under the pillow.

I pad over to the table, eyes adjusting to the darkness. I pop the tops on three resealable containers and find an assortment of fresh fruit, pastries, and rolls with butter.

Essie lifts the pillow a few inches. “There are cold cuts, cheese, and condiments in the fridge if you want to make sandwiches out of the buns.”

My chest tightens in a weird, uncomfortable way. I’m not used to having someone do nice things for me. “Thanks.”

I scavenge the fridge for the meat and cheese, grab a bottle of water, and plow through everything in less than fifteen minutes.It takes the edge off, but now that I’m not hungry anymore, I’m really fucking itchy. I scratch my back, but it feels raw.

Essie tosses her pillow aside and rolls off the bed with a sigh. She disappears into the bathroom and closes the door. A minute later she reappears and flicks on one of the bedside lamps. She’s wearing a nightshirt with a princess a her gaggle of smiling, hat wearing friends and the phrasethe original why choose. Her hair tumbles over her shoulders in unruly waves. I want to drag her back to bed, curl myself around her, and bury my face in her hair.

“Sorry you’re awake at stupid o’clock in the morning,” I say as she crosses over to me.

“It’s fine. I was in bed early, anyway.” She taps the back of my hand. “Give me your hand, palm up.”

I do as she asks, and she places a pill in the center. “Non-drowsy antihistamine. It’ll help with the itching. You’re supposed to stay out of the sun today. Sadly, you’ll probably have to wear a shirt and rob me of the joy of checking out your fine-as-fuck body from behind the protective cover of my sunglasses.”

I huff a laugh and take the pill. “Thank you for taking care of me last night. Sorry if it meant you didn’t get time with Rix and the girls.”

“Rix was busy boning your brother. Or being boned by your brother. As were the rest of the girls—except for Dred. She’s on her fourth book already.” Essie runs her hands through my hair. “How are you feeling?”

“Fine apart from really fucking itchy.”

“I can apply more of the cream the nurse gave you.”

“I can probably handle it.” She’s already done more than enough in the taking-care-of-me department.

“I don’t mind. It’s probably easier for me to get your back.”

Her hands on me seems like a good way to start my day. “If you’re sure.”

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