Page 9 of One Whopper of a Love Story

It was possible, but I didn’t remember that part. My brain had been more focused on other parts of the evening. “Maybe. Don’t remember.”

“Will you set yours?”

“Sure.” I set an alarm to go off every two hours, then put the phone where she could reach it.

When she lay back down, she shifted the pillow so that her head bumped against my thigh. “Your hand is warm. It feels nice.” She sighed with contentment and laced her fingers with mine.

Holding hands with her, I closed my eyes and enjoyed the dream. If this whole night had been a fabrication of my mind, it was about to end. Waking always followed sleep, but I wasn’t ready to wake up from this dream.

Chapter 5

Layla

I dismissed the alarm and closed my eyes. Perfectly comfortable, I didn’t want to get up, but I had to. I’d skipped the last wakeup alarm because Nico had clearly been breathing. But after so many hours, I really needed to check on him.

Yawning, I poked his leg. “You okay?”

He didn’t answer.

I sat up. “Nico?”

His head was tilted back, and his mouth was open, but he wasn’t snoring. Didn’t all guys snore? It wasn’t like I’d ever spent the night with one before.

I climbed on top of him, straddling his lap. Then I patted his cheek. “Nico, please wake up.”

One eye opened, then closed again. “Hey.”

“Oh, thank goodness. You aren’t dead.” I trailed a finger through his stubble. “I was a little worried when you didn’t wake up.”

“Remember what you said about not kissing?” His eyes were still closed as he talked.

I was determined not to break that boundary no matter how much I wanted to. If this was more than a passing flirtation, there would be time later for more kisses. “What about it?”

He stretched, then rested his hands on my hips. “It’ll be a lot easier if you aren’t in my lap.”

I really hadn’t thought that one through. “Sorry.” I scrambled off him and sat next to him. “I just wanted you to wake up.”

“Oh, I’m awake.” He turned to face me, his head still tilted back. “Good morning. I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy to realize something wasn’t a dream.”

“I’m not a figment of your imagination. And you aren’t a figment of mine. I don’t think I could’ve even dreamed up anyone like you.” Why did I keep saying whatever popped into my head?

He brushed a knuckle across my cheek. “Since the rule is no kissing at my house, why don’t I take you to breakfast?”

I giggled, then slapped a hand over my mouth. Holding my breath, I waited until the funny tickle that set me giggling calmed down.

“What?”

“I was trying not to giggle. I’ve been told that it’s annoying, and I’m trying to stop. But I thought the idea of going to breakfast in my pajamas was funny. I mean, I’m not even wearing a—” I clamped my mouth shut.

“I’ll take you to breakfast in your pajamas. I don’t care what you wear. And I love the sunshine of your giggle. It’s not annoying. Whoever said that was wrong.” He crossed his arms. “There aren’t many things that can make me smile before coffee, but that sound is on the short list.”

“I’ve heard it from more than one person, so I thought...” I’d spent a lot of time trying to be different and reminding myself to curb my natural impulses. Moving to Stadtburg had been an attempt to start over as someone different. I just wasn’t very good at being someone else.

“They’re all wrong. And if you’ll give me a list of names, I’ll visit them personally and explain that to them.” He ran his thumb across my bottom lip. “More than explain if necessary.”

Imagining Nico running around to all the people who’d told me my giggling was annoying and made me sound like an airhead set off my giggles.

He grinned. “Too much?”

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