Page 19 of Below the Barrel

Five minutes later he walks out of the bathroom and turns off the light, darkness swallowing my vision. I hear him trying to find a comfortable spot on the floor and I say something I’m sure I’ll regret later.

“I’m not going to have you sleep on the floor the day before our competition, Koa. Get in bed.”

He doesn’t answer at first, the room filling with silence aside from our breathing, but after a few seconds I hear him get up and the bed dips as he crawls under the sheets beside me. I try to stay as far to the edge of my side as I can to make sure no part of us touches.

“I can hear your heart pounding in your chest,” he whispers after nearly three minutes.

“You frustrate me incredibly,” I mumble back, trying to play off the erratic beating as anger.

“It’s not like we’ve never slept next to each other before, princess. Get comfortable, I won’t touch you. Don’t worry.”

He turns around, his back now facing mine, making it easier for me to move closer. But his words keep playing on repeat in my mind.

I won’t touch you. Don’t worry.

But what if I want him to touch me?

It’s the last thing I think about as I fall asleep.

SIX

KOA | VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA

The familiar andcomforting scent of vanilla drags me out of my sleep. I slowly open my eyes, staring at my ceiling as I blink away the sleepiness. Turning my head towards the clock across the hotel room, I notice it’s eight in the morning. Surely that’s a mistake, I haven’t been able to sleep past four in the morning in nearly a year.

Something moves on my chest and that’s when I notice the weight there. I glance down and my heart begins to sprint in my chest. Blonde hair cascades across my body, the scent of vanilla finding me again. I hear her soft, rhythmic breathing and feel each exhale softly brush against my skin.

The urge to wrap my arms around Maliah and hold her close, never letting her go again, is almost overwhelming. But my words from last night stop me as I remember my promise to not touch her, so instead I lay there and watch her quietly, savouring this moment for as long as she’ll allow it. Her long lashes rest softly against her cheeks and minutes later they begin to flutter open as she slowly begins to wake up.

The peaceful expression she had just moments ago gives way to confusion before her eyes widen with the realization that she’son top of me. She scrambles off, falling out of the bed with a loud thump.

“Ow,” I hear Maliah groan quietly.

I press my lips together to stifle the chuckle as she slowly rises from the floor, her blonde hair now a wild mess around her face. Her cheeks are flushed as her eyes meet mine, and in an instant, she’s glaring at me, as usual. I roll my eyes as I sit up, resting my back against the headboard and bunching the sheets at my waist to try and hide my morning problem.

“Is there a reason you were touching me?” she hisses.

“You know,” I start, trying to hide my amusement from my voice, “you’re the one who was cuddling me, not the other way around.”

I watch, fascinated, as her cheeks turn an even deeper shade of red. It’s enough proof that she still has feelings for me, despite how she treats me in public. I can see her trying to muster up a retort, but I spare her the embarrassment as I lean over and pick up my hotel phone, dialling reception.

“Good morning, mister Foster, how can I help you today?” a raspy voice says from the other end.

“Good morning,” I reply. “My teammate in room two twenty-two forgot her keycard at an event last night. Is there any way you can bring a spare to my bedroom along with your breakfast special for two?”

“Absolutely, sir. I’ll send someone up shortly.”

“Thank you.”

I hang up the phone and turn to look back at Maliah. Her face still flushed as she avoids eye contact. Well, this is new, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen this expression on her before.

“I’m sorry,” she mumbles.

I arch a brow. “Sorry for what?”

“Cuddling up to you. I didn’t knowingly do it or anything.”

I let out a breathy chuckle. “I wasn’t complaining about it, Maliah.”

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