Page 65 of Absolutely Not in Love
Felix:Did I scare you away? It’s been a minute.
Gracie:I’m here! You didn’t scare me. My brother called to give me a dad update.
Felix:He’s okay?
Gracie:Still being stubborn about exercise, but it sounds like he’s eating a little better.
Gracie:Also.
Gracie:I want you to know everything too.
Chapter Fifteen
Felix
It’saftermidnightwhenthe Appies bus finally pulls into the Summit parking lot. By the time I make it home and let myself into my apartment, I assume Gracie has already gone to bed. It’s Sunday night, which means she has to teach early in the morning, but the lamp is on in the living room, illuminating the outline of her sleeping form stretched out on the couch.
I walk quietly across the living room and crouch down in front of her. She looks beautiful sleeping like this, but it feels creepy to just sit here and stare at her. I pull the blanket a little higher on her shoulders, and she shifts slightly, a lock of her hair falling over her cheek.
Slowly, I brush it off her face, my fingers grazing lightly over her skin.
Her eyes blink open, and her lips lift into a sleepy smile. “You’re home,” she says softly.
“I thought you’d be in bed,” I say.
She yawns. “I thought I would be too. I didn’t mean to fall asleep here.” She pauses. “But now I’m glad I did. What time is it?”
“Almost one.”
She groans. “Oh man. I’m going to hate life in the morning.”
“Come on,” I say, standing up and holding out my hand. “Let’s get you to bed.”
She slips her hand into mine and squeezes it gently, and I immediately wince.
“What is it? What did I do?” she says.
“Nothing,” I say. “It’s not you.” I switch hands and tug her to her feet. “It’s my fault. I forgot this hand is bruised.”
She lifts my palm, cradling it while she inspects the puck-sized bruise covering the side of my thumb and wrist. Her fingers graze over it gently, and she bites her lip. “That looks like it hurt.”
“Little bit,” I say.
“Did you make the save, at least?”
“I did. Though we lost the game anyway.”
Her fingers are still on my skin, her touch feather soft. Honestly, I’ll take a slapshot to the palm any dayif it means her touching me like this.
“I’m sorry I made it worse,” she says.
I shake my head and gently say, “You couldn’t make anything worse, Gracie.”
She smiles as she yawns again, letting out a little laugh as she tries and fails to stifle it.
“Okay, youreallyneed to go to bed.” I drop my hands onto her shoulders and steer her toward her bedroom.
Funny how after just a few days, it already feels likeher room.Not the guest room. When Logan stayed here for a while last month, it definitely never felt like his room. But Gracie just seems to fit here, like she belongs in my space.
