Page 76 of Stuck With You
I roll over on my back and punch the pillow a few times, trying to get comfortable. I stare at the ceiling, listening to the soft, muffled voices filter in from the other side of the house.
I could be watching a movie or the sports recap. Instead, I’m lying in the dark, listening to make sure Krissy gets home and wondering what tomorrow will be like with Sarah and the kids.
Maybe I’ll go to the shop and get a head start on the week.
As Sarah packed up her things, she asked me four times if I was sure about her staying here, as if she was expecting me to change my mind. Or maybe she wanted me to.
I didn’t like it—that she was worried about staying here.
When I told her everything was fine, I wanted her to know it—to believe me.
This evening was fine. It was more than fine. Ollie sat with me, watching the game, and I told him everything I knew about planes. Sarah sat with Frankie, reading books and stacking colorful blocks so that she could knock them over. Her giggles filled the space when Sarah made exaggerated crashing sounds. Then, of course, Trig and Carson joined in.
But now, I wonder what she’s thinking. Is she sitting in the kitchen, telling Krissy she couldn’t sleep, and this was a huge mistake?
I slap a hand over my face.What the hell am I becoming?
This is a neighborly gesture. She’s staying for two, three days tops. That’s all this is, and then I can get back to focusing on Krissy moving out and hiring another mechanic.
The voices die down, and I hear the stairs creak as they ascend. The silence is worse as I try to calm my mind and relax my body. After another wasted thirty minutes, I throw the sheet off and sit on the side of the bed.
I go to the bathroom and decide that if I can’t sleep, I might as well review inventory logs or start on payroll. I walk down the dark hall and find the kitchen light on.
I stop in the doorway, Grover’s head rises quickly from the floor, and he stares at me from Sarah’s feet. Her head rests on her arm on top of her open textbook with a highlighter still in her hand.
She looks peaceful. Beautiful.
I step into the kitchen and stand over her. Her long hair is a messy pile on top of her head, but loose strands fan across her cheek. I carefully brush the hair out of her open mouth, watching my fingers glide along her soft skin.
She pops out of the chair, almost knocking it over, and I grab her by the waist to keep her from falling with it. Grover lets out one quick bark and then settles with his tail wagging as if this is a new game.
“Holy shit,” she huffs, her eyes wide in alarm.
I maintain hold of her as she glances around the kitchen, her chest moving in and out quickly, and then her gaze meets mine. She pushes out a breath, wipes the corner of her mouth with her sleeve, then . . .
She tips forward, her forehead falling gently against my chest, her hands fisting my T-shirt. I. Don’t. Move. I inhale the scent of sunshine and ocean, feeling the warmth of her skin through the thin layer of cotton.
“You scared the absolute shit out of me. What are you doing?” Her hands tug on my shirt.
“I was. . .getting something to drink and gonna work for a while.”
Her head falls back to look at me. “Now?”
I try not to smile, but it’s difficult. “You need to go to bed and get some sleep.”
Her hands release my shirt, and I drop mine from her waist. “You’re bossy even in the middle of the night.”
I think about asking her if her sassy mouth ever stops running, but I decide that might lead me to do something I’m still fully contemplating.
Her sleepy eyes stare into mine as if she’s waiting for me to agree.
One side of her mouth curls up. “I have a feeling underneath that strict, commanding regime is a reckless rebel just itching to throw all caution to the wind.”
Those tantalizing eyes crease in the corners as they study mine. She has no idea the battle beginning to wage within me.
She reaches up and pats me in the center of the chest. “It’s ok, Wildcat. Your secret is safe with me.” She grins.
My hands ache to pull her right back to me and find out what her mouth feels like against mine. I exhale slowly, not having any idea what I’m doing.
