Page 9 of Yours to Ho Ho Hold
“Uh … sitting here waiting for you to finish your freakout so I can go to sleep,” I answer honestly.
She glances down at my crotch, and her mouth falls open before she looks back to me with disgust. “I can’t believe you—” She moves to grab her backpack, and I jump to my feet to stop her.
“Holly, no, wait … It’s not anything like that.” I grab her backpack strap and pull her back into the room. “I wasn’t thinking about you … er … not really.” I scratch the back of my head trying to explain myself, but I’m doing a shit job of it. She gives me a confused look.
“I just … I mean …” My eyes fall to the floor. “Sometimes noises and smells give me boners at inconvenient times.” I meet her eyes. “I promise, I wasn’t thinking of anything. It just happens, and it’s not like this material is doing me any favors disguising it. Honestly, I’m shocked I made it through security because, sometimes, it also happens when I’m nervous. Basically, all the worst times possible.”
She doesn’t say anything, but at least she’s not running away from me. So that’s something.
“I’ll sleep on the floor tonight if that makes you more comfortable.” I grab a pillow off the bed and drop it on the hardwood floor.
“Fine,” she huffs, grabbing her bag and heading to the bathroom. I hear the distinct clinking of the lock.
It’s comical how much she wants me to know she’s not interested. It almost makes me wonder which one of us she’s trying to convince. While I would love to ask her about that, I value my life too much to push on that nerve.
I take the opportunity to change my clothes, grabbing a white undershirt and some boxer briefs to sleep in, then take my rightful place on the hard floor. I’m so tired I don’t even mind at this point.
When she steps out of the bathroom, she’s wearing a long t-shirt, and her hair hangs wet around her shoulders. The smell of sugar and vanilla fills the room, and I feel like a teenage boy sleeping next door to his childhood crush. It takes every bit of restraint I have to keep myself from taking a peek.
I force myself to think about the farting guy from the plane to calm my traitorous mind. I may not make a move on her, but I can’t stop my imagination from keeping me more than occupied with detailed fantasies.
The bed creaks as she climbs in and tosses and turns several times like she’s unable to get comfortable.
“It’s easier to fall asleep if you lay still,” I say after listening to her struggle for several minutes.
“Yeah, well, I can’t get comfortable. I’m not used to sleeping in strange beds, and you took all the pillows.”
“I took two because I’m sleeping on the floor. You have two. That’s even,” I argue.
“I prefer to have at least three. I can’t sleep if my knees are touching,” she snaps back.
“Are you the princess and the pea? You’re in a bed for Christ’s sake. I’m happy to trade places.”
“Just shut up already. You’re making me lose all my tired.”
“What does that even mean? How do you lose your tired? You’re either tired or you’re not.”
“I took a melatonin, and if I don’t fall asleep as it kicks in, then I’ll push through the window of tired and lay awake all night,” she answers like it’s an obvious explanation.
I turn on my side and prop my head on my hand. “That’s not a thing!”
“Yes. It. Is!” She jerks herself up and leans over the bed to glare at me.
“Okay, well then here’s a solution. You let me come up there, and I’ll give you one of my pillows. Then we both get to sleep comfortably.”
She goes quiet, and I know she’s considering it.
“What do you say, Hols? How important is that third pillow to you?”
“Fine,” she grunts, “but no touching. Stay on your side, and if you even think of getting another boner, I’ll break it off like an icicle and stab you in the ear with it!”
“Jesus! You don’t have to be so mean.” I climb onto the bed and slide under the covers before tossing her the precious bargaining chip. I have no idea what’s she’s talking about. This bed is soft and plush and absolutely divine, light years better than that hardwood floor.
I pull the cover up to my chin and turn on my side. I’m going to sleep like a baby tonight.
ChapterFour
Holly
