Page 71 of Test the Ice
My groggy state tells me I didn’t sleep enough, but when my eyelashes flutter open, I’m greeted with a stream of sunlightright across my face. I immediately shut my eyes again and groan.
Since having Charleigh, I’ve learned how precious sleep is. I take full advantage that she isn’t crying and curl back into myself, desperate for more rest. I snuggle onto the pillow.
I’m warm, and my back doesn’t ache from the hard floor.
I open my eyes fully, and my chest tightens.
I’m in Malaki’s bed.
Last night replays inside my head like a jumbotron for all to see—and by all, I mean me, myself, and I.
As slowly as I can, fearful I’ll wake him, I turn toward the other side of the bed, only to find it empty.
I quickly sit up and fling the blankets off my legs. I’m in the middle of trying to sort out my mixed feelings when the slightly ajar door opens farther.
I do my very best to focus on Charleigh instead of Malaki, but he stands there with his hair in a perfect, wavy mess, shirtless, holding my sleepy-faced daughter in his arms.
She smiles widely when she sees me, and to my complete and utter surprise, she buries her face in the crook of Malaki’s neck to hide her excitement.
What the–
My lips part.
Has Malaki Young somehow wormed his way into Charleigh’s heart?
“Sorry…” He shrugs while walking closer to the bed. “I heard her, and you just looked so peaceful sleeping, I didn’t want to wake you up.”
I blink past my confusion. “It’s okay… but you know you don’t have–”
Malaki’s cocked eyebrow cuts me off mid-sentence. I close my mouth and manage a small smile. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Charleigh puts her hand on Malaki’s scruffy chin and rubs it with curiosity. “Want to see Mama?” he asks her.
“No, she wants to see me,” Zoe says from behind.
Malaki turns around with Charleigh in her arms, and Zoe stands at the bedroom door, fully dressed for class. She leans around Malaki and grins at me. “Well, well, well… What do we have here? You in your fake fiancé’s bed?Interesting.”
I sit up even taller. “It’s not like that!”
Malaki peers at me over his shoulder, and Zoe takes full advantage of his attention being elsewhere. She winks dramatically, and I scowl at her.
“Sure it’s not,” she teases.
“He found out that I don’t have a bed,” I say. “He said he was just going to buy me one if I didn’t use his, so…”
She laughs. “Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say.”
I take the pillow behind my head and chuck it at her. She swats it away with another laugh.
Malaki steps in between us. “I heard you don’t have a bed either.”
“Are you inviting me into your bed too? Because that’s where I draw the line.”
Malaki coughs or chokes. I can’t decide which.
“What? No! God.”
