Page 102 of Meet Fake

While I normally need some time to come down from exciting events, my mind is racing because I’m here with him.

“Same. Let’s see what’s on.” He nods firmly and turns on the TV.

“Oh! Friends,“ I call out.

“Do you like this show? I can’t tell,” he teases.

I shove his shoulder, and he exaggerates my force, falling onto his side.

“Liar,” I laugh and settle in, my back against the pillow so that the headboard doesn’t press into my back, and smile as I watch Monica go on a cleaning frenzy.

Tristan is beside me, both of us more relaxed now. This is better. There’s no reason we should be awkward or tense around each other. We’re friends, maybe even more after the kiss earlier. Just because we kissed doesn’t mean that sleeping in the same bed for one night due to a misunderstanding has to lead to more.

I breathe out, settle back, and repeat some of the quotes along with the characters. I catch Tristan looking at me with a boyish smile, and my cheeks heat.

This moment is special. As simple or silly as it may seem to someone else, I know that it’s part of this new shift between us.

Tristan reaches out and holds my hand. I look at him and melt when I see his triumphant smile.

Maybe the coffee guy can become something more in my life.

24

Tristan

Heavy with sleep, I take a deep breath. Confusion washes over me as I feel a body next to me. More than next to me. My arm is wrapped around it. I groggily blink my eyes open and find Sage’s peaceful face. She’s turned toward the center of the bed, her hands cradled under her chin.

She looks beautiful. Her soft breath hits me every so often, and I soak up this moment. My chest swells with emotions wanting to break free, and I want to protect her for the rest of my life. I want to tighten my hold on her and pull her closer, but I’m afraid of waking her up and freaking her out. Instead, I stare at her, memorizing the the rhythmic rise and fall of her chest as she breathes and her shake of her parted lips.

We must’ve fallen asleep while watching TV, the awkward tension slipping away when exhaustion took over.

Shivering, I pat around me in search of the comforter. It’s cold in here. I lift my head and sigh. So Sage is a cover hog. She’s bundled up, rolled like a burrito. I’m sure the rest of the comforter is on the floor on the other side. It seems she’s also a bed hog since she’s moved to the middle, leaving me with barely enough space not to roll off.

She’s lucky she’s cute, or I’d wake her up to steal the covers. I slip my feet under the bit of comforter that’s left at the foot of the bed and hope that warms me up. Then, I drape my arm around her again and stare at her some more.

After last night, I want to make sure we’re on the same page. I want more than what we have. She isn’t some random woman anymore. She means something to me, and I can’t lose her.

I won’t lose her.

I’ve come to appreciate people in a different way since being back in Hartville. I took my town for granted, knowing it’d always be here for me to return to.

My brother will always have my back when I need him, no matter how long it’s been since we’ve seen each other. But not being around and spending quality time with the people I care about puts things into perspective. Now that I’ve had the chance, I realize there’s more to life than moving from city to city or country to country helping others.

I love what I do. I’m not trading that in for something else, but I want a relationship with Sage. Maybe I can have the best of both worlds—my dream career and the people I care about close by. Top of that list is Sage. My Wise Sage.

She came into my life unexpectedly, like the first sip of coffee in the morning—satisfying and necessary. I hadn’t realized how much I wanted this, always thinking I had enough on my own with no strings holding me to one place.

Sage isn’t a string. Not in the way something negatively holds you back. She’s a shining light, a sense of home.

I’m not sure how this happened, but spending time with her has created this tie between us that I don’t want to release.

My arm tightens around her, and I smile when she lets out a soft sigh. She’s a deep sleeper, totally oblivious to the real world. I scoot down on the bed, relaxing my neck and shoulders. I could lay like this with her for hours and be happy.

She brings out something else in me. It’s more than wanting someone physically. Words aren’t enough to explain the feeling. It’s otherworldly and intense. She’s like a treasure, and I’m the pirate who’s been in search of her my whole life. Now that I’ve found her, I’d be a fool to just leave her behind. The difference is that Sage is better than gold or gems. Her body stirs, and I stiffen. She blinks her eyes open with a lazy smile.

“Good morning, sleepy head,” I tease.

“Huh? Oh, good morning.” She rubs her eyes. “I thought I was dreaming.”

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