Chapter 35
CHAPTER
THIRTY-FIVE
EMERSON
Swallowing, I stared at the full-sized bed and then the sofa bed. Someone—probably Rose—had pulled out the sofa and made it up, adding a threadbare quilt to the end of it. It looked lumpy, and I wasn’t sure about its structural integrity, but I guess it was better than the floor. I swept the rest of the room, but there wasn’t much to find other than a nightstand with a lamp. There wasn’t even a dresser.
Two doors were back to back, and I walked over and opened the first one. Inside was a closet with board games at the top and blankets. Two garment bags hung on the rail—our clothes for the wedding—among a lot of empty hangers that clinked together at my disruption. Dust bunnies cluttered the bottom of the closet, and I sneezed as they hit my nose.
“Achoo.”
“Bless you,” Holden said, moving behind me.
I turned, raising my eyebrows in shock, as he opened his bag on the sofa bed. With him next to it, it looked more like a toddler bed .
“I can take the sofa. I’m not sure your body will fit, even if you lay diagonally.”
“It’s fine, Wildcat.” He looked up, his eyes holding mine for a second before he nodded to the other door. “That a bathroom?”
I opened the door and turned on the light. A walk-in shower, toilet, and sink appeared under the light. “Yep. Looks like we get to share a bathroom one more time before you move out.”
“Hmm.”
“What?” I asked, turning back to him and crossing my arms.
“Nothing.”
“It’s something.”
He dug in his bag, but I could have sworn his lips tugged up in a smirk.
“It’s just cute you think we won’t share one again.”
I blushed at the insinuation. “I’m not sure what you mean.” I wouldn’t make it easy on him. I wanted him to use his words, dammit!
I moved to the bed and dropped my bag. If he was going to be chivalrous and take the lumpy sofa bed, I wouldn’t argue. Holden pulled his shirt over his head with one hand, and I gulped. My eyes trailed over his body before I could stop myself.
When I spotted red marks covering him, I rushed to him, touching him without thought. “Shit, Hol. This looks bad.” I glanced at his face and was startled by the look. It was soft… and surprised, maybe? No, more like amused, but that wasn’t exactly right either. “What?”
“It’s just from the game, Wildcat.”
“You look like this after each one?”
He nodded. “More or less. The pads protect me from a lot, but they also rub against your skin and leave these welts.” He pointed to his side, and I gasped at the purple bruise forming.
“That’s more than a welt!” I caressed his soft skin, unable to stop. It was warm to the touch, and he shivered as my fingers grazed him. When I spotted goosebumps, I caught myself and stepped back. “Um, do you need anything? Ice? Icy hot? A massage?”
Holden smirked. “You offering?”
“What? Um. No. I mean. What?”
Holden laughed and reached for the waistband of his shorts. “Two-second warning. I’m about to drop these.”
I froze and stared at where his hand lingered on his waist. He shifted, and I remembered I wasn’t supposed to be staring at my friend. Friend .
“Eep.” I spun around so quickly that I almost fell over.
“I thought you were good on your feet, Wildcat?”
“Ha. Ha.” I walked over to the bed and kept my back to him, offering privacy. It had nothing to do with my red cheeks.
Unzipping my bag, I pulled out my pajamas. I’d grabbed a pair of old shorts and a tank top, assuming I’d be in my own room. It suddenly felt very indecent to wear them around Holden, but the alternative was sleeping naked.
Trouble. Trouble. Trouble.
I was in so much trouble.
The door to the bathroom shut, and I let out a sigh of relief. I busied myself with hanging what I needed and plugging my charger into the nightstand. Colter had sent a message, so I opened it.
Magic 8-ball: I can’t wait for your video.
Magic 8-ball: Let me know when you’re there.
Magic 8-ball: I hope you and Hol have a good time together. *Winky face *
Oh, that meddler.
Smirking, I sent back a reply. I only had one bar, but hopefully, it would go through.
Emerson: Just good? I thought you said I was great?
Emerson: If “Oh, my fucking god. You’re going to get us killed” is any indication, I’d say Holden enjoyed himself on the drive here.
Emerson: Nighty night.
Chuckling, I plugged my phone in just as Holden emerged from the bathroom. He was only in boxer briefs, and I sobered at the sight. Great googly moogly! I grabbed my stuff and ran into the bathroom. I could have sworn I heard him chuckle, but the blood was pumping too loudly in my ears to be certain.
Going through the motions, I washed my face, brushed my teeth, and changed into pajamas. I didn’t know how long I’d been, but considering my cheeks were still pink, it hadn’t been long enough. Fiddling with my hair, I gave up on wasting time and opened the door. The lamp was the only light on in the room, casting a warm glow. Holden was under the quilt, his feet dangling off the end. I almost felt bad, but that evaporated when he shifted and grunted.
I climbed into bed, pulled up the covers, and turned off the lamp. Quiet descended around us as we laid in the dark. There was nothing in the room to make noise, so every little shift was noticeable.
The bed creaked.
The slide of sheets against skin.
The sofa squeaked.
Soft breathing.
I lay there listening to Holden, my mind suddenly on high alert. Having him this close had sent my body into overdrive, and my overthinking took off at rapid speed.
What did his eye-holding mean?
Why had he given me the bed?
Was that how he really saw me dancing?
Was money the only reason he got a job?
Would he really be okay dating me, like Colter assumed?
What about football?
What about our parents?
How had he known about the recipes?
Why hadn’t he trusted me?
Would he pick Hope again?
The thoughts rolled and tumbled over each other in the same loop I fell into every night if I hadn’t exhausted myself enough beforehand.
“I can hear you thinking all the way over here, Wildcat. Go to sleep.”
“You go to sleep,” I mumbled and rolled over. It was easier to be angry. I didn’t think about all the what-ifs then.
“So mature.”
“Like you have room to talk,” I whispered.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You know what it means, Holden.” I rolled my eyes, despite the fact he couldn’t see me. The sheets moved, and it sounded like he sat up.
“Tell me. How have I upset you now ?”
“ Now ? You make it sound like I’m unreasonable!”
“You are!”
“No. You are!”
Fabric rustled, and the air moved. I smiled, knowing I’d gotten to him if he was miming strangling me in the dark.
“You’re so infuriating. I can’t do this with you tonight. Go to sleep, Emerson.”
“Go to sleep, Holden.”
“Seriously! How does Colter put up with you? ”
“Usually with his dick.”
Holden remained silent at that, and I blushed. While he knew we had sex, I hadn’t ever specifically talked about it. The sofa creaked, and I knew he was lying back down. He muttered and rolled over, punching his pillow. The sofa continued to creak with his movements, the sound growing higher pitched with each jostle. Holden seemed to shift positions again, the bed protesting with a shriek before a loud crash of metal sounded.
Jolting upright, I flicked on the lamp and froze at the sight before me. I covered my mouth, but the laughter still spilled out.
“Are you just going to laugh, or are you going to help me?” he grumbled. The sofa bed had folded upright and sandwiched Holden. Legs and arms poked out the sides, and the middle sagged.
“I don’t know. You look pretty comfortable.”
“Wildcat. Come on.” He moved, trying to press it down, but it sprung back upright each time.
I chuckled again. It was too funny. Picking up my phone, I took a picture. “Nah. I’m infuriating, remember? And you told me to go to sleep. I must obey the great Holden Adler.”
“Quit being stubborn.”
“Me, stubborn? Never.” I fake yawned, exaggerating the sound. “Oh, man. I’m so sleepy. Night.” I reached for the light.
“No! Don’t. Please, Emerson. I’m sorry. Can you help me out? I’ll owe you a favor.”
“Hmm. Don’t know if a favor’s worth the effort.”
“Fine. I’ll… I’ll… I can’t think like this. It hurts, Wildcat. You don’t want to be responsible for injuring the starting QB? We’re on a winning streak.”
Sighing, I climbed out of bed and walked over to the side. I looked at the mattress and springs. The last time they’d been greased had to be in the ‘50s .
“I have all the confidence in Cody. He’ll do great in your absence.”
“Wildcat, please,” he begged. His hand reached out and brushed my leg, sending shivers across my bare flesh.
“Fine. You owe me a favor,” I grumbled to cover my moan. I pushed the bottom part of the mattress down, grunting with the effort. I still had a ways to go, and my arms already hurt. “You’re going to have to jump out. If I let go, it’s going to spring back.”
Holden nodded, and I used all my force to press the springs, using my body weight to hold them down. The instant he wasn’t upright, he rolled over and leaped out beside me.
“Now!” I let go and jumped back, straight into Holden’s half-naked body. His hands gripped my hips and kept me from falling. I looked up at him, and his eyes bore into mine. I watched with fascination as he swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing. I licked my lips, and he shifted.
Would he finally kiss me?
The creaking of the bed screeched again, and I jumped from his arms, stopping any questions. We stared at the sofa bed in silence. The springs had folded completely upright and jutted out from the bottom of the mattress. Their rusty spikes gleamed in the dim light. It was a death contraption with a side of tetanus.
“They really undersold it,” I murmured.
Holden snorted, then bent at the waist and laughed louder. It set me off, and I joined him, laughing hysterically at the absolute mess of a bed. It took a few minutes, but we gathered ourselves, and I wiped tears from my eyes.
“Now what?” I asked.
Holden glanced at the bed and then at the floor. “I’ll sleep on the floor.” He moved to the closet, pulled down the blankets, and laid them next to the door.
Biting my lip, I internally debated with myself. The floor would be torture after a game, and his body was already sore. But I didn’t want to sleep on the floor, either. Which only left the bed…
It wasn’t like we hadn’t shared a bed before. I could do this.
“We can share the bed,” I said before I could talk myself out of it.
Holden stopped and looked at me. “You sure?”
“Yeah. No one should sleep on the floor. Especially after that game. I’m worried you won’t be able to walk in the morning and ruin the ceremony.”
“Ruin the ceremony. Sure, Wildcat.”
“It is.”
“Uh huh.” He smirked, and I almost took it back. He was the infuriating one.
I brushed past him to climb in on the side I’d been on. His skin was warm against me, and I caught a strong whiff of his fancy cabin scent. Which in this setting was not helping . Do not think of s’mores. Or fires. Or anything else cabiny related!
I turned out the light as soon as I climbed into bed, not needing him to see how red my cheeks were. Except he didn’t get in. He stared at me, standing frozen at the side.
“Holden?”
“Hmm.”
“You have to climb into the bed to actually sleep in it.”
“Right. Bed. One bed.”
“We’re adults,” I said, unsure who I was trying to convince.
The covers moved, and I held my breath as he lowered himself under them. The bed wasn’t much bigger than the sofa, bringing our bodies flush. Even on the edge of the bed, I couldn’t escape his body touching mine.
This was a terrible idea. I didn’t think I could actually do this.
For the longest time, it felt like neither of us moved, much less breathed. His body warmed me beneath the covers and my hip ached from lying on it too long, but I didn’t dare roll over. Every nerve in my body was awake, and my body heated at the memory of how Holden had brought every single one of them to life.
Eventually, I heard his deep intake of breath, and my heart calmed. Carefully, I shifted and turned toward him. He lay on his side, his hand under the pillow, facing me. His face was so serene asleep, and I lifted my hand, barely stopping myself from touching him. Folding my hands under my pillow, I closed my eyes, exhaustion finally taking over and pulling me under.