Chapter Eleven
LYLA
“Don’t tell me he barged in and saw your ass laid out in the tub.” Mia laughed and placed a folded shirt on top of the pile that sat on the bed.
She had organized a schedule between the girls and my parents to make sure someone was here with me when Adam couldn’t be.
Maybe just a bit of overkill. I was probably fine to stay by myself at this point.
But then again, I did get dizzy and fall into a bathtub.
Regardless, it was nice to have her help today with things like doing a load of laundry.
I shifted on the mattress and let out a long sigh. “Yup. Tits and all.”
She chuckled. “Did he seem to like what he saw?”
I rolled my eyes. “I keep telling you we’re not like that.”
“If you say so.” The smirk playing on her lips said she didn’t believe me. “So did you want me to help you wash your hair then while I’m here?”
I shook my head. “No. He ended up washing it for me.”
Her eyes widened. “He did?”
“Yup.”
“And how was that?” The smirk was back on her face.
I groaned. I shouldn’t have even told her. She was sure to make it seem like more than it was.
“Fine.” No way was I about to tell her that it felt so good I moaned in pleasure and probably made things awkward as hell. He did act a bit weird before leaving for work, but I was hopeful we would be back to normal once he got home.
“Just fine?”
“Yup.” I shrugged. “Just my wounded pride for being such a klutz and then having him see me half naked.”
She studied me for a moment, and thankfully didn’t push the subject.
Just to be sure, I purposely shifted the conversation to her and the guy she was dating.
Like her, he didn’t want anything serious.
I couldn’t understand how she did it—relationships with no future.
It blew my mind, although it worked for her, I supposed.
After helping me finish folding and putting away the clothes, we tidied up the apartment a bit before she headed out.
As the door closed behind her, my phone vibrated on the kitchen counter. I picked it up, smiling as a text from Adam popped up in the notifications.
Adam: Want me to pick up a pizza on the way home?
Me: Sure.
Adam: Ham and pineapple?
Me: We can do meat lovers. You don’t really like ham and pineapple.
Adam: But you do, and I’m good with it.
Me: Why don’t we do what we did last time? Half ham and pepperoni and half ham and pineapple.
Adam: That works. See you soon.
I lay down on the couch, just intending to rest my eyes, but must have dozed off because the next thing I registered was the sound of the front door shutting. I slowly sat up, looking over at Adam.
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to wake you.”
My stomach rumbled. “It’s okay. Perfect timing actually. Apparently, I’m hungry.”
“Good. I’ve got hot pizza.” He smiled and lifted the box in his hands. “Do you want to finish our game of Magic we started last night?”
We’d discovered our mutual love of the collectible card game a few weeks into working together. I’d commented on a post in a Facebook group I had recently joined, not realizing he was in the group too. Talk about your small world. We’d been having weekly games ever since.
As fun as it sounded, my head throbbed at the idea of needing to focus, and I brought my hand up to rub my temple. “Not tonight.”
He smirked. “Why? Because you know I’m going to win again?”
I narrowed my eyes. He enjoyed winning way too much. “I just have a bit of a headache.”
“Oh.” He set the pizza on the counter. “Movie, then?”
“Sure.” It could make my headache worse, but it was worth a try.
“Why don’t I get us drinks and make us plates while you pick a movie to watch tonight?”
I nodded and finally relaxed, feeling like things were totally back to normal between us.
“You sure you want me to pick?” He knew I had a love for romantic comedies, and there was a new one I had been dying to watch.
“Yeah. I know you’ve been wanting to see that one based off that book you love.”
I smiled excitedly—he didn’t even sound disgusted by the idea, or like he was just humoring me— and grabbed the remote.
Once I had the movie queued up, Adam joined me on the couch with our drinks and plates.
I was surprised he didn’t make fun of me again for my strange combo of milk and pizza.
He usually gave me shit about it every time.
“What, no teasing me about my milk?”
His lips lifted into a smirk. “I think I’ve just gotten used to it.”
Why did that almost make me feel sad? Was he just saying that because he was handling me with kid gloves since I’d been injured? I didn’t want anything to change between us. I liked who we were. Our friendship. Our banter. Hopefully the accident didn’t cause a permanent barrier between us.
As we ate our food, I stole a glance over at him a few times. He may never admit it—guy code or whatever—but based on how much he smiled and chuckled throughout the film, I was pretty sure he secretly liked these types of movies.
Finished eating, we relaxed back against the cushions.
There were only thirty minutes left in the movie, and I was stifling my third yawn.
Considering my unintentional short nap before dinner, I was surprised to find myself so tired again.
But concussions could make a person tire easily.
This was the first long period of screen time I’d had since the accident, which could be adding to it.
I laid my head back and closed my eyes, just letting them rest for a minute…
ADAM
I chuckled at the male character in the movie. He was so oblivious to his feelings for the girl. Was that how dumb I’d been with Lyla? The thought that maybe I’d missed my chance, and that my plan wasn’t going to work, sat heavy in my gut.
I glanced over at Lyla. Her eyes were closed, and I couldn’t tell if she was asleep or not. But five minutes later, when she shifted and leaned closer to me, I placed my arm around her shoulders, letting her head come to rest in the crook of my arm.
I held her, savoring the moment for as long as I could. The movie ended, and I stayed frozen in place, afraid if I moved, she’d wake up.
She shifted, nuzzling further into my side, and let out a sigh of satisfaction.
With a smile, I laid my head back. I was aware of her every breath, the weight of her head against my body. Breathing her in, every fiber in my being relaxed. Damn, this felt incredible. So right. This was how I wanted to spend every evening with her. I just hoped she felt the same.
I sensed the moment she lifted her head, and I looked down as her eyes lifted to my face.
Instead of pulling away like I usually did, I leaned into the moment, holding her gaze.
Tracking the movement of her tongue as it licked along her bottom lip, my body came alive with need, and desire stared back at me.
God. I wanted so badly to kiss her. But I had to remember I was subtly showing her little moments between us. If I moved things too fast, it could ruin it all.
Her breath hitched, and then she was pushing off me, sitting up as her cheeks flushed.
“I’m sorry.” She shook her head. “I fell asleep on you.”
I smirked, but I wasn’t going to point out that I had my arm around her. “I didn’t mind.” That was the truth without directly telling her I enjoyed it and wanted more of it.
Her brows pulled together slightly as she studied me, and then she glanced over at the TV. “I missed the end of the movie.”
I nodded. “Want me to turn it back on? Or did you want to head to bed?”
She looked back at me, searching my face, and then sighed. “I think I’m just going to go to bed.”
My smile slipped. I wanted more time with her, but she also needed her rest. “Okay.” I stood and began collecting our plates. “I’ll clean up, you go ahead.”
“I’ll help.” She grabbed our glasses, and I followed her into the kitchen.
“I got the rest.” I tipped my head toward the hallway. “Go get some rest.”
“Alright.” She turned and glanced back at me over her shoulder. “Good night.”
“Night.”
I stood in the kitchen, even more confident than I’d been earlier that this plan would work. All I had to do was slowly show her what we could have.
And then hope to God she would be willing to take a chance on us.