Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Avril
The bachelorette party ended when the bride went to put her son to bed. We played a game of truth or dare, and I learned that Clarissa and Elon’s son was eight. I had no idea how long they’d dated. I was just learning about Kir’s family.
The men had gone outside a few hours before, but when they filed in, I saw Kir near the groom, who kissed his bride. His parents also kissed. My heart thumped. He walked toward me, and those dark eyes of his captured my attention. Kir smiled. His arm went around my waist, and he kissed my cheeks.
I hugged him. “So, how was the bachelor party when y’all went outside?”
His mother said, “We all need to get some rest for tomorrow,” and the party started dispersing.
Kir said to me, “It was mostly just to talk to Elon about how he fooled us all for years.”
“He did?”
Charlie pointed to Kir and another room. Kir shook his head and stayed with me. “Clarissa’s parents worked for my parents when we were kids, and she was very much like a sister to most of us. I had no idea they had a romantic history and had a son until he brought them home a few months ago.”
Wow. My brow furrowed. I remained pressed against him as I said, “Wait. That sounds scandalous for your sweet family.”
He held me. “It’s all good.”
Clarissa waved for us to go with her. “There you two are. Let me show you to your room.”
My heart raced as we walked with her. I swallowed. “I can bunk with my friends.”
Clarissa shrugged as we headed up the stairs. “We’re not prudes, Avril. We all know you’re living with Kir.” As we made it to the second floor, she held the door for me. “So, this is your room.”
I tensed. There was only one queen-sized bed with a white sheet. “Shouldn’t the bride have people helping her so you don’t have to escort us around?”
She hugged me. “Don’t be silly. Kir is family, and maybe one day you’ll be my sister.”
As she let me go, I instantly hoped she was super happy. “Oh, Clarissa, you’re sweet.” As she left and Kir closed the door behind me, I said, “So, we’re bunking together.”
He took off his suit jacket and hung it in the closet that was filled with clothes. Hope had mentioned at the last wedding that she’d been given a choice of designer outfits, so I assumed those nice dresses were for me, but I didn’t ask.
“I’ll take the floor,” he said.
When Kir faced me, my body was alive with anticipation. I said, “Your brother is getting married tomorrow.”
He raised his eyebrow. “So?”
I lifted my chin. “I… we’ll make a wall of pillows, but you need to sleep on the bed.”
He widened his stance like he was going to continue his protests. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
This wasn’t an argument we needed. I sat back on the bed and wished he was mine. That kiss earlier still made my heart flutter, but he had no idea I’d meant it.
I asked, “Are you repulsed by me?”
He sat across the room and stared. It was like he saw into my soul and not just my body. “You know that’s not true.”
I sucked in my breath. Time to tell him how I feel . “Then sleeping next to me for a night or two shouldn’t be an issue.”
He laughed. “I’m not going to fight you.”
“Good.” I jumped up, not quite sure why his being near me was setting me off so much. And I probably needed a few minutes. “I’ll take a shower first, and then we’ll switch.”
I grabbed pajamas with shorts and a shirt, rushed in, and closed the door. I’d never told a guy I was into him first. This was new and I’d been tongue-tied.
I quickly took a shower. I wished had Britney’s confidence. She always knew what to say to get what she wanted.
His kiss burned through me still. I sighed and finished brushing my hair then popped my head out the door and smiled at him. “Your turn.”
Then I sprinted to the bed. My skin was all jittery like I was some virgin bride, which made no sense. I heard the water and tried to read a book on my phone, but every word just made me think about Kir. I sucked in my lips.
As the door opened, I sat up and turned my phone off entirely. My eyes widened. He’d thrown on sleep pants with no shirt as his preparation for bed. Those hard muscles of his were on full display and sent a thrill through me. Without a word, he walked toward the bed.
I asked, “You don’t sleep with a shirt?”
He sat on the other side of the bed. “I hate anything on my neck when I sleep.”
Now I knew a secret. “Really?”
He turned and sat fully on his side with a pillow. “Yeah. Years ago, one of my mom’s friends, who claims to read past lives, said I lost my head in my last one and that’s why I sometimes have problems expressing my feelings.”
“And wearing a shirt.” I smiled.
He shrugged. “Who really knows. Any quirks about you?”
My mind raced. I’d never known anyone who talked about past lives. “Well, I usually wake up at night.”
He jumped up. “You can have the side to the bathroom, then.”
I shook my head and pointed for him to join me, and he did. “It’s not that. I just have all my fears running in my brain, and I get overwhelmed.”
“I’m sorry.”
For a second, I wondered if he was nervous and if I’d done that to him. I moved closer. “You probably do know what it’s like to worry about a sibling.”
He took my hand. “Yeah, but I never worried about paying for anything.”
His features softened. I hoped he was calmer near me. I wanted him to be happy. “That’s a perk to your life.”
He pressed his hand on the pillow, near mine, and smiled. “So, we should go to sleep.”
Sleeping was going to be difficult. My pulse zipped. “Right. I’ll be quiet.”
“If you wake, I’m here for you.”
My heart melted, and I felt my eyes misting. “You’re always here for me.”
“I like the job.”
I sighed and reached out and brushed against him. “So now I’m a chore.”
He took my hand off his muscular abs but held it. “No, you’re sweet. When I tried to stay away from you, it was because I wanted you to be happy.”
Now, that sounded like a fairy tale. “And you wanted to be free to date anyone you wanted.”
“No.” He squeezed my palm, and I relaxed. “That wasn’t it. I realized fast that you’re easy to talk to and I liked you, but I don’t think I’m meant to be happy like my parents or siblings.”
And I liked him and was there because he was wonderful. I raised an eyebrow. “Because you’re generally depressed or something?”
He laughed. “No. I just… know that people change when they couple up, and I’m too used to being me.”
I wished I knew why his words made me believe I could never be his real girlfriend. I was going about it all wrong, but I continued on the path I’d set for myself. “So you’re unwilling to change.”
He moved closer to me. “That makes me sound really bad.”
I shook my head. “No, just honest.”
He whispered, “Dating you has opened my eyes.”
My heart stirred. “To…?”
He gazed into my eyes. “To the fact that change is a good thing and staying in my routine was probably the worst thing I ever did to myself.”
Me too. Being with him was a breath of fresh air. “I’m glad we’re here together.”
“Me too.”
Then I decided I needed one more taste. I pressed my lips to his, and we kissed. He tasted better than anything, and I knew I was his if he wanted me.