Chapter 3 #2
My feet cross the wooden threshold, looking around and taking in everything that is Randy Harrison’s room. It’s clean and simple with a desk, television, dresser, and large bed. A knock at the door has me turning as Shelby hands Randy the airbed, pump, and sleeping bag.
“Here you go,” she says, eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
“Gee, thanks,” Randy exhales, voice dry enough to sand wood.
She points to pink shorts on top of the bundle. “I have some spare shorts if you want to borrow them.”
“Oh, thank you! That’s really nice of you.”
I turn to look at Randy as he drops the air mattress on the bed. “Am I able to take a shower?”
“Sure, I’ll get you a towel and a shirt…everything else you need should be in the bathroom. Shelby has taken it over with heaps of girly crap.”
“Help yourself.” Shelby shrugs with no argument, turning to leave as Randy opens his dresser and grabs a clean shirt for me.
“Bathroom is just beside me,” he points. “Christian’s room is across the hall, and Walsh’s room is next to his, so don’t go in them,” he jokes.
I take the clothes and towel. “Thank you.”
After a much-needed shower, I enter Randy’s room, coming to the sight of what is a half-naked Randy Harrison dressed only in loose gym shorts.
Holy eight pack and chiseled obliques!
His hair is damp, and he is blowing up the airbed with a foot pump, making every muscle in his body flex.
“I ran down and used Seth’s shower. Are those clothes, okay?”
Glancing down at myself dressed in Shelby’s pink pajama bottoms that only peek out from the bottom of Randy’s oversized Raptors shirt.
“Umm,” I stutter, still at a loss for words at the man in front of me. “Yeah, they’re great,” I say, diverting my eyes from Randy and taking a seat on his bed.
“I’m happy to sleep on the airbed.” The guilt of putting him out even more after everything he has done for me today slams into me.
“It’s fine. You can get comfortable in my bed, just throw me a pillow.”
I lean across the bed and toss him a pillow and watch him catch it with ease, not faltering while continuing to pump up the bed. The small movements he’s making causes every defined muscle in his calf to pop.
I pull the blankets back and get comfortable in his bed and holy shit, it has to be one of the most comfortable beds I have ever been in. Much better than mine, and to top it off, it smells like him.
I watch him as he finishes pumping up the mattress.
He seriously has an eight pack. It’s defined and looks ridiculously good with that tanned skin.
His arms are toned, with the supermodel face, full lips, blonde hair that falls over his brow, and puppy dog brown eyes.
He has clear skin, no visible tattoos that I can see, and is a perfect ten out of ten.
“See something you like?”
“Wh-what?” I say, having just been busted ogling him. Six drinks and I lose all my discretion. “N-no,” I say. “Nothing else to look at.”
I hold his gaze, determined not to let my eyes drop.
He hits me with his trademark smile, effortless, smug, and blinding.
Those perfect white teeth really should come with a warning label.
“Okay,” he gives in, kneeling down and unrolling the sleeping bag onto the mattress.
He groans as he lies down. His large body looks even bigger on that small mattress, even though I’m sure it’s a double.
“Are you ready for me to turn the light off?” I ask.
“Yup, go for it,” he replies as he gently punches at his pillow.
I flick off the lamp, and the room slips into darkness. Only a distant streetlight filters through the window, casting faint shadows across the walls.
“Randy?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you… for everything you did for me today.”
“That’s okay. I didn’t even think to ask but I hope you didn’t need to get back to Sam.”
“No, my parents took him to my grandparents’ place for the weekend so I could get some studying done.”
“That’s nice of them,” he says with a yawn.
“Yeah. They’re amazing. I’m really lucky to have their support.”
A beat passes.
“Rachel,” he says softly.
“Yes?”
“You look cute in my shirt.”
I smile, grateful for the darkness. “Thanks,” I whisper, cheeks warming with that telltale flush I know he can’t see but I can feel.
“Fuck.”
I open my eyes, taking a few seconds to register where I am. His smell, fresh and spicy with hints of amber, leather, and tangerine. The comfort of his blankets reminds me where I am. Yep, that’s right. I’m safely in Randy’s bed.
“Crap,” I hear.
I roll over onto my side. It’s lighter outside and the clock on the desk tells me it’s 4 AM. “Are you okay?” I ask in concern as I watch him move side to side down on the floor.
“The airbed has gone flat, and the left side of my body has gone numb.”
I sit up, feeling even more guilty than I did a few hours ago. “Get into your bed, you look so uncomfortable down there.”
“Are you sure?”
“Seriously, yes, get in.” Leaving no room for argument, I slide over.
He grabs his pillow and stands, climbing into bed next to me. His arms look so chiseled as he holds his weight for those short few moments before he falls completely into the mattress.
He groans as he falls. “Oh, that’s so much better. I can feel my body again.”
I lie on my side watching him as he lies on his back; reaching out, I rub his arm. “I’m sorry.”
He groans again, rolling to his side to face me. “It’s not your fault my airbed went flat.”
“True,” I say, “but it is my fault you ended up sleeping on it.”
“That’s true. It’s all your fault,” he mumbles, voice thick with sleep. “But… you still look cute in my shirt. So, I’ll forgive you.”
“Thanks,” I murmur, smiling.
“Go back to sleep,” he adds, tapping a finger lightly against my nose.
I scrunch it, grin, and let my eyes close, drifting off into a content sleep with this sexy athlete beside me.