44. Leo
Leo
When we finish taking photos, the guys go back to playing beer pong.
Briar grabs Lucy’s hand and leads her into the kitchen along with Anna and Poppy. I watch as they mix drinks, giggling and talking the whole time.
I smile to myself, happy that she’s fitting in and getting along so well with them. She’s been on her own for so long. She deserves a close group of friends that she can have fun with and lean on.
Lucy looks up, catching eyes with me. That pretty mouth curves up in a sexy smile. I wink at her.
“Yo, Peretti. You’re up,” Nick says.
I join their beer pong game. The whole time, I keep an eye on Lucy. I know the girls will look out for her, but I want to make sure she’s okay too.
After a while, I see Briar helping Lucy over to me.
“She hit the Jell-O shots pretty hard,” Briar says.
Lucy aims a sleepy-drunk stare at me, her eyes half-lidded. She yawns. “I’m so tired, Leo.”
I slide my arm around her and pull her against me. “Let’s get you to bed.”
She wraps her arms around my waist and nuzzles her face into my chest, closing her eyes.
I turn to the guys. “I’m gonna help Lucy upstairs.”
Gently, I cup my hand over her cheek and tilt her face up to me. She slow-blinks at me.
“You think you can walk upstairs, or do you want me to carry you?”
She aims a sleepy-drunk smile at me that’s so cute, it hurts. “Carry me.”
I scoop her up in my arms. She slinks her arms around my neck and burrows her face into my chest.
I move through the crowd and make my way up the stairs.
“How many Jell-O shots did you do?”
Eyes still closed, she yawns. “Three, maybe? No, wait, four. I think.”
“Damn, Luce. That’s a lot for someone as tiny as you.”
I turn the corner into my bedroom and lie her down on the bed. She instantly curls up and closes her eyes. I take off her sneakers and set them on the floor.
“Goodnight, Luce.” I start to walk off, but she opens her eyes and reaches up, grabbing my wrist.
“Don’t go,” she says in a sleepy voice.
“What’s wrong?”
She aims those big, beautiful blue doe eyes up at me and shakes her head. She bites her bottom lip. “I want you to stay.”
“But there’s only one bed…”
She starts to smile. “I know,” she says shyly.
“Oh…” I hesitate for a second. Because as much as I want to do that, I can’t. Not when she’s drunk.
“Stay and cuddle with me.”
I shake my head. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”
She sticks her bottom lip out. “Please?”
I rub the back of my neck and groan. Well, shit. I don’t know if I can stand here and resist her if she’s going to beg like that.
“Lucy, you’re drunk.”
“So?” Her mouth curves up in a naughty smile. “Are you scared I’m going to take advantage of you?” She giggles.
I huff out a laugh. “No.”
“I’m drunk, but I still know what’s going on. I know what I’m doing. I know what I’m comfortable with.” She pulls on my arm, moving me closer to the bed. “Please, Leo? I don’t want to sleep alone tonight. I just want to cuddle with you. You make me feel safe.”
Her sweet words and the softness of her voice make me weak. There’s zero chance I can say no to her now.
“Okay.” I kick off my shoes and start to climb into bed, but she stops me.
“Take off the onesie,” she says, biting back a smile.
I quirk my eyebrow at her. “Trying to get me naked, huh?”
She giggles again. “No. You’ll be too hot if you sleep in that.”
“You’re right.”
I take off the onesie, leaving me in a T-shirt and gym shorts. I crawl into bed, under the covers with her.
She moves so she’s lying on her side, then scoots her body so her back is against my chest. I wrap my arms around her.
“Is this okay?” I ask.
She nods and lets out a soft, satisfied hum. “It’s perfect.” She makes a contented sound. “You’re so warm.”
I brush her hair out of her face. “You’re comfortable?”
“Very,” she says with her eyes closed. She yawns. “Goodnight, Leo. Thank you for taking care of me.”
“Always.”
I rest my hand on her hip, my body relaxing with each passing second.
It’s been a while since I’ve slept in the same bed as someone. I forgot how good it feels to be this close, this comfortable.
It’s not long before Lucy’s breathing turns deep and steady, and she falls asleep. A few minutes later, I fall asleep too.