35. Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Five
Kat
After Becca informed me she’d be by to drop off my new clothes in the morning—but not too early, with a wink that I wasn’t sure was about me or her—she finally released me. I scurried back over to Henry before she could change her mind.
I received a big smile the second he saw me, and I couldn’t help but smile back.
I looked around for a place to sit, but more people had shown up since I’d last been over here.
As it was, Henry, Andrew, Milo, and two of the rookies were already packed onto a three-person couch. They looked like sardines.
And yet, Henry tugged on my hand.
“I can stand, it’s all good,” I protested.
He gave me the grumpiest look I thought I’d ever seen on his face.
I couldn’t help but giggle and fold myself into his lap like he clearly intended.
There really wasn’t much room, and my legs and feet ended up in Andrew and Milo’s laps.
They didn’t even look up. I giggled again.
“Like hell I’m ever letting you stand, darling. Especially not with your hip,” he said into my ear. I shrugged. I’d tried. I did appreciate the help.
I looked up at him and noticed he was blinking a little slowly, and I didn’t think it was just the alcohol. He seemed exhausted. I nudged him, getting him to look down at me.
“You look tired. You know, I don’t think anyone would mind or really even notice if you left at this point,” I pointed out reasonably. He grumbled and just wrapped his arms around me, putting his head down on my shoulder. I nudged him again. He didn’t look up.
“Henry if you’re tired, we can go,” I whispered, stroking his hair out of his face. He may have been sleeping. I needed to get him back to the hotel before he really decided to sleep, because there was no way I’d manage otherwise. Unless I made Andrew and Milo carry him.
He lifted his head, though, pressing a light kiss right behind my ear. This man had to know what he was doing when he did things like that. He couldn’t not. But I shivered nonetheless.
“I don’t want to go. I… just don’t want to,” he said, clearly changing his mind on what to say halfway through. I kissed his cheek.
“Nope. Try again, sweetie,” I said teasingly. I knew he wasn’t telling me something. And he was going to tell me what it was. He grumbled again but finally mumbled what he’d been holding back.
“If we leave, the night is over.”
Okay… sure? That’s the point of leaving, right? Getting to curl up and go to sleep?
“Yes, and?” I teased. He looked a little upset, so I was trying to tease my grump out of it. I was fairly sure it would work. But he was still looking down when he responded.
“If we leave, the night is over and I have to let you go back to your room. And probably go back to you avoiding me tomorrow since it won’t be my birthday anymore,” he murmured. Oh. Well, he wasn’t entirely wrong, maybe. But there was one thing I could do.
“How about we head back and watch a movie? And maybe order some food?” I offered. I was not prepared for the beaming smile I received at that suggestion. Even drunk, and sleepy, and still a little pouty, he was easily the most beautiful man I’d ever seen. I couldn’t say that though.
He hated being called pretty and beautiful was only a step away from that. Luckily for him, there were many other words I could use.
“You’re adorable. You could’ve just said. It is still your birthday, after all. The birthday boy gets whatever he wants, right?” I teased. His gaze sharpened on me when I said that, and I couldn’t pretend to not feel his hands tighten around me. He nosed my cheek gently.
“Be careful what you offer, love,” he whispered. I knew I was drunk. One hundred, million percent. And he was, too. Just as drunk. But I knew what I’d said. And I knew what I’d meant. I booped him on the nose with my index finger and dove into the fire.
“I know what I said.”