couch.”
“Jay,” she sighed as she sat on the bed.
He faced her again, and instead of the smartass retort he was expecting from her, she looked worried. “What’s wrong?” he asked. “I swear no one will bother you. I’ll sit outside the door if you want.”
She shook her head with a laugh while placing two of the pillows side-by-side, and then dropped the third one on top. “Come lay by me. I need proper back support.”
“That thing will barely fit me let alone both of us.”
“Don’t make me beg, Jay,” she playfully moaned. “I’m going to use the bathroom quick if that dumbass is out, and then we can sleep together,” she added with a chuckle.
He barely cracked a smile as she left the room, but as she crossed the hall for the bathroom he said, “You sure as hell will beg.”
Her laughter was heard until the bathroom door closed behind her.
But hell, she wanted him to sleep in here with her? He wouldn’t be able to ha ndle being stuck on a tiny bed with her the entire night. She’d fallen asleep near him and even on him while watching TV before, but it always made him feel uncomfortable. He’d last about fifteen minutes before he had to slip away from her. Small spaces and confinement with a female… He never fared well.
When Melanie returned to the room he was still standing in the same exact place she left him. She stopped in front of him, seeming to question his unease, but eventually passed him for the futon.
“I know you don’t like ‘cuddled’ Jay, so I won’t touch you, I promise. You can stick a pillow between us if you’re going to be a baby about it.”
He smiled at the fact that she’d turned her back to him, just to hide her own smile. “You’d put the pillow there just so you weren’t tempted to grope me,” he bantered back. “Don’t make it sound like I’m the one with issues.”
Her laugh was dainty as she lay on the bed and patted the space beside her. “Fine, I’ll admit to that. But I’m tired and I guarantee I’ll be out within five minutes. Come on, Jay. Don’t keep me awake.”
“You’re gonna be kept awake anyways, honey,” he answered as he flipped off the light. Enough light from a streetlamp came through the window so he could find a spot next to her and he added, “I’m not a peaceful sleeper.”
“I’ll be fine,” she murmured, adjusting the pillows to her liking.
Jay was on his back with his hands behind his head. Melanie was turned away from him but there was literally only six inches of space between them. The third pillow that was supposed to have a particular purpose was now hugged to the chest of his beautiful bed buddy and there was nothing separating the two of them.
After almost a minute of awkward silence he said, “I’m sorry things aren’t right with your mom, Melanie. I know what it’s like.”
He thought she was already asleep since she didn’t answer at fir st. But finally she moved slightly and sighed. “My mom told me that I was a mistake,” she responded quietly. “Not once, not twice, but a handful of times that I can specifically remember growing up. Who would ever tell a child that? She said it to Camryn too, but apparently I’m the only one that can’t seem to let it go.”
Jay let the words settle for a minute before he could reply. He’d never really fit into the McCallan family sometimes, but even though he’d blamed his dad for that, it was usually his own actions that made him feel disconnected. His grandpa had reached out to him countless times but he’d been too stubborn to realize it at the time.
“How old were you the first time she said it?” he asked, not even knowing why it would matter or if she even knew.
After a brief pause she answered, “It was the first day of kindergarten. I couldn’t tie my shoes, I didn’t have my hair brushed, and my clothes didn’t match. All she did was point out all of those things and yell at me for not being ready like Camryn was, and then I
“Jay,” she sighed as she sat on the bed.
He faced her again, and instead of the smartass retort he was expecting from her, she looked worried. “What’s wrong?” he asked. “I swear no one will bother you. I’ll sit outside the door if you want.”
She shook her head with a laugh while placing two of the pillows side-by-side, and then dropped the third one on top. “Come lay by me. I need proper back support.”
“That thing will barely fit me let alone both of us.”
“Don’t make me beg, Jay,” she playfully moaned. “I’m going to use the bathroom quick if that dumbass is out, and then we can sleep together,” she added with a chuckle.
He barely cracked a smile as she left the room, but as she crossed the hall for the bathroom he said, “You sure as hell will beg.”
Her laughter was heard until the bathroom door closed behind her.
But hell, she wanted him to sleep in here with her? He wouldn’t be able to ha ndle being stuck on a tiny bed with her the entire night. She’d fallen asleep near him and even on him while watching TV before, but it always made him feel uncomfortable. He’d last about fifteen minutes before he had to slip away from her. Small spaces and confinement with a female… He never fared well.
When Melanie returned to the room he was still standing in the same exact place she left him. She stopped in front of him, seeming to question his unease, but eventually passed him for the futon.
“I know you don’t like ‘cuddled’ Jay, so I won’t touch you, I promise. You can stick a pillow between us if you’re going to be a baby about it.”
He smiled at the fact that she’d turned her back to him, just to hide her own smile. “You’d put the pillow there just so you weren’t tempted to grope me,” he bantered back. “Don’t make it sound like I’m the one with issues.”
Her laugh was dainty as she lay on the bed and patted the space beside her. “Fine, I’ll admit to that. But I’m tired and I guarantee I’ll be out within five minutes. Come on, Jay. Don’t keep me awake.”
“You’re gonna be kept awake anyways, honey,” he answered as he flipped off the light. Enough light from a streetlamp came through the window so he could find a spot next to her and he added, “I’m not a peaceful sleeper.”
“I’ll be fine,” she murmured, adjusting the pillows to her liking.
Jay was on his back with his hands behind his head. Melanie was turned away from him but there was literally only six inches of space between them. The third pillow that was supposed to have a particular purpose was now hugged to the chest of his beautiful bed buddy and there was nothing separating the two of them.
After almost a minute of awkward silence he said, “I’m sorry things aren’t right with your mom, Melanie. I know what it’s like.”
He thought she was already asleep since she didn’t answer at fir st. But finally she moved slightly and sighed. “My mom told me that I was a mistake,” she responded quietly. “Not once, not twice, but a handful of times that I can specifically remember growing up. Who would ever tell a child that? She said it to Camryn too, but apparently I’m the only one that can’t seem to let it go.”
Jay let the words settle for a minute before he could reply. He’d never really fit into the McCallan family sometimes, but even though he’d blamed his dad for that, it was usually his own actions that made him feel disconnected. His grandpa had reached out to him countless times but he’d been too stubborn to realize it at the time.
“How old were you the first time she said it?” he asked, not even knowing why it would matter or if she even knew.
After a brief pause she answered, “It was the first day of kindergarten. I couldn’t tie my shoes, I didn’t have my hair brushed, and my clothes didn’t match. All she did was point out all of those things and yell at me for not being ready like Camryn was, and then I
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