I dropped my sweatpants then got into bed beside her. My body hit the soft mattress, and I could immediately feel the difference with her presence. The bed smelled like a woman, not a man, and the sound of her breathing filled the usual silence. The sheets bunched around my waist so my chest could feel the air that came through the vents overhead. I would normally pull her onto me or roll on top of her, but I kept my distance, lying on my back, with my gaze on the ceiling. I wouldn’t even allow myself to look at her, because the sight of her in my bed would make me think of things I shouldn’t.
She was still for minutes as if she was already asleep. Then she shifted toward me, snuggling into my side like it was too cold to sleep alone. Her face pressed into my neck, her nose right up against me, and she even placed her thigh over mine. Once she was comfortable, she released a quiet sigh, like she’d never been so comfortable.
Like this felt right.
I stared at the ceiling longer until I placed my hand on top of hers. Together, they rested on my chest, rising and falling slowly with my quiet breathing. Then she squeezed my fingers slightly, as if she wanted to make sure that I was real, that this moment wasn’t a fictitious thought in her head.
“I’m tired of forcing myself to stay away…to sleep alone, when this is where I want to be.”
“Then don’t.”
“Now that I’m here, I don’t think I could anyway.”
Eight
Annabella
When I was home all day, I didn’t have much to do. I worked on my laptop and kept up with paperwork, but there were other things I simply couldn’t do, like give tours to potential clients who wanted to have their wedding at the hotel. But I sent them pictures and spoke to them on the phone, just as I would if I were sitting in my office all day.
But it was still lonely not to have Sofia across the hall, not to interact with the other staff at the hotel that cared about making the place as beautiful as possible. It was a sense of pride for everyone there, from the chef to the janitor.
Just when I shut my laptop, Catalina texted me.
Hey, were you as hungover as I was?
Worse, I’d imagine.
LOL. You wanna go to lunch?
Like, outside the house?
Patricia is a great cook, but you need to get some vitamin D. It’s such a warm day. It’s only spring but it already feels like summer.
I knew Damien didn’t want me to leave the house, not when Liam could be waiting for the right opportunity to grab me. I really shouldn’t go anywhere…
Because that asshole says no? Her attitude was obvious in her words. Don’t be one of those women who obeys their man like a dog.
I’m not. I just know his concern is valid.
Look, if some guy bothers you, I’ll take care of him.
Obviously, she thought this was all a joke. I’m being serious, Catalina.
As am I.
I stopped texting, unsure what to do.
It’s just lunch, Anna. We’ll walk a few blocks, eat, and then walk back. But if you’re really that uncomfortable, I’ll come by there.
Now that I had a friend, I didn’t want to lose her. Hanging out at the house all the time wasn’t fun for anyone. And I wanted to be close with Damien’s sister, because I assumed my relationship with him might last forever. Alright. Just give me fifteen minutes.
Yaaaassssss.
She picked me up at the front door, and together, we walked down the street. She was in a short royal blue dress that had slits along the sides near her stomach, showing some skin but not enough to reveal her belly button. Her jean jacket hid most of it. She walked in wedges like they were flats, and she had a little brown purse that hung across her body. “It’s such a beautiful day.” She tilted her head back and held out her hands, as if she was absorbing the sun straight into her bloodstream. “Girl, if I could photosynthesize, I would.”
I chuckled. “I’m a sun person too.”
“I hate winter. Hate it. Hate it. Hate it.” She lowered her arms and spun in a circle as she kept walking. “See? Isn’t it nice to get out of the house?”
I had to admit it was. “Yes.”
“The only good thing about winter is you can screw in the back seat of a car without getting hot. Otherwise, winter serves absolutely no purpose at all.”
“I’ve never gotten laid in the back seat.”
“Never?” she asked incredulously. “You’ve gotta try it sometime.”
I could have screwed Damien last night in a comfortable bed with the fire crackling, but that didn’t happen. It would eventually be inevitable, and I suspected it would grow more difficult to resist as I continued to sleep with him. But it was the best night of sleep I’d ever gotten, and I had no regrets. “I’ll put it on my bucket list.”
We walked two blocks until we reached a small bistro.
“You wanna sit on the patio?”
“Sure.”
We moved to a table in the center of the seating area. All the other tables were taken, mostly by people who were there on their lunch break. Catalina opened her menu and looked through the options. “I want everything, but I’ll order a goddamn salad.”
“We came all the way here so you could order a salad?” I asked like a smartass.
“I know.” She pulled off her sunglasses and rolled her eyes. “But I’ve got to keep my weight.” She stuck out her tongue this time. “Trust me, if I could gain twenty pounds, I would do it in a heartbeat. I have no tits and no ass.”
“That’s not true.”
“You haven’t seen me naked, girl.”
“I can see your tits right now.” I looked down at her dress. “You’ve got something going on there.”
She waved me off. “Well, thanks. I would quit ballet if I didn’t love it so much. My feet are always blistered, and I have to stay at, like, eight pounds, but I won’t be able to do it much longer, so I’ll enjoy it while I can.”
I wished I were passionate about something like that. “I want to watch you dance sometime.”
“I have a performance almost every weekend. Have Damien take you.”
I doubted he would take me anywhere. “I’ll ask him.” I looked over the menu and didn’t give a damn about my waistline. I decided on something big and delicious before I put the menu down.
The waiter took our orders before walking away.
Catalina sipped her iced tea and glanced at another table. “Ooh…that guy is hot.”
I didn’t look, not out of loyalty; it just wasn’t instinct.
“He looks good in a suit.” She took another sip and stared. “I bet he looks even better without that suit, if you know what I mean.”
I chuckled. She was a woman deep in her youth, enjoying every second and savoring every experience. Not tied to any man and enjoying her beauty, she lived a young woman’s dream. “I’m guessing you aren’t seeing that guy anymore?”
“I am,” she said. “But it’s not serious.” She turned back to me. “He wants it to be serious, but I definitely don’t.”
“What’s wrong with him?”