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Jake rolled to the side and stretched out next to me. He kicked his shoes off before pulling me to him so I was on my side with my head resting on his shoulder.

I moved my hand from being trapped between us, unsure of where to put it. I started towards his stomach, then went up, letting it hover over his chest. When everywhere seemed too intimate, I began to pull it back.

Jake grabbed my hand and placed it on his upper abdomen. “Fuck, you’re cute,” he whispered, his voice soft and sweet. “There’s nothin’ wrong with you or how you look. You look… perfect. It’s why I didn’t want you in the waitin’ room at Hyde. Or dancin’ tonight. I don’t think you know what you do to a man. Still, I was an asshole and I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.” I was used to being protected and sheltered. It was nothing new. At least his reason was sweet, as opposed to being told what to do so I wouldn’t make a mistake and embarrass anyone.

“Tired?”

“No, I’m fine. Do you need a ride home?” I asked, yawning through most of it.

“Let’s try again. Tired?”

I nodded, my cheek rubbing against him. “Exhausted.”

Jake pulled the blanket over us, still holding me against him. “Night.”

Even if I wanted to, I didn’t have the energy to question him staying over. I snuggled in and was asleep within minutes.

*******

“Mornin’, babe.”

I jolted awake as I realized I was not alone in bed. “Mornin’,” I mumbled, my mind racing as I tried not to hyperventilate.

Memories of last night came crashing back, including falling asleep with Jake in my bed. I couldn’t believe I’d actually been able to sleep. At the same time, I couldn’t remember when I’d slept so well.

I was warm and cozy, curled on my side with Jake’s body curved against my back and his arm wrapped under my chest. I felt a light kiss behind my ear.

“Your alarm just went off. Gotta be up?”

“Yeah, cakes to do.”

“I gotta go, too.”

“Alright,” I said softly.

Jake slowly loosened his arm as I moved away. His fingertips trailed my skin as he released me.

I rolled off the bed, happy he couldn’t see the goose bumps that broke out across my body.

I went to start the coffee maker as I heard the tap running in the bathroom. I got my mug ready and brought out my calendar to plan my day in hopes of distracting myself.

“This is totally no big deal,” I muttered to myself. “People wake up with gorgeous men in their beds all the time. Not me, of course, but people. Normal, non-workaholic people. I could pretend to be a people, right?”

Uhh, just sayin’, I don’t think normal people sit and talk to themselves…

“Shh, quiet. It’s not my fault. He hates me, then he likes me, then he’s rude, and then he’s sweet. There are mixed signals, and then there are signals that are so mixed I’m picking up stations from the other side of the world. How am I supposed to have any clarity?”

“Am I interrupting something?” Jake asked from the doorway, his tone amused.

“Holy heck,” I squealed, jumping. “Don’t do that! You’re gonna give me a heart attack.”

“Didn’t want to eavesdrop on your conversation with…” Jake trailed off, his lips twitching.

“Sorry, just talking to myself about, uhh, my broken radio! Yeah, damn thing keeps going out. I hate that,” I babbled my flimsy excuse, hoping he hadn’t heard what I’d been saying. Being caught talking to myself was bad enough.

Luckily, he seemed to believe me. “Bring it to Z, he’s a fuckin’ magician with that shit.”