Page 72 of Last Fall

18

Zoe

Even the SexyParts

Islept so hardthat I considered becoming one with my bed. I hadn’t slept so well in forever. Between the hockey game, dinner, dancing, and going to bed later than usual it was no wonder I was down for thecount.

Or maybe it was the hot guy currently rubbing my head and lulling me back to sleep for the third time thismorning.

Definitely neverleaving.

“Good morning,” hewhispered.

Iignoredhim.

He tucked my hair behind my ear and caressed mycheek.

I refusedtosigh.

He massagedmyneck.

Igroaned.

“I knew you were awake,” he laughed, sliding down so that we were nose to nose. “Good morning,beautiful.”

He looked exhausted but happy and I wondered if he slept. “I don’t wanttomove.”

His eyes lit up and almost erased the exhaustion. “I don’t either but I have a game tonight and I need to startmoving.”

“Did you sleepatall?”

He seemed surprised by my question. “Alittle.”

“How little?” It didn’t seem wise to play a game on nosleep.

“I’m going to take a nap when I get home. I’ll be okay. Promise.” He ran his thumb over my lower lip. “But thank you forcaring.”

“Was the bed uncomfortable? Did I snore?” Oh no. What if he was up all night because I was snoring and weird and he didn’t have the heart to sneak out? But then again, he didn’t have a car, so if he snuck out he’d also have to call foraride.

“You are the quietest sleeper. I actually checked once to make sure you were alive.” He ran his fingers over my arm then threaded them between mine. “I just couldn’t sleep. My mind wouldn’tturnoff.”

“Weirdplace.”

“No, I sleep in hotel rooms half the year. I’m used to sleeping in new places and don’t usually have any trouble falling asleep when I’m tired. But I never have a gorgeous woman beside me. Last night wasdifferent.”

Based on the way his eyes seemed to focus and unfocus it wasn’t just sleeping beside me that threwhimoff.

“So what does a day look like for you?” Did I need to rush him home so he’d have enough timetonap?

“Game tonight is at seven. For night games I usually sleep in as late as I can stand it, go for a run, eat a light breakfast, shower, and relax. I eat dinner before I head to the stadium. After the game I’m usually wired so I eat a big meal, watch some television and chill until Inodoff.”

“So today you’ll skip the run and relaxing foranap?”

“Yep. Totally worth it.” He glanced around my room, landing on my desk. “And what does the day of a writerlooklike?”

“Pajamas and snack food.” I rolled to my back, my brain jumping to where I was at on my schedule. “It’s Friday so I usually write all morning then shower and change for my weekly sushilunch.”

“Hey, I knowaboutthat.”