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“Like being at home,” I muse.
“Because you’re in Knightley now, James. You’re moving up in the world.”
I snicker as she leaves the room. When she returns, I’ve taken the pills she left me and I’m nearly knocked back out again, fighting to stay awake.
“You’re okay,” she whispers. “Sleep. I’ll take care of it.” She places the ice pack on my ribs as gingerly as possible and the heating pad right next to me. “Text me if you need something, okay? I don’t mind.”
“Isn’t it the middle of the night?”
“Yeah, but what are roommates for?”
Roommates are foul-smelling jerks. At least, in my previous experiences they were. Right now, my pain and exhaustion level want to call her an angel as she slips out of my bedroom, but I’ll settle for friend.
I waketo early morning sun streaming in through my windows, but actually it’s the shaking of my bed that did it. Through sleep-impaired eyes, I spy Len jumping up and down on one foot, her hair wild around her. “Ow. Son of a—”
“You okay?”
“Sorry,” she whispers. “I was checking on you and stubbed my toe on your stupid bed.”
“It’s okay.” I press my hand to my ribs and notice the ice pack is gone and the heating pad is now in its place. Unless I’m losing it, I’m pretty sure the ice was there when I went to sleep.
“I switched it out,” she informs me, her foot hovering over the floor. “I figured you wouldn’t text.”
“Well, I was asleep.”
“I know. You mumble in your sleep too. How are those snakes?”
“Snakes?” I sit up slowly to test my limits and surprise hits me when the pain is less.
She disappears into my bathroom, and the shake of the pill bottle sounds. When she returns, she says, “Yeah, you were mumbling about snakes, desert, and I think I heard treasure, but that could’ve been way off base.”
“That’s Izzy’s fault.” I take the pills, drop them onto my tongue and then swallow them with the remaining water on my nightstand. “She was telling me about a book. A romance, but it was about treasure hunting.”
“That sounds interesting.”
“Izzy thinks so. She says I might even like the smut in it.”
“I’ll have to ask her for the title. Over text. With my new bestie.”
I shake my head at her full grin. “You didn’t tell her I was in pain, did you?”
“Nah, I haven’t even texted her yet. I wouldn’t do that unless you wanted me to, anyway.”
Well, that’s good to know. I search for my cell. “I should probably get up. What time is it?”
“Nine,” she tells me before I can check myself.
I yawn, and when I move my feet over the side of the bed, Len peeks at my abs, her stare lingering. She hasn’t torn her gaze away to know that I’m watching her watch me.
Since she’s taking her fill, I return the favor. A pair of athletic, dark-blue leggings hug her ass. I don’t know if it’s the design or the material, but her shape is on point. My gaze travels up to her top. A T-shirt that readsPeace, Love, and the Oxford Commais styled to show off her body rather than hide it…just like I suggested. She’s such a good little student.
I move the blankets off me to stand, and a rush of air hits me in places it shouldn’t.
Len whirls away at the same time I abruptly pull the covers back up.Shit, I’m naked. “Sorry. I forgot.”
Peeking over her shoulder, she avoids my gaze. A cute pink hue blossoms on her cheeks. “You should have a holster for that weapon.”
“Um, what?” My fists grip the sheets as I try to hold back a laugh.