Page 36 of Safety Net (Mendell Hawks #3)

CELESTE

Ididn't know how we strayed so far off the beaten path, but somehow I convinced Lincoln to unwind by watching a Barbie movie.

"You said this is your comfort movie?" he asked for the second time.

I poked his side. "Yes, why?"

"No reason…" Lincoln rubbed slow, soothing circles on my lower back. "So, this sidekick."

"Bibble," I reminded him, relaxing into his arms. Watching my comfort movie with my comfort person was a dream that left me feeling high on satisfaction.

Lincoln pressed his nose into my hair, which was his way of quilling laughter when he thought he needed to take something seriously. It was a new habit I loved being a part of.

"We like them?" he said once he pulled away from my head. "Like, Bibble's not some sleeper agent. Or a weird distraction to teach us the woes of judging a book by its cover?"

"We like Bibble," I confirmed. "Could maybe even love him, you know?"

"Definitely…but just in case I didn't know," he said. "Just theoretically, if I come across someone one day who doesn't know. What should I tell them?"

"That Bibble's Bibble and we love him for it."

"Truer words have never been spoken," Lincoln agreed. "Never mind the fact he looks like he could stab someone in the back at a moment's notice—"

I playfully backhanded his chest.

"We love him and his design so much," he finished. "It's not creepy at all."

"What do you have against good art?" I asked.

"I love good art. It's the reason I live and breathe. For Bibble, actually, is who I live and breathe for. I want to thank you for this moment. For reminding me why I'm here, living and breathing for Bibble."

I snorted. "You do too much."

He squeezed me closer and whispered, "You love it."

"I do." Because his "too much" was just right.

We watched the rest of the movie before I reached up to pull my braids out of their bands and consider twisting my hair up for the night.

"It's late." I looked at my phone. "I should probably head out soon."

"Stay?" he asked, a simple tug at my heart. "I can't stand the idea of you leaving."

I considered how easy it would be to remain by his side. Because I know as soon as I stepped away, I'd count down the seconds until I heard his voice again.

"I have a meeting with my mentor tomorrow.

I need to get an early start. Plus, I have a whole nightly routine.

" I swallowed a sigh, trying to stave off internal protests.

Being the voice of reason after a night like this was torture.

"Starting with my hair and ending with meditation.

I need to make myself as ready as I can be for tomorrow. "

"I could help," he offered. "You'd have plenty of time to do whatever you'd need right next to me, and you're already in bed, so wouldn't it be easier to start getting ready for bed here?

Driving would just wake you up. And relocating to a bed warmer and more attractive than this one…

well, let's be honest, it's impossible."

"You're very tempting."

"I'm willing to be even more tempting," he murmured before kissing me.

"You're making this very difficult."

"I'm sorry," he said before kissing me again.

"If you really have to go, I'll walk you out to the car.

I'll drive you home myself if you need. And pick you up tomorrow to take you to campus.

But if you stay, I could help you wind down.

Ensure you're well-prepared for your meeting.

You'd be so relaxed with me, Celeste, I promise. "

I sighed into another kiss. "You drive a hard bargain."

"Mmhm?" he hummed between kisses.

"But I don't know if…I mean…look at my hair."

"It's perfection," he said. "And?"

I snorted. "I need to twist it up for the night. I need my products for that."

"I could do that."

"Twisting?" I asked. "Or products?"

"Both."

I pulled back a bit to get a good look at him. "You're going to twist my hair?"

"Celeste." He gave me a look. "You know I'm very gifted with my hands."

I snorted. "That so?"

He sat up to meet my challenge. "I'll show you."

I squinted at him. "Fine. Let's do it. Trial run."

"One sec." Lincoln climbed out of the bed and disappeared into the bathroom. He came back a few seconds late with a spray bottle, oil, and a green hair product. I eyed the products, poking my bottom lip out in approval.

"This is some grandma's kitchen stuff." I leaned in to smell the grease. "Literally. I remember her putting this on my head after she'd fried my edges with a hot comb."

"My grandma thought it wise to teach me how to take care of my hair when I started growing it out during the summer," he said.

"She said I'd probably have a daughter one day, and she couldn't stand when she could tell when Black girl had depended on her father to do her hair…

Also, I think she just wanted someone to do her hair for free. "

"Valid." I sat up taller so he had easier access.

"How many?" he asked as he picked up the spray bottle.

"How many do you have in you?"

He chuckled. "As many as you need."

"We'll start at six and then, if you're good, we'll move you up. Hopefully, we'll get to micro twist level so I can wear it out."

"We will," Lincoln assured, and carefully wet my hair. He was a gentle and slow worker. I kept closing my eyes, missing most of the movie because of how soothing his fingers were on my scalp. He gave me a massage that had me releasing a moan reminiscent of earlier.

"Sorry," I mumbled, embarrassed. "That was a lot."

He laughed and kissed the back of my neck. "Glad you're enjoying it."

Once the twisting started, I was impressed with his ability to maintain tension.

It wasn't so tight that I'd have to battle a headache later, like typically happened whenever my mom tried to do my hair.

But it was tight enough that I wouldn't have to worry about it coming undone while I slept.

He didn't have a head scarf, so I settled for one of his durags.

"Good?" he asked when finished.

"So good." I sighed, leaning back into his chest. "Lincoln, if I wasn't into you before, you have me hooked, line, and sinker now."

He kissed my cheek. "That's what I like to hear."

"How much do you charge for washes?"

"For you?" he asked as he tightened his arms around me. "A couple of nights like this."

"You've got yourself a loyal customer."

I woke up alone in Lincoln's bed. At first, I was unsure of where I was, and then I panicked because something was off.

Not now. Please.

I winced when my lower body tensed from a cramp. I lay still for a moment, hoping that it was a fluke. But, when the next wave rolled through, I knew I'd need to go into clean-up mode, stat.

Of course, this had to happen after the night we'd just had.

After I'd finally felt comfortable enough in my body with someone else, it was as if life was determined to move the goalpost of comfort.

Did you enjoy a sweet night connecting with an incredible guy?

Wonderful. Now try a bloody morning and see how that works out.

Lincoln came back into the room right as I sat up to assess the damage, which was a decent bloody stain on his gray bed sheets.

"Morning, gorgeous," Lincoln greeted with enough energy and excitement to indicate he'd been up for quite some time. His eyes brightened when he saw I was awake. He started to climb onto the bed, but before he could reach me, I held my hand up.

"What's wrong?" Lincoln froze, sitting on his knees at the bottom of the bed. "Did you sleep okay?"

"I…" The only way out was through. There would be no hiding the blood on my underwear and the blankets. "I just got on my period."

"No worries." The concern that'd stiffened his brow melted in an instant.

Lincoln nodded as if I told him it was going to be a little chilly outside, so he should bring a jacket.

"I'll start the shower and get a change of clothes.

You could wear some of my things, or I'll grab something from Naomi? "

I blinked, surprised and a little put off by the nonchalance. Did a part of me want this to be weird? A part of me wished to confirm that I couldn't maintain a normal, kind, supportive relationship. Wanted to wade through the discomfort because, in a way, it was all I knew how to navigate?

"Something of yours should be fine." My voice was low, barely audible to my own ears. "My skirt's still good, so all I'll need is a top and some shorts underneath."

"Top and shorts. I can do that," he promised. "Do you have your products? I'm sure Naomi has extras I could grab from their bathroom."

Lincoln got up from the bed and started digging through his drawers, pulling out some boxers and an oversized Mendell’s hockey team training long-sleeve shirt.

"It's on…your sheets." I winced, apologetic. Eye contact became a temporary impossibility.

"No worries." Lincoln shrugged and set the clothes on the nightstand beside me.

"I'll get us some new ones while you're in the shower.

Are you in any pain? I have a couple of heating pad options.

" He gestured to his shoulder. "Recurring injury, so I always keep a few handy.

The plug-in is one of the best, in my opinion.

But I could warm one in the microwave. I think that one's safer to use. "

"No, thank you, but…um, but could you grab me an Advil?" I asked.

"'Course." He kissed the top of my head. "Hey, look at me?"

I took a deep breath and did as he asked. It's embarrassing to be this embarrassed. I'm caught in a weird, cramping infinite loop.

"Don't worry about this. You're not going to freak me out." He kissed my forehead this time. "I can handle blood. This is as natural as breathing. And you're as beautiful as the sunrise."

I nodded, my cheeks burning, but the tightness in my chest dispersing.

"I'm going to start the shower, get you your Advil, and then, I'll fuck off for a bit while you get ready," he said. "Sounds like a plan?"