Page 66 of Trailer Park Billionaire

I can’t wake her like that again.

She does have to wake up though.Waking up on time during the week was one of the key pillars of her routine, she said.

So I do what I do best. With the help of my trusted tension tool and a rake, I unlock the door within seconds. The apartment is dark, the furniture barely outlined from the glow of the city outside.

Inside, Helena is curled under her blanket, an adorable mess of tangled limbs and tousled hair. Her breathing is soft, steady, peaceful, and her drool is just as cute as it was the other day.

I hesitate, watching her. Some part of me doesn’t want to break this rare moment of tranquility she’s found.

But she needs to be up. And, ideally, I need to not get murdered.

So I better be gentle.

I crouch beside the bed, my voice barely above a whisper. “Helenaaa.”

She stirs, shifts slightly. “Hmmm… Ben.”

“Helena, it’s time to get up.”

Another sleepy mumble escapes her lips that sounds something like: ‘Just leave your hands, Mr. Penguin.’

I chuckle—then slap a hand over my mouth.

She shifts again. Her voice still thick with sleep, she murmurs something that sounds a lot like, “And now choke me, Mister.”

Oh.

I keep my hand over my lips. So many things I could say right now. Even more that I shouldn’t. But before I can decide what to do, her eyelids flutter open.

She stares at me. I stare at her.

And then, like a bolt of lightning, realization strikes.

Helena lets out a sound that’s part screech, part strangled exhale, and before I can react, a pillow smacks me square in the face.

“OUT,” she yells, scrambling upright, now throwing the pillow. “OUT. OUT.”

I raise my hands in surrender, laughing as I dodge a second pillow. “Hey, it’s just me, Panda!”

“I KNOW IT’S YOU,” she snaps, pulling her blanket over her chest. “THAT’S THE PROBLEM.”

“I’m just trying to help!”

“HELP? BY BREAKING INTO MY BEDROOM?”

“BECAUSE YOU GET FREAKED OUT BY KNOCKING!”

Helena wipes her mouth with the back of her hand. “I GET FREAKED OUT BY STRANGE MEN APPEARING IN MY BEDROOM EVEN MORE!”

“Hey!” I say, feigning hurt. “I’ve been called many names: handsome, adorable, charming, but never anything so inaccurate as?—”

Helena produces another pillow from somewhere and hurls it my way, making me shut up. Then she just glares, her chest rising and falling in rapid, furious breaths.

This is definitely not how I thought this would go.

I can practically see the thoughts behind those sharp, beautiful eyes. If she could throw me out of the window, she probably would.

I clear my throat, taking a step back toward the door. “Look, you overslept. That’s all. After our talk yesterday, I just thought I’d wake you gently instead of making you panic.”