Page 29 of Next to You

“Good point. I’m a bit tipsy. Drunk Lucy is very touchy-feely; we don’t need to deal with that when we get into bed later. Water it is!”

“Well, drunk Spencer gets horny-sleepy, and that would be a recipe for disaster.”

“We’d end up breaking all our rules.” She hesitated, her smile fading, and she grew serious. “Are we sleeping on the sofa bed together? Um, for warmth?” Our eyes locked for a breathless moment, and then she bit her lip and looked away, her cheeks in flames.

“I mean, yeah,” I choked out, unable to contemplate not sleeping with her by my side. “The power is out, and it’s still pretty cold in here. Plus, the only other option is the holey air mattress upstairs.”

“Okay good.” Her smile returned as she headed to the sink for water.

“I’ll make the drinks tomorrow and take care of the food,” I offered. “You’ve done everything all day. We usually have powdered eggs here. I’ll make omelets for breakfast.”

She was back to being happy again. “I can’t think of a fake food pun for a powdered omelet. Fauxmlet? No, that sucks. Anyway, let’s make something special for dinner tomorrow night, maybe spaghetti aglio e olio? We’ll have to use jarlic and parm from a canister, but it will still be good because your dad stocked up with some excellent olive oil. It’s New Year’s Eve, we should celebrate it. I found sparkling cider in the pantry this morning. It’s in the fridge in a bowl full of snow. We can toast to the new year.”

“I’d like that a lot.”

“And since we won’t be doing any kissing, we can use all the garlic we want,” she teased.

“Perfect.”

I watched her move about the kitchen. I could handle this. Last night in bed with her had been hectic, freezing, and frantic. We hadn’t had time to think about the implications of being next to each other all night. The intimacy of the situation was moot because we were both too worked up to contemplate it.

But tonight was different. I had all day to think about her, and I was afraid I would get worked up in an entirely different way.

We had been drinking amaretto sours. They tasted sweet, like Christmas cookies, but packed a punch that gave me a pleasant buzz. We had also been snacking on a charcuterie board that Lucy referred to as "cheapcuterie" since it consisted of spray cheese, various crackers, pickles, olives, chicken salad she’d made from a can and a jar of maraschino cherries. All of these were on her top twenty list of favorite foods, she had informed me. I had no complaints; I’d eat anything she put in front of me and be happy about it.

Getting to know her better was like starting a book and knowing within the first couple of chapters that it would become your favorite. And just like a great book, I never wanted this time with her to end.

She returned with our water, and after a few more rolls of the dice, I lost the game, feeling as though I had lost my heart as well.

“Should we sit by the fire? You look sleepy, Spencer.”

“I’m getting there. But I want to go wash up first.”

“I took a sponge bath while you were out with the wood—it was unsatisfying. I’ll make the bed tonight. You go and relax with your sad little pot of hot water.”

I let out a chuckle. “Thanks.” I got up to heat some water on the stove. “Would you like some water too?”

Yes, please. I always wash my face before going to bed.”

“You got it.” While watching absentmindedly, I filled a pot and the tea kettle as she cleaned up the Monopoly game.

She sorted the pieces and put them away, and I had the odd thought that my life was falling into place, just like the parts of the game in the box.

For once, the thought of planning for the future didn’t scare me because I wanted her in it. Whatever happened here in the cabin would not be over once we left. I’d make sure of it.

I put the kettle on the countertop. “The water is ready, Lucy. You can go wash your face.”

Leaving the now neat and tidy game on the table, she met me at the counter with a smile. “Thanks. I won’t take long.”

I sucked in a breath as she walked away. Not touching her was becoming more difficult with each hour we spent here.

After she finished, I headed to the bathroom with my water, wishing I could take a long, hot shower instead. I needed to relax. She had me wound so tight that I didn’t know what to do or how to act.

My face in the mirror was different, and Ifeltdifferent. I had something to look forward to for the first time in years, and I was all in. But at the same time, I was terrified I would mess everything up.

I quickly opened the drawers and lower cabinets, looking for—shamefully, I was looking for the condoms I had stashed in the back last time I was up here. Half of me knew that Lucy and I getting together was inevitable. The heat between us could not be denied. The better half knew I shouldn’t make a move while we were here, but I wanted to be prepared just in case we lost control.

Unfortunately, there were no condoms to be found. One of my brothers must have used them and not replaced them. I had no idea which one it was, but they’d all hear about it when I got home.

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