Page 42 of Piece By Piece

Maybe Sebastian can read my mind because one of his arms comes around my waist to hold me up while his other gently caresses the side of my face. I’m practically fully leaning against him now, but he doesn’t make a sound of protest.

“Maybe the bath should wait until tomorrow morning? We wouldn’t want you falling asleep and drowning in there,” he says. I softly shake my head against his chest but don’t move.

“It has to be tonight. I have to work tomorrow, and I’ll have to swing by my apartment to change first.” God even the thought of it exhausts me. Sebastian’s hold on me tightens.

“But tomorrow is Saturday.” He sounds confused.

I chuckle. “Well, we can’t very well tell the seniors they’re on their own on the weekends. I’m lucky though. I have a day off on Sunday.” Only that I don’t, do I? I’ll have to visit my parents then. “Well, I don’t have to go to the nursing home. I guess I’ll still be taking care of people.”

I don’t know if he understands that I mean my parents or not but the next thing I know, he’s pressing a soft kiss to the side of my head.

“You’re tired, baby. Let’s get you to sleep. The bath isn’t going anywhere.” He tries to pull me back toward the door, but I try to resist.

“I can’t sleep anyway,” I protest. “I never can. There’s too much to think about and tonight will only be worse. With what happened with Lily, I don’t think I’ll be able to get any rest.”

That gives the man behind me a pause and he changes tactics, stepping in front of me. “You want to spend the nightwith me? I can talk you to sleep to keep your mind off things. Or I’ll come with you to your room and leave after you’re asleep. Whatever you prefer.”

There it is again, that warm feeling in my chest, just much stronger now that I’m looking into his eyes.

“Well, if you put it that way. I’m sure your bed feels like heaven.” He smiles and nods.

“Yeah, it does.”

There’s just one more suspicion to clear up. “How many women have you taken in there?” I ponder.

He rolls his eyes. “None.” My heart does a flip.

“You’re sure you don’t mind?” He’s already steering me into the adjacent room.

“I wouldn’t have proposed it if I did. Come on, I can give you something to wear if you want. And I have spare toothbrushes. Then it’s time to sleep for you.” With that, he walks back into his bedroom to get me his clothes to sleep in.

Despite everything, I think I’m blushing.

After changing into Sebastian’s clothes – a shirt and some boxershorts – I step out of his bathroom, trying not to appear nervous and make things weird.

Honestly, this is new terrain for me. I’ve never spent the night with a guy, certainly not one I didn’t even do anything sexual with. It’s nerve-wrecking.

My friend is already lounging on his bed, scrolling through his phone only to look up when he hears me step closer. He’s smiling softly, scanning me in a subtle way. If I’m reading him right, he likes what he sees and that has me beaming a little.

I sit down on the edge of the bed, unsure of how to proceed. He laughs at me, the idiot.

“You can lie down, Aliena. I promise I won’t bite,” he assures me even though his wicked smile tells me a different story. I nearly comment on it but decide against it. I’m about to spend the night in his bed, I shouldn’t blur any lines by flirting now. We settled on beingfriendsafter all...

I just roll my eyes and get beneath his blanket, staying on the far side of the bed so I don’t invade his personal space. I’m afraid the reason he never takes girls in here is that he doesn’t like being close to someone all night, which I really understand. I’m similar, after all. I like my space when she sleeps.

“As comfortable as you hoped for?” he asks, lying on his side and leaning up on one elbow to look at me. His biceps bulge heavenly where he props his head up.

I close my eyes and let my hand move over the smooth sheets. “Close enough,” I tease him, not bothering to even open my eyes. It feels too nice. The whole moment is surreal, and I’m scared to shatter the spell.

I know this is just a momentary escape from my shitshow life. Tomorrow, I have to work again, and eventually, I’ll have to return to my apartment. No matter how tempting Sebastian’s offer to move in is, I’m too tired to contemplate such a bizarre change right now.

Some cons invade my mind in an instant of quiet, nonetheless. First off, Lily and our friends would ask questions that I don’t want to answer truthfully. It still feels unbelievable that I told Sebastian practically my whole life story in the matter of minutes. I can’t and don’t want to do the same with my other friends.

I’m sure to regret it in the morning but for now, I’m enjoying my vacation.

Before my mind can spiral any further, Sebastian’s deep, soothing voice catches my attention. “What do you want me to talk about? Give me something to work with,” he suggests. I open my eyes to find him still studying me.

My eyes flick to his bookshelf. “How about you read something? I think that would be more pleasant than hearing anything about real life. Only if you feel like it, though. If you changed your mind and would rather I spent the night in my guest room, that’s totally okay,” I assure him, scared of being a burden.

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