Page 23 of Fauxmance

"You okay?" Hayden asked.

I nodded. "I'm g-good. Thanks."

"You sure?"

"Y-y-yes, thank you. Don't m-mind me."

I tried to ignore it—the shivering—kept my eyes closed in hopes of escaping into my dreams. The only problem was I'd never been able to sleep when I was cold. It was both a blessing and a curse. You could always add more blankets or socks. Whereas if you were hot, you could only take off so much.

Warm, warm, warm, I thought. The mind was a powerful tool. Perhaps I could fool myself into thinking I was in a cozier place.

A fire, crackling in the hearth.

Hot chocolate melting against my tongue.

A nice, soft quilt to curl up under.

My brain must've been stronger than I thought because suddenly it felt like there was an actual blanket covering my front.

I felt movement at my side.

Opening my eyes, I saw Hayden was sitting up. He'd propped himself against the same wall as me, and his leather jacket was currently covering my arms and knees. I looked to him in surprise.

"Aren't you cold?" I asked.

He shrugged. "Only a little."

With an eye roll, I moved closer to him until our shoulders touched, putting the jacket over both of us.

"There," I said, "now we won't freeze to death."

"So dramatic." Hayden sighed. "Is this okay?"

When he looked to me in question and went to put his arm around my shoulders, I nodded.

The feel of him pressed against my side was new…and wonderful.

"That was really decent of you," I said, "to share your jacket."

"No big deal."

I shook my head. "It was, though. I think you're secretly a gentleman, Hayden no-middle-name."

Hayden chuckled at that.

"What's so funny?" I asked.

"You called me a gentleman," he said then laughed again. "I think that's a first. Everyone, my family and friends, they all see me as a player."

I gave a shrug. "Well, maybe everyone doesn't know the real you."

"Or maybe you don't."

I shot Hayden a look, but his face and voice were sincere.

"I am a player, Magnolia. Do you know how many girls I've pulled that move on? The arm over the shoulder? Too many to count."

"That doesn't mean anything," I said.

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