Page 60 of I Knew You Were Trouble

“Were you trying to berebellious?” she says, her voice low and husky, and she has no clue how attractive she’s being which makes her all the more attractive.

“A bit.” I twist my arm so she can finish tracing the outline to the snake that finishes just below my inner elbow. It’s unbelievable—the sensation of her light touch. Her finger is on the colder side, causing each hair to stand on end and creating havoc in my chest, making my skin both colder and hotter at the same time. “I did get the lecture whenever I ‘wasted my money’ on the ink.”

“So you did it over and over?”

“When I had the chance.” I chuckle softly, my voicebox working overtime to function. I could easily fall asleep to this, but at the same time, I could see myself staying awake just to watch her all night.

She twists my arm back and forth, examining each tattoo. Her nose almost hits my skin when she tries to read the time on the tiny pocket watch that dangles at the edge of my wrist.

“Have you ever thought of this?”

“Getting a tattoo?” She snorts. “Uh, no.”

“I meant designing.” I bump my shoulder into hers. “You’d be good at it.”

“Such faith for someone who hasn’t seen much of my work.” She drops my arm, but I keep my hand upturned on her knee, resting it there, begging it not to twist and hold her no matter how much it wants to. Her lips stretch open wide for a long yawn, and I realize just how much it’s past her bedtime as well.

“You’re getting better at this staying up thing,” I tease.

“Hey, it’s a whole half hour past my usual breaking point.” She gives the door a tired look. “Do you think Maddie will be much longer? I want to set up my bed.”

“You’re sleeping up here, silly.” I reach behind my head and pat my mattress.

“And you’re sleeping…”

I pat the mattress a second time, just to watch her eyes grow ten times their normal size. I chuckle at her shock and bump her shoulder again. “Don’t worry. The couch is very comfortable.”

“You’d sleep on the couch.”

“Better than the floor.” As much as I’d like to stay in here with her, the carpet is so worn that it’ll be like sleeping on a boulder. With a sigh, I leave the warmth of her side and push to my feet. I extend a hand to her. “Want me to tuck you in?”

I’m teasing, and she knows it, but she slaps her hand in mine and says, “Yes, please. Bedtime story, too.”

I pull her to her feet and then shove her just hard enough to tip her onto the bed. She bounces on the mattress with a squeal that hits me square in the chest.

“Once upon a time there was a big pain in the ass who kept bugging everyone she worked with about tucking in their shirts.”

She grimaces and slides to the pillows. “I change my mind on the story.”

“You sure?” I smirk. “It’s a good one.”

She rolls her eyes, but there is amusement resting in her tired irises. “Goodnight, Pete.”

“You’re just gonna fall asleep while I wait for Maddie?”

“Yep.” She cuddles under my blankets, tucking in tightly. Her eyes drift shut.

I let out an exaggerated sigh. “Fine then.”

The tiniest of smiles perks at the edge of her mouth, and I watch the shadow from my lamp cast over her sleepy form. It’s amazing how tempting it is to climb in next to her but also how content I am to just let her be. She looks good in my space, like she belongs here. She’s a rich, uptight mess, but she belongs in my world somehow.

I wonder if she feels that way about me. I’d like to think I’ve wriggled my way in somehow, too.

Not a minute later I get the okay from Maddie to come out of my room, and with all these rabid thoughts running loose in my head, I make a break for it, gathering all the presents I can. I set them up under the tree with the ones already there, and they are completely haphazard and clumsy, but there are presents, and that’s all that matters.

Demi’s gonna wake up thrilled. Mad’s gonna love the decals I got her. And Candace… Well, I hope Candace is just happy to be with me, even if I’m not the guy she really wants.

Candace

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