Page 42 of Forever After Never

"Don't mind me. I was about to leave anyway," she replies.Liar.

"Don't be silly. Stay over. It is horrible outside anyway. I don't want to interrupt girl's night. I am going to grab a shower anyway and head to bed. It's been a long day."

"Goodnight, girls." Sawyer squeezes my thigh before heading up the stairs. His number one fan, Jed, swiftly following behind.

"Goodnight to you too, traitor." I pat his head as he walks past me.

I hear Sawyer laughing.

"Well.. I don't know what you are worrying about. I'm pretty sure he thinks he's living here anyway. He's been gone for what? A day? The man can't keep away from you and that ass! Autumn, just ask the man to move in. I think he's waiting for the invitation!"

A couple of hours later, after the longest catch-up known to man we are both ready for bed. Ali fell asleep on the couch, so I give her a shake.

"Ali, it's late. I'm going to bed. The spare room is made up for you. It will be way comfier than the couch." Alice hits out at me, half asleep, and grumbles something inaudible. I shake her again. "Ali!" I whisper shout. She wakes up this time. Looking exactly like a bear coming out of hibernation early, she shoots me a scowl. She looks very cute when she is half asleep. "Bitch,get your ass up to bed. You'll be complaining that your back hurts in the morning."

"Fine, fine," she huffs out and we head up the stairs at the same time. Alice stomping her way up the stairs behind me.

"Goodnight, Ali," I whisper as I get to the top of the stairs. I don't want to wake Sawyer, so I keep my voice low.

Alice reaches out to poke me in the back as I reach my bedroom door.

"Just ask him to move in already," she says and gives me a massive hug before plodding down the hall to bed.

I crawl into bed next to Sawyer and snuggle up to his side. I put my cold feet on his leg, and he grumbles.

"Ice queen," he mumbles at me as he is pulled from sleep by the cold. Sawyer reaches round to slap my ass cheek. "You'll pay for that tomorrow, Sugar."

I give a half-suppressed laugh.

"Turn around and let me keep you warm." He turns over in the bed, stretching one arm across my pillow and tapping the empty space next to him on the bed. So, I back up into the space, feeling the warmth of his body against the coolness of mine. He leans down and kisses my cheek before settling into his pillow.

"I missed you." He says as he rubs my thigh to generate warmth. "Being here feels normal now."

"It definitely does." I hum. Being here is the most natural thing in the world.

After a few moments of silence, I whisper, "Move in with me." But of course, he doesn't reply, as he is happily sleeping again, with me in his arms. He is breathing heavily into the nape of my neck, his warm breath tickling me with each exhale.

I'm going to ask Sawyer to move in with me tomorrow. I can't stand it when he isn't here. I've grown used to him being in my space, and I don't want him to be anywhere but here.

Chapter 34

Autumn

Sawyer isn't in bed when I wake up. I reach across the bed to feel for him. The bed is still warm, so he couldn't have left long ago. Jed is at the foot of the bed. He must have been sneaky when Sawyer left the room.

"Good morning, sunshine." I pat the bed next to me, and Jed walks up to the bed. He bends down into a big stretch, spreading his feet out in front of him with his tail in the air, yawning as he does. As if it's law, I say, "Oooh, big stretch." Jed looks as tired as I feel. I yawn along with him.

I want to grab a shower before heading downstairs, so I pick up a towel and shuffle over to the ensuite. I turn the shower on and brush my teeth while I wait for the water to heat and the steam to swirl around the bathroom. I step into the shower and let the hot water jets hammer into my back as I am still waking up. Rolling my neck, I enjoy the heat loosening up my muscles. After spending twenty minutes staring aimlessly at the tiles inthe shower, I towel myself off, bundle my hair into a towel, and wrap myself in a fluffy robe.

Walking down the stairs, the house is suspiciously quiet. I know that Alice is awake too because her bedroom door was open and the bed was empty.

"Is anyone home?" I ask as I walk down to the living room, but there is no answer.

As I approach the kitchen, I hear lowered voices, but I can't make out anything that is being said.

"Good morning, you two," I say quizzically, eyeing their mugs on the kitchen table. Sawyer eyes me shiftily.

"What are you two up to?"

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