Page 15 of Forever and Ever

“How drunk are you right now?” I tip her chin up and look into her dilated eyes. “We’re not fucking.”

“Then why are you in her room?” Merry crosses her arms over her chest, looking a little irritated.

“I’m not.” I widen the door further, so she can see the empty space. “This is my room.”

She steps back and looks at the number on the door again. “Crap, I thought she said this was her room number.” Merry slaps her hand over her forehead and lets out a frustrated sigh.

“Everything okay?”

“I was going to crash in her room tonight. But…” She shakes her head, her eyes drifting down the hall, and I realize she has no idea where she is.

“Come on.” I move aside and wave her in, but she just stands there. “Merry, get in the fucking room. You’re too drunk to wander the halls knocking on every door until you find her.”

“Fine.” She pouts as she walks inside.

When Merry is drunk, she actually lets her guard down a bit. Even if she is still prickly and difficult, there’s a softer, more vulnerable side that shines through.

“But don’t get any ideas,” she says, walking past me with her finger pointed in my direction.

“Wouldn’t dare.” I smile, and that breaks the slightest smirk on her face.

She stops just inside and peels her jacket off. Her eyes scan the room, and if I didn’t know her better, I’d think she looks almost a little nervous as I close the door.

“Make yourself at home.” I walk past her and try hard not to think about the fact that this is the first time Merry’s been in my room alone with me, even if it’s not for the reasons that I would like.

“Mind if I use your shower?” she asks, setting her things on one of the couches.

I wave my arm toward the bathroom, but just before she disappears into it, I call out, “Here.”

She pauses and the soft expression on her face makes me want to wrap my arms around her.

I pull a T-shirt from my suitcase and walk over to hand it to her. “Something to sleep in.”

She looks down at the shirt in my hands and her eyebrows pull together, like somehow the shirt is confusing to her, and I wonder just how drunk she really is. Reaching for it, her eyes dart back at me, and even though her eyeliner’s a little smudged and her eyes are drunk and distant, she is still the most beautiful girl in the world.

“Thanks.” She nods.

I leave her to shower, dropping onto my bed. Even if I’m tired, closing my eyes doesn’t do any good, because my nerves might as well be vibrating beneath my skin. I bury myself under the blanket and try to think about anything besides her being in my room.

But it’s impossible.

And when she walks out in only my T-shirt, with wet hair that’s already curling at the ends, and a makeup-free face, I can’t help the feeling that comes to life somewhere deep inside me.

I expect her to go for the couch, and for me to have to tell her she can just share my bed. But she surprises me by walking over and climbing in the other side unprompted.

She curls up under the covers, facing me. Even in this dark room, I can still make out her eyes clearly with the moon shining through the break in the curtains, and they’re focused on me.

“Did you have a good night?” I ask, propping my head up under one of my hands and facing her.

Merry nods. “Yeah, you?”

“It was all right.”

The corner of her mouth ticks up and her eyes roll.

“What?”

“You don’t have to pretend you didn’t enjoy yourself for my sake,” she says, propping her head up to match me. “I’m sure some groupie made you very happy.”

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