Standing, I grab my beer bottle and his, dumping them both in the recycling bin before wrapping tin foil around the brownies. I’ll have to take care of them in themorning.
“Mittens,” I call quietly. “Bedtime.”
The small cat darts out from his favorite spot under the bar and races toward my bedroom. Guess you can say we’ve done this a fewtimes.
I lean over the back of the couch and give Caleb a few shakes. “Hey, wakie wakie. Let’s go tobed.”
“Hmm?”
“Bed. Let’sgo.”
“Like…together?”
“Together. You’re sleeping with metonight.”
He gives me a crooked grin. “I don’t think I’m up for it tonight,babe.”
I laugh and give him another shake. “I meantsleepsleep.You’re not sleeping on the floor, and no offense, but you’re too big for the couch to becomfortable.”
“My ass isn’tthatbig.”
I slap at said ass. “It’s gettingthere.”
He flips around quickly. “Did you just slap myass?”
“Maybe. Did you likeit?”
A shrug. “Maybe.”
I give him a small laugh. “Come on.Bed.”
We amble down the hallway. “I’m, uh, gonna go grab my stuff. You sure this isokay?”
“Yep. Now scoot. I’m gettingsleepy.”
Caleb heads to grab his pillow and blanket while I rush to clean up my painting supplies and try to make some sense of my messybed.
I refuse to overthink this. I refuse to make thisweird.
Caleb doesn’t have a bed. Hehasto sleep inmine.
Right?
I climb into ‘my side’, which feels so weird because the whole bed has always been my side, and then I wait for Caleb to make hismove.
Unlike me, he doesn’t hesitate. He dives right into the warmth, snuggling close tome.
“Oh my god,” he moans, eyes closed, body wrapped tight in his blanket. “This is pureheaven.”
“The bed or sleeping next tome?”
He smirks. “Maybe a little ofboth.”
“Maybe?”
“Maybe alot.”
I laugh and reach over to turn off my bedside lamp before scooting down and making myselfcomfortable.