Page 40 of I Knead You Tonight

“He’s okay,” I say.

She chuckles, falling back onto the bed with a sigh. “I can’t believe I didn’t hear him.”

“I have no idea how you slept through it. He woke me up from the living room. Well, not like that’s saying much. I don’t sleep very well, especially if I don’t smoke.”

She twists her head toward me when I confess this, but she doesn’t say anything.

“Why was Riker in my dresser drawer?”

Shrugging, she says, “He sleeps in one at my apartment. I just figured he was missing it and put him in one tonight when he wouldn’t fall asleep. I’ll put everything back together in the morning.”

“Your kid sleeps in a drawer?”

“It’s cheaper than a crib. I’m not rolling in dough, in case you didn’t notice.”

I don’t say anything, because we both know the gravity of her situation.

“You don’t have to stay in here,” she says after several beats of silence play between us.

As if he can understand her, Riker begins to fuss again.

“Okay, okay.” She rubs his head. “I was kidding. He can stay, just as long as he doesn’t try to feel me up or anything.”

“Please. You’re the one who creeps on people when they’re changing.”

“I did not creep!” she whisper-shouts. “You were changing with the door open!”

“My bathroom.”

She sighs. “Shut up.”

“Admit it, Drew—I make you hot.”

“Moister than a fucking oyster,” she says dryly, closing her eyes.

I laugh and she swats at me. “Ouch. What was that for?”

“You’re going to wake the baby with all that shaking, and I willnothelp you get him back to sleep if you do that.”

“I don’t need your help. He clearly likes me.”

“He’s the only one,” she complains. “Go to bed, Winston.”

Grinning, I close my eyes, because I know she’s wrong.

Drew does like me.

Maybe not right now, but I know deep down she does on some level. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t be so worried about the reasons I smoke.

In her own way, Drew cares about me.

And I care about her too.

“Hey, Drew?”

“Oh my god. Can’t you be quiet for two seconds?”

“This is important.”

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