Page 69 of Going Overboard

‘I’m not stealing the bed from you…’

‘Then don’t steal it from me, share it with me,’ he suggests. ‘We’re in it together, right now, and it’s not awkward. Plus, it can’t be weird when we’re sleeping, can it? How would we know, we’ll be asleep…’

I laugh.

‘Really? Are you sure?’ I check.

‘We’re boyfriend and girlfriend,’ he jokes. ‘It’s only natural.’

‘Well, if it’s for appearances,’ I reply. ‘Then it would be weird not to.’

After I get ready for bed, the sheets are cool when I slide under them, and they smell of Brody’s delicious aftershave – or maybe that’s him, the man in bed next to me.

He stretches out, so naturally, like he’s where he belongs – and I guess like I belong here too, because he seems so comfortable with me. I’m comfortable too, for the most part, but it’s hard to ignore how weirdly hot this is.

He’s shirtless, because of course he is. And I’m in the vest andpants that I sleep in – that cover more than my bikini does, and yet I feel so… naked.

‘Night night,’ he says softly, his voice almost tickling my ears, almost like I can feel the vibration through the bed.

‘Goodnight,’ I reply.

I want to say more, but I can’t get the words out. I’m nervous, not because I don’t want to be in here with him, but because I do.

He reaches over and flicks off the light. Darkness fills the room, only leaving room for silence.

I swear, the air changes. There’s a shift, it’s subtle, but I can feel it…

I lie still, on my back, staring up at the ceiling, wondering if he’s as wide awake as I am, if his mind is racing too… Wondering if he can feel the heat radiating between us.

He didn’t have to serenade me to make me laugh. He didn’t have to come find me when I left, upset. And he definitely didn’t have to let me sleep in the bed with him. And yet, here I am. Here we are.

I glance toward him in the dark. He’s facing me, I think. Or maybe just turned that way in his sleep.

It’s too dark to tell and I’m too nervous to ask.

I lie there for a little longer, letting the rhythm of his breath steady my own breathing, wondering what would happen if I just… reached out.

‘Thanks for being perfect tonight,’ I whisper.

I don’t know if he hears it. I don’t know if he’s already asleep or if I didn’t say it loud enough, but he shifts slightly closer, just enough for our bodies to brush.

It’s going to be a long night…

28

Life is full of surprises – Lord knows I’ve had my share of them this month – but in a twist that absolutely no one saw coming: I’m a gym girl. I know, I’ve said that before, but it’s really true now. I’m not just here to fake it for everyone else, or just to hang out with Brody, I’m actually working out.

I don’t know why I’ve always shied away from exercise – it’s probably a little light PTSD thanks to an especially vile PE teacher – but today I decided to give it a go, not because Brody told me to, just because seeing how great it made him feel made me curious.

Honestly? It’s been great. I feel like I’ve had a proper workout. No fake stretching that’s actually napping, no using the exercise bike as a chair or messing around on the yoga ball.

‘Who are you and what have you done with Jessa?’ Brody asks, watching me bouncing up and down on an elliptical machine – it’s sort of like stepping crossed with running, both things I usually shy away from, but this is fun.

‘She’s in here, behind the sweaty mess,’ I reply, huffing and puffing.

‘You’re not sweaty, you’re glowing,’ he corrects me.

‘That’s an incredibly generous interpretation of the truth, so thank you,’ I say. ‘I can’t believe I’m saying it either but… I think I’m enjoying myself.’

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