Page 45 of Infatuated as They Come
“It’s just after five.”
“Wait, are you getting up now?” My eyes flew open, but the room was so dark that I couldn’t quite make anything out. “Why?”
“I’ve got an early shift today.”
“You didn’t tell me about that.”
“’Cause I knew you’d go on and on about how much I work.”
“Because you do,” I said. “What time is it? It’s still dark out. God, I have cheer practice today and I’m not even getting up this early.”
“Just go back to sleep, baby.”
Sitting back up, I stretched my arms above my head. “No, I’ll get up. We can have breakfast together.”
“I already ate.”
I stilled at his words. “How long have you been awake?”
“Not that long. You need to sleep. You’re gonna be practicing all your flips and pyramids and stuff. Don’t want you to be tired and crack your head open.”
“You’re very dramatic,” I said.
He chuckled lowly, giving my forehead a kiss before pressing me to the mattress once more. Then he pulled up the blankets, covering my shoulders until I was all tucked in. “Just tryna look out for you. Go to sleep.”
“It’s not fair you’re getting up so early,” I said with a yawn. “Just quit your job already.”
“I’ll see you tonight, okay?”
“Mm, yeah. I’ll see you then.”
“My break’s at twelve. I promise I’ll call you then.” He kissed my forehead. “Get some rest.”
His gentle, calm fingers in my hair had me drifting back into sleep, my alarm waking me up two hours later when the room had some early morning light in it. I’d have to get to campus by seven forty-five for cheer practice, and then I had a lecture at ten and another after that.
Climbing out of bed, I felt a rush of guilt wash over me as I fixed up the sheets and blankets. For all the slacking off Sawyer did back in school, he sure as hell was a reliable worker. Maybe that was the same deal back home and I didn’t even notice. Maybe he was so busy working and looking after himself that he didn’t even have time to focus on school.
Blowing out some air, I quickly finished up my morning routine beforemoving into the kitchen so I could make a smoothie bowl. That’d at least give me enough energy to get through practice and all my classes.
A wide smile quickly formed on my face when I saw the new drawing Sawyer had placed on the fridge. It was of me in bed with my eyes closed and my hair neatly sprawled around me in a way I was sure I never resembled when I slept. I read the short sentence he had scrawled under the drawing, my cheeks flushing as I took in his words.
You look even prettier than this when you sleep. Can’t wait to see you tonight. Love you so much.
I held it to my chest for a long moment before I placed it in the little box with all the other stuff he had given me.
One cab ride later and I was back at Columbia, gym bag and school stuff in my hands as I made my way to the gym. I had a good ten minutes to go until practice started, but a few of the girls were already sitting in a large circle doing their stretches by the time I arrived.
“Good morning!” Claudia greeted me, voice oh so cheery despite the early hour.
“Morning,” I said, joining them on the floor. “What time did you guys get here?”
“Super early, but that’s okay, you’re still on time,” Claudia said.
“That’s the benefit of living on campus,” Natalie said. “You must be so jealous of our tiny little dorms.”
“I like your rooms,” I said, crossing my right arm over my body. I gave my elbow a pull with my left hand, already feeling a satisfied stretch in my shoulder. “Well, I’ve only ever seen Claudia’s room, but I liked it.”
“Try living there.” Claudia rolled her eyes. “I guess it’s worth it in the long run. Just two more years of college and then I can finally teach.”
