Page 29 of By Your Side
Chapter 9
Paige
Iwoke up warm.
Which was immediately suspicious, because I didn’t remember going to bed. And I definitely didn’t remember falling asleep with someone wrapped around me like a weighted blanket with stubble.
I opened my eyes slowly.
Couch cushion. Old throw blanket. Dim morning light filtering through the curtains.
Chest rising and falling beneath my cheek, a stubbled chin resting against the top of my head.
And—oh god.
Hunter.
His arm was still around me, his hand resting lightly against my knee, like we’d fallen asleep mid-conversation. Like this wasn’t something altogether, wildly inappropriate that would short-circuit my nervous system the second I remembered how real it was.
It felt like I belonged right here.
He was so warm.
So right.
My whole body tensed, just slightly, like maybe if I didn’t move, the feelings wouldn’t catch up to me.
Which, of course, was when Hunter’s voice rumbled low and sleep-heavy beneath me. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” I whispered. “I just…”
He cracked one eye open, his gaze amused and still soft with sleep. “Freaking out?”
“Only a little bit,” I muttered. “I’ll try to keep it together.”
I shifted away, and he let me go, stretching out with a low groan and scrubbing a hand through his hair. I sat up, brushing wrinkles from my sweatshirt, my heart thudding loudly in the morning quiet.
Then I heard footsteps.
Noah rounded the corner, rubbing his eyes, wearing pajama pants and a wrinkled t-shirt. He looked half-asleep and mildly annoyed to be vertical.
He took one look at me. One look at Hunter. Then he raised an eyebrow, as if he were the parent and I was the one getting caught past curfew. “Morning,” he said, voice dry as dust.
“Don’t,” I warned before he could make it weird.
“I need more sleep.” He raised both hands and walked back to his bedroom, disappearing without another word. “It’s too early for this. But, if it matters, and if this is a thing now, I approve.”
“Your kids are exactly like you,” Hunter said under his breath. “Kinda scary.”
“Yeah,” I sighed. “I’m going to check on Briar.”
I knocked gently on Briar’s door before easing it open.
She was curled on her side in bed, hugging a Squishmallow to her chest. Her eyes were open and tired, but clearer than last night.
“Hey,” I said softly. “How are you feeling?”
She shrugged. “Tired. But better. I’m sorry for sneaking out.”
