Page 64 of Heal Me

When Gunnar pulls into the garage, I moan pitifully. “I’m too tired to walk. Carry me.”

“Come on, you. The sooner we get inside, the sooner we can get into bed and snuggle.”

With one more groan of protest for good measure, I push my car door open. “Chérie, who knew you were such a teddy bear?”

He prods me out of the car. “First you tell me I’m sweet, and now you’re calling me a teddy bear. Geez, babe. You can’t tell anyone. It’ll ruin my reputation.”

Laughing, I let him lead me through the house and up the stairs. As we get ready for bed, I can’t help the bubbly feeling in my chest. We have a routine now. We know where each other will be and what we’ll do next. It’s so coupley, and it makes me happy.

I pull on sweats and one of Gunnar’s T-shirts and climb into bed, hauling the comforter up to my chin. “Chérie, I’m cold. I need you to warm me up.” Gunnar drops his clothes into the hamper and crawls into bed, tugging me against his chest. The heat pouring from him is heavenly. “How is it that you aren’t freezing?”

He wraps his arms around me, slotting his legs through mine. “I’m part bear. Remember?” Tucking his face into the crook of my neck, he nuzzles his beard against my skin, and holds me tightly. Things are quiet for a minute before Gunnar pulls back to look at me. “I like having you here. Even though your parents are leaving tomorrow, you could just stay the weekend.”

I smile and hug him, melting into his warmth. “Yes, please. Or we could stay at my place. Either is fine with me.” I yawn so widely it threatens to crack my jaw. “We can talk about it tomorrow.” And we will. I’ll make sure of it. Because I’m not ready to go back to sleeping alone. I’d miss him too much. Burrowing closer, I sigh, absolutely content. “Bonne nuit, mon nounours.”

Gunnar kisses my temple. “Sometime when I’m not exhausted, I’m going to ask you what that means.”

“It means good night, my teddy bear.”

He snorts and growls into my neck, making me laugh. “Night, babe.”

32

Gunnar

Iturnoffthebathroom light and tiptoe into the bedroom, trying to be as quiet as possible. Jocelin had a rough night, tossing and turning through most of it. I’m not sure if it’s because his parents are going home today, or because there isn’t an actual need for us to spend so much time together, or something else entirely. I know the idea of not seeing him as much makes my stomach feel icky.

“Morning.”

“Shit!” I slap my hand to my chest and suck in air. “Babe, what are you doing up? You should be sleeping.”

He sighs. “Just lying here, thinking about how my career has turned to shit and could be completely over any day now. I’m also trying not to hyperventilate. You know.” He waves a hand in the air. “The usual.” I eye him warily because he’s not usually this pessimistic. Maybe it’s the lack of sleep. He holds out his arms and makes grabby hands at me. “Hold me. I need you.”

Even when he’s being dramatic, Jocelin is too adorable to resist. “Aww, baby.” I drop the towel from around my waist and climb into bed, pulling him against me. “It’ll be okay. Alistair loves you. He’ll figure out what happened.”

In a move I’m growing quite fond of, he tucks his face into my neck. “It’s so nerve-racking. I’m not good at having nothing to do all day. And I know they’re probably backed up at work. Plus, I didn’t do anything wrong. It’s all so ridiculous.”

I hold him closer, desperately wanting to make things better. “I wish there was something I could do. But I’m sure Alistair will have answers soon.”

He sighs and relaxes against me. “You’re right.” He kisses my neck and rolls away. “Why don’t I make you a cup of tea while you finish getting dressed?”

“You don’t have to, babe. Why don’t you go back to sleep?”

He laughs. “That isn’t going to happen. My brain is in high gear. There’s no shutting it off now.”

I get it, but it still seems so foreign. I’d have no problem crawling back into bed right now and falling asleep. “Okay, well, I’d love a cup of tea.”

“Perfect.” He kisses my cheek and heads out of the bedroom, leaving me to finish dressing, this time with the lights on.

Less than five minutes later, I stroll into the kitchen. Jocelin hands me a steaming mug, and I kiss his cheek. “Thank you, babe.” I blow on the piping hot liquid, inhaling the rich scent of the black tea. “It’s Friday. How about we do something fun tonight? Give you something to look forward to. What do you think?”

Jocelin eyes me skeptically. “Like what?”

I lean against the counter. “Well, what’s something you haven’t done in a while that might cheer you up?”

“Dancing.” He grins mischievously at me. It’s something he’s mentioned a few times, but the idea holds zero appeal.

Clubs have never been my scene. The few times I’ve gone with Astrid haven’t been pleasant, with more than one evening ending in a fistfight with some sleazy fuck who wouldn’t take her ‘no thank you’ as an answer. Plus, there’s the dancing. “I don’t dance, babe.”

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