HAYDEN
The sound of a door slamming out in the corridor wakes me up, and I rub my eyes.
Someone is in bed with me, his body snuggled up against mine from behind, and by the heavenly smell of him, I know exactly who it is. “Why are you in my bed?” I whisper huskily.
“Shh, less talking, more sleeping,” he murmurs with his eyes closed.
We doze back off as we spoon, and I must admit, the close physical contact with someone is nice. I haven’t had a hug since I got here a week ago.
I hear movement. “Oh no,” Bernadette gasps. “You said no hanky-panky with roommates.” She looks down from her top bunk at Christopher and me.
Ugh . . .
Christopher stirs. “This is sleeping, Bernadette. No hanky-panky.”
“Oh,” she says as if relieved. “You could have slept with me.”
“Help,” he whispers as he pulls me closer into his arms, and I smirk.
“He will sleep with you tomorrow night, Bernie,” I reply.
He pinches me under the cover, and I giggle.
We keep lying in each other’s arms, and he snuggles in closer. His big arm is around my waist, and our bodies and bare legs are up against one another’s.
“Look who’s all sated and cuddly,” I whisper. “I’m guessing last night went well?”
“Shh.” He cuddles me closer. “You’re getting annoying now.”
I giggle.
His phone beeps a message, and he rolls onto his back to check it. “Hmm.” He hums as he reads it. “Finally.”
“What?”
He rolls me over and pulls me onto his chest. His arm is around my shoulders. “My new card is at the bank.”
Hmm, I’m still half-asleep.
“Come with me to go get it?”
“No.”
“Will you two shut up,” Bodie snaps. “People are trying to fucking sleep here.”
“I’m one of them.” I bump my forehead into Christopher’s, and I feel him smile above me.
He tries to sweeten the deal. “If you come with me, I’ll buy you lunch.”
“Hmm.” I bring my hand up to his chest and notice the dark hair on it. “What are we eating on your budget, 2 Minute Noodles?”
“What’s that?”
I frown as I look up at his face. “2 Minute Noodles?”
“I don’t know what that is.”
“Everyone knows what fucking 2 Minute Noodles are,” Bodie replies from his top bunk.
“I thought you were sleeping,” Christopher says to him.
“Some fucker is waking me up with dumb questions about 2 Minute Noodles.”
Christopher chuckles, and he mindlessly runs his fingers up my arm. “Come on, Grumps, come with me.”
“Hmm, I don’t feel like it.” I screw up my face. “I’m tired and hungover.”
“Me too.” He sits up. “Come on.”
“Why can’t you go alone?”
“Why would I want to go alone when I have you as a personal bodyguard?”
“Call your chickie birds from last night,” I reply dryly, my eyes still closed. “They’ll go.”
“I’m not hanging out with them,” he says as if disgusted by the suggestion. He gets out of bed. “When we get back, Basil and I are going to do our washing. Aren’t we, Baz?”
“Fuck off,” Basil grumbles from under his pillow. “Who thinks of this shit first thing in the morning? I’ve never met someone who is so horny over soap. I’m not washing clothes; I washed them last week.”
“You wash everything each time it’s worn.”
“Who does that?” Basil scoffs.
“Men who get laid, that’s who.”
I can’t hide my smile. How is this man so endearing? I should hate everything about him. “Speaking of soap, I need to shower.”
Christopher holds his arm out toward the door. “Your five-star spa is ready and waiting.”
I giggle. The shitty dorm-style bathroom is definitely not ready or waiting.
“I’ll get our things from the lockers,” he offers.
“Fine . . .” I sigh.
He disappears out into the corridor, and I smile goofily up at the bed above me.
“I hate how he’s all perky in the morning,” Bernadette says.
“That’s because he got tag teamed last night by two stunners,” Kimberly replies.
I get a vision of him rolling around in the sheets with those two girls, and my face falls.
Jealousy twists in my stomach. I wonder, Will he see them again?
Of course he will . . . this is who he is.
Stop it.
It’s not like that between us, I remind myself. He can do whatever he wants to whoever he wants.
The door opens back up, and he sticks his head in the door. “Just checking you’re up.”
“My god,” I snap. “You’re so annoying.”
“We have to go soon.”
“Why?”
“Because I need food.”
“Aren’t we going out for lunch?”
“Breakfast too. You’re paying.” The door closes, and I smirk again.
Dick.