“Any time.” He mirrored the expression.
Things had changed between us. Not necessarily for the worse, but not for the better, either. He seemed to be getting back to the guy his friends said he was, which was good. And we weren’t angry at each other anymore, which was also good.
But it was strange too, and a bit awkward, because I’d told him we weren’t going to be anything more than friends after he told me he thought I was sexy.
And… because being platonic mates kind of sucked.
But it was better than being alone, which I had to remind myself continually.
I turned on the movie while I stuffed my face with food and popcorn (not at the same time), and we spent the next two hours grinning and laughing. Even the stupidest jokes triggered sarcastic remarks from me or Rocco, which had us snorting and laughing together.
We turned on another movie and ate another meal when that one ended, and repeated the same process two more times before we were both laying sprawled out on the couches, pretty much sleeping.
Our legs bumped a bit, but I stuck tightly to the inside part of the couch, and Rocco remain firmly on the outside.
I wasn’t really tired since my wolf had slept so much over the last few days, but Rocco was clearly exhausted.
After a few minutes, he started snoring.
My lips curved upward a bit.
A moment later, he rolled toward me a little. His arm draped over my feet, and he hugged them to his chest.
I bit back a grin.
He continued right on snoring, not realizing at all that he was cuddling my feet of all things.
I wasn’t sure whether or not sleeping on the couch would hurt his back or something, so I knew I’d need to wake him up in a bit, but… not yet. It was late in the afternoon, so he could nap first. And even if he slept all the way until it was time to go to bed, he’d be fine. He was exhausted.
The moment reminded me of an indie song I liked, and I spent a few minutes scrolling through my music, looking for it. When I found it, I turned it on and listened to the song quietly.
My eyes closed, my head nodding to the slow beat. When the words I’d remember played, my lips curved upward again.
Cuddling and snoring, no cares in the world.
Falling in love with each mundane moment.
My eyes opened, and landed on Rocco.
Damn, he was gorgeous.
I wasn’t falling in love with him—we hadn’t known each other long enough for that.
But after the initial arguments, it had been a good day.
The rest of the pack had been right about Rocco having a great sense of humor, and about us getting along. I’d laughed more, and harder, with him than I had with anyone in a long, long time. And even though he was gorgeous, I hadn’t felt weird or self-conscious in any way. We’d just had fun.
My phone started ringing, then, and I lifted it to my ear quickly, whispering into the phone, “Hello?”
“Why are you whispering?” June checked.
“My, uh, roommate is sleeping.”
“The one with the weird brother who comes and goes?”
“Mmhmm.”
“He’s finally back, then?”