"Remy," he mumbles as he reaches up to touch my cheek.
"I'm here," I say, stroking his hair. "I'm right here. I just went to grab a blanket and some pillows. Here, lift your head," I instruct softly as I slide one of the pillows under him.
But he ignores it completely and wraps his arms around me in a crushing embrace. He rolls me over his body until I'm on the other side of him, pulled tight to his chest. His face is only an inch away from mine.
He strokes my hair gently, his eyes never leaving mine. Then he leans forward to kiss me softly.
When he pulls away there's barely enough room for our breaths to pass between us. His forehead is pressed to mine and I can tell he's already falling back asleep.
Just as his eyes flutter closed, I hear him murmur, "I need you…"
18
Remy
I'm still floating above consciousness when I distantly feel the warmth leaving my back. I frown in my sleep, not wanting to wake up but already missing the comfort that heat provided.
Just as I'm about to slip back into dreamland, I feel the ghost of fingertips brush along my cheek. They're gone so quickly that I'm not even sure they were really there. I curl back into my pillow and fall back to a deep sleep.
By the time I wake a few hours later, the sun is high in the sky and shining light directly through my wall of windows. I blink my eyes open sleepily.
I stretch my arms over my head with a smile. I notice the small ache between my legs with satisfaction.
At the reminder of last night, the smile freezes on my face. I look behind me to confirm what I already know: Tristan is gone.
I sit up with a frown.It's Sunday morning, where would he have to go?
Then another thought pops in my head that instantly makes my heart drop into my stomach.
This is the second time he's bolted from a bed that I'm in.
I didn't question the night we spent together in his room because it was a weekday and I know he has really early sessions with some of his clients that want to workout before they head to work. But on a Sunday morning? I doubt anyone is working out.
Is he avoiding me?
Last night changed something for both of us. I should've already realized my feelings for him were growing but everything happened so fast that I wasn't sure until last night. I don't know what that actually means for us, but I do know that I want to try for something with Tristan. I'm not sure where he stands with his feelings but last night proved that he at least cares about me. The sex was too emotional for it to just be sex. I could see in his eyes that he felt something.
Except, I am currently naked and alone for the second morning after sex.Am I reading too much into last night? Did I scare him away?
The sound of my phone vibrating snaps me from my thoughts. I walk over to where I dropped it on the kitchen counter last night and see that Jax is calling. My mood immediately lifts at the thought of my best friend coming home today.
I answer the phone with a grin. "How hungover are you right now?" I ask by way of greeting.
A heavy groan sounds on the other end of the line. "You know me way too fucking well. I don't want to see another drink for the rest of my time at this job. Remy, I really feel like I'm dying."
I shake my head with a chuckle. Leave it to the massive 230 pound alpha to be a total baby about a little headache. "What time do you get in?" I ask Jax.
"I'm on my Chicago layover now so I should be home around 11:00. When I get home, I thought you, me, and Tristan could do lunch and I can squash any remaining feuding between you two that might've brewed this week. By the way, is the house still standing?"
My eyes widen and my breath catches when I realize I never thought about how this thing between Tristan and I might affect Jax.Should I tell him the truth? Will he be angry?
To be fair, Jax has only ever wanted Hailey and I to be happy. It's the reason he keeps his mouth shut about Steve. He sees that Hailey is happy—albeit confused—and he doesn't want to blow something up just because he knows Steve is a dipshit. He'll support anyone that brings us happiness.
But at the same time, I'm not even sure where Tristan and I stand.
I make a split-second decision to tell a white lie, just until there's something more to actually tell. Which, given Tristan's vanishing act and radio silence, might never happen.
"Yes, the house is still standing, and yes I will withstand Tristan for you. He's already survived ten days, what's another hour?"