Unraveling (Second Chances) - By Micalea Smeltzer Page 0,53
side of the road.”
“Angel, I’m hurt,” he put a hand to his chest.
“Get out of here, I’m sick of looking at your face,” she pushed his shoulder.
“I think you’re sick of looking, but not being able to touch,” he grinned cockily.
Karlie paled and then looked down at her hand on his shoulder. “I’m touching you now, so your argument is invalid.”
“I didn’t know this was a debate,” he chuckled.
“It is now,” Karlie smirked.
He laughed, shaking his head. “I’ll see you guys, later.”
I waved as he grabbed his keys.
Jared let out a snore from the chair.
“I’m going up to my room,” Karlie said. “Do you need anything?”
“No, I’m good,” I pointed to my half full glass of water.
“If you need me, just yell. Jared could sleep through the apocalypse so it won’t bother him,” she bound up the steps.
I grabbed a green blanket off the back of the couch and draped it across my shoulders.
I hoped to fall asleep, but the pain in my ribs was not conducive to sleep, and neither was the couch. Since it was leather, my body kept sliding off of it and I had to catch myself before I fell to the floor.
Finally, I grabbed up the remote and turned the TV on to distract myself. Hopefully, a mind-numbing reality show would be able to distract me from the pain in my ribs.
An hour so later, Jared woke up.
“Damn it, I keep falling asleep,” he rubbed his eyes.
“You’re tired,” I shrugged.
“So are you,” he stood, stretching. “I wanted to get you set up in my room before I took a nap.”
“Your room?” my voice spiked. “You never said anything about me staying in your room!” My need to run was kicking in and in about ten seconds I was going to be out that door.
“Relax, Katy,” he bent down, hands on the arm of the couch, so that we were eye level. “There’s only my room and Karlie’s. We don’t have a guest room for you to stay in, and I’m certainly not letting you sleep on the couch. You’ll stay in my room and I’ll sleep here. I knew you wouldn’t be comfortable with that, Katy, and I’d never, ever, push myself on you. You know that, kitten.”
“I-”
“Don’t say anything,” he shushed me. “No arguing.”
“But-” he pressed his finger against my lips and I nearly jumped out of my skin at the shock of his touch and the heat flooding my body.
“No buts, Katy. I’ll be fine on the couch. I feel much better knowing that you’re here, with me, and not in that tiny condo, fending for yourself.”
My cheeks colored and I looked down. His finger dropped from my lips, taking the heat with him.
He grabbed my bag and started up the steps. After about three, he turned and saw me, still sitting on the couch, stunned.
“Come on, Katy,” he grinned. “My room is up here.”
Like an obedient dog, I followed him.
“Karlie’s room,” he pointed to a closed door with a pair of ballet slippers hanging on the knob. He walked a little bit further and pointed to a door on the opposite side of Karlie’s room. “Bathroom. There’s a powder room downstairs but this is the only full bath and let me tell you, it sucks sharing a bathroom with your little sister,” he winked at me, over his shoulder. “And this,” he opened the door at the end of the hall, “is my bedroom.”
The room was surprisingly neat for a twenty-four year old guy. There were some dirty socks on the floor, but it wasn’t overflowing with trash like I had thought it might.
The walls were painted a charcoal gray and the furniture was black.
The only color came from the blue-gray comforter and orange pillows.
Jared stood back, watching my face. “Not what you were expecting?”
“No, I guess not,” I shrugged.
“What were you expecting?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “I never really imagined what your room would look like.”
He chuckled.
“What?” I asked.
“You are so different than other girls,” he said, softly.
“Is that a bad thing?” I asked.
“No, it’s a good thing. I like that you’re so honest,” he licked his lips.
I sat on the edge of his bed and tested the springiness.
“Well,” Jared put his hands in his pockets and awkwardly swayed back and forth, “I’ll –uh- leave you to it.”
“Okay,” I smiled, finding his awkward demeanor, endearing.
“I’m just going to let you sleep, if you get hungry, feel free to raid the fridge.”