Crap on a cucumbersandwich.
I sigh and toss onto my other side. Fenway glares at me from his spot on the cushion as if to say,Human, I’m tired, go to sleep already.Rather than risk alienating the other male in my life, I force my eyes closed and start countingsheep.
I’ve only reached four when I hear the French doors swing open. I decide my best strategy is to pretend I’m already asleep, since fighting with him clearly does me no favors. Actually, based on the outcomes of our past arguments, I think arguing with him may make things worseforme.
My sleeping strategy doesn’t work out much better, considering Luca takes one look at me curled up on the couch, slides his hands beneath my body, and scoops me into his arms so fast, there’s not a chance ofsquirmingfree.
“Hey!” I hiss, glaring up at his Adam’s apple. “What are youdoing?”
“Bringing youtobed.”
“I was alreadyasleep!”
“No, youweren’t.”
“Well.” My cheeks heat. “I wasaboutto be asleep. Bring me back to thesectional.”
“No.”
“Luca!”
“Babe. I’m tired. Don’t wanna fight with you anymore. Also don’t wanna sleep without you in my bed. While you’re staying here, you sleep next to me.Houserule.”
He lowers me onto his mattress and follows me down. I try to keep my frame rigid, stiff-backed at the edge of the mattress, but he’s having no part in that. He reaches out, pulls me back into his chest, and curls his large frame around mine so we’respooning.
I have to admit, it feelsprettynice.
“You’re bossy,” I inform him sleepily, eyes drifting closed despite my bestintentions.
A kiss lands on the back of my neck. “Yeah, well, you’re a pain intheass.”
I smile in the dark — safe and warm and utterly content, wrapped in the arms of a man who drives meinsane.
I’m half-asleep when a low whine reaches my ears. Without opening my eyes all the way, I murmur a command to my bossy bigspoon.
“Luca, love…thedog.”
I’m so tired, I don’t notice the way Luca’s whole body goes still at my absentminded endearment, as if I’ve said something that stuns him. My own eyes are closed, so I don’t see the way his light up in thedarkness.
Very gently, he untangles his limbs from mine, leans over the side of the mattress, and pulls the puppy into bed with us. Fenway settles in the spot by my stomach and immediately starts tosnooze.
I’m nearly asleep, slipping over the rim of unconsciousness, so I can’t be sure if Luca’s low growl is real or the fragment of a dream when it reaches my ears a few momentslater.
“Mine.”
* * *
In the morning,he’s gone whenIwake.
Again.
I walk into the kitchen, experiencing a strange sensation of déjà vu, except this time there’s no one on the patio and bright light is streaming through thewindows.
I catch sight of a note pad sitting on the countertop beside a French press full of fresh coffee. I help myself to a cup as my eyes scan Luca’s messyhandwriting.
Babe-
Took Fenway for a walk.Backsoon.