My lips automatically curl into a smile at the feel of Stephen’s against mine, his soft, sated breaths tickling my neck.
He’s so beautiful when he shuts the hell up every once in a while.
I’ve never felt so good with anyone like this, let alone two people. It’s like a dream that I fear I’m going to wake up from at any moment, like this is all too good to be true. I’m not used to love like this. I’ve been trying hard to open my heart and accept it, but it’s been an uphill battle against myself. Luckily, Presley and Stephen have been patient with me.
I reach out for our girl, but my palm is met with cool sheets beside me. I lift my head, glancing around the room. Stephen’s clothes are strewn about with mine where we left them last night. But Presley’s clothes aren’t tangled with ours.
What day is today?I dig the heel of my hand into my eye, forcing myself to wake up and remember if Presley had an early class this morning.
Stephen stirs beside me, groaning. “Go back to sleep. I can literally hear you thinking.”
“Did Presley say she was going somewhere this morning?”
His head pops up as he squints his eyes. “Nope. Where is she?”
I reach for my phone on my nightstand.
No new texts or missed calls.
Unease seeps into my gut. She’s never slipped out in the middle of the night like this.
“She probably just went out to get coffee or bring back breakfast.” Stephen’s head flops back down on the pillow. “Call her and tell her I want a shot of espresso in mine.”
I click on her name and press my phone to my ear. “It went straight to voicemail.”
“Maybe her phone is dead.”
I swing my legs out of bed, and tear apart the room looking for any small trace of her.
I dial her number again, and again, it doesn’t ring.
Something’s wrong.
Stephen moves to sit up against the headboard. “Why are you freaking out? I’m sure she’ll be back soon. She probably didn’t want to wake us.”
“But where did she have to go this early? And why didn’t she leave a note? And why isn’t her phone ringing?”
He stands from the bed and takes my shoulders in his hands. “Hey, look at me. Breathe. We fell asleep together, and there’s no sign of anyone breaking in here and kidnapping her. She left on her own free will, and she’s going to have a good explanation as to why she left. Come back to bed, and let’s give her some time to do whatever she’s doing.”
I shake my head. “I’m going to take a walk to her dorm. Maybe she’s there grabbing some things.”
Stephen sighs, and face-plants on the mattress. “Have fun.”
“Call me if she shows up.”
“Got it.”
I throw on my sweats and stuff my feet into my sneakers. “I mean it. Call me immediately.”
He lifts his thumb in the air without looking up.
How is he not worried?
This is it.
This is the rug being pulled out from underneath me.
Nothing this good ever lasts.