After my lackluster shower, I grab my bag and head into work. Thankfully, today is new stock day. I have box upon box of brand-new books to unpack. Most of which are never released titles, which means I get to set up new displays. I love setting up my displays. Unfortunately, my mood means I don’t find my usual joy in the task.
I let out a sigh at the less than fantastic display. Definitely not my most inspired work. Next, my day is filled with busy work. Checking in the inventory in my point of sale system. Doing some accounting work. Helping customers.
Before I know it, the store is closed, and I’m walking home to Torin’s.
Home.
A bittersweet feeling of longing scrapes over my insides. I do my best to push it away, but it’s a futile effort. I make a pledge to myself that I’m not going to stress anymore about what happens once I’m back in my apartment. I’m going to enjoy every minute of being with Torin and come what may.
After talking with my friends, I do have a firmer belief that Torin and I won’t be over when I move. They’re right that this isn’t some temporary fling. Things are more serious than that for sure. I have a renewed faith that our relationship will continue. Now that I’m not in full doom and gloom mode, I know in my heart we will figure it out. We may not live together, but what new couple does? We moved at the speed of light. Maybe that’s why he hasn’t declared what he wants yet.
I know things are going to change. I won’t fall asleep in his arms every night and wake up warm and snuggled against his chest. I’m definitely not ready to lose those things. But people have sleepovers all the time, right?
Torin is home when I get there. I’m a little surprised because he was supposed to stay at the station. “You’re home,” I say with a shy smile. Lord, I feel awkward as heck. I really need to move on from that. He’s going to think I don’t want to be here with him.
“Yeah… I traded with Morgan so we could spend some time together before…”
My smile brightens, and my heart feels like it could sprout wings and fly away. He traded shifts just to spend more time with me before I move? That definitely says things aren’t going to end.
“I ordered pizza,” he says. “I figured we could watch a movie or something… if you want.”
“I would love that,” I say with another shy smile. “You get to pick this time though.”
Torin laughs. “Okay, beautiful.”
He picks some action flick called Expendables. Despite action movies not really being my thing, it’s not bad… I mean, it does have Jason Statham… if any actor can get me to watch an action movie, it’s him. I don’t tell Torin that though.
We eat our pizza and watch the movie. When it’s over, neither of us seems to be ready to call it a night, so he insists I pick a movie. Not wanting to bore him to tears, I choose Jaws; I think every guy on earth likes that movie.
Halfway through, I feel my eyes begin to droop. The emotional turmoil has caught up with me, and exhaustion is setting in. I don’t want to miss out on this time with Torin, though, so I try to force myself to stay awake. Sometime later, I’m woken up by him lifting me from the couch. Instead of making a move to have him put me down, I snuggle into his chest.
When we get to his bedroom, he slowly undresses me. He kisses me reverently before putting me into bed. He pulls the covers over me, then strips out of his own clothes, and lays in the bed beside me. He pulls me against him, spooning my much smaller body against his muscular one. It doesn’t take long before I’m falling into a peaceful sleep.
16 Torin
Lani looked so sad when she came home yesterday. Her mood greatly improved when I suggested we watch a movie together. Thankfully, she melted right into me and eventually fell asleep while watching the second movie we turned on since neither of us seemed to want the night to end.
I carried her to bed and carefully stripped her clothes. Once she was tucked in, I quickly undressed and curled my body around hers and held her through the night. I slept fitfully, wondering exactly what she’s thinking. She seemed happy that I had changed shifts so we could spend time together, but didn’t actually say anything about it…
“Good morning, beautiful.”
“Mornin’,” Lani mumbles. “Tea?”
I give her a wide smile. “Someone is grumpy today.”
“I’m not grumpy.” She pouts but takes the mug of tea I pass her way. “Thanks.”
“What has you grumpy this morning?”
“I woke up alone…” She gasps, and her eyes widening as if she didn’t mean to reveal that little tidbit.
“I’m sorry, love,” I say, stalking towards her. “I couldn’t sleep and went for a run.” I grab her up and kiss her soundly. “I won’t let it happen again.”
“Good. I don’t like it. I’m addicted to sleeping in your bed.”
I’m ridiculously happy to hear that. I want her to be addicted to me. I want her to be addicted to waking up with me and going to sleep in my arms. I press another kiss to her lips. “You never have to sleep alone again, if you don’t want to.”
She sighs into my lips, kissing me sweet and slow.
“I don’t want to,” she murmurs.
It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask her to stay, but then she tells me she’s going to spend a couple
