Gently, he toweled me off and chucked it into the laundry bin. He couldn’t stop smiling and shaking his head.

“What?” I sat up.

“You’re just so fucking cute. That’s all.”

He climbed into bed and held me close as we both drifted off to sleep. Future me would have words with past me.

​Chapter 19

Fallon

“Fallon? Are you awake in there? Some guy named James is here and says he’s your bodyguard or something. I have breakfast when you’re ready, but it looks like Brent already left.”

Knock! Knock!

I shoved Brent as he spooned me in bed. “Brent,” I whispered while tapping him. “Get. Up!”

He shifted and moaned, stretching his arms out before clasping them around me again.

More rigorous knocks. “Fal? You alive? I’m coming in because you never sleep all day.”

I was wide awake and jumping out of bed. “Hold on! I’m awake!”

Brent didn’t budge like the sleeping dude he was while I was scrambling to cover my naked body. There was no way to hide the evidence if she came in, and I was furious at Brent for not locking the door behind him.

Kelly poked her head into the room. “I made panca–” her eyes caught sight of the other body in my bed and me clutching a blanket around my naked body. Red handed. “Oh. My. God,” she said before closing the door and scampering away giggling.

“I’ll be right out,” I hollered at the door.

Mental facepalm.

There were four of us at the breakfast table sitting as awkwardly as people in our situation could. Eggs, bacon, pancakes, and maple sausages covered the table in a large family spread style. We all looked around awkwardly while taking small bites of food wondering who would break the silence first.

“Breakfast is great, thanks Kelly.” Brent decided he would be the one to do it.

“Uh huh.” She gave me a sideways glance and kicked me under the table. “Did you two sleep well?”

I kicked her back. “Perfectly fine, thanks.” Subject change time. “So, James. You’re my new bodyguard?”

He looked startled that I acknowledged him and nodded. “I also came with the documents Mr. Evans would like you to review. Don’t worry, I will guide you through the process and instruct you on what roles you will be taking on as your transition happens.”

Brent looked between James and I, taking in the information. “You’re taking over your mother’s company in sophomore year of college?”

“Why, going to run back to tell Augustus Vaughn?” I avoided his eye contact after my newfound attitude slipped through the cracks.