“That I would have done the same thing,” she admitted with a shrug.
“Really?” I couldn’t believe it.
She continued to nod. “I think so. I mean, on one hand, school would have been a great distraction, but I couldn’t imagine leaving my family after a tragedy like that. I’d want to be home. I’d feel like everything else could wait.”
“That’s exactly how I felt. I didn’t want to play football anymore. I didn’t care. And who was going to run my dad’s shop and support our family? My mom? She’s not a mechanic. And no one in town was interested in buying it. The shop has been in our family for generations. It seemed like the right thing to do.”
“I completely understand.”
“Brina didn’t.”
“I heard a little about that from Celeste,” she said, and I instantly bristled.
“Yeah. I realized later that Brina was just using me as her get-out-of-town ticket. And when that fell through, she wanted nothing more to do with me.” I blew out a loud breath. “I thought she really cared about me. I don’t understand how someone can fake something like that for so long.”
“I’m sure she wasn’t faking all of it. She can’t be that cruel,” Paige said, giving Brina the benefit of the doubt, even though she didn’t deserve it.
“Who gives a shit? No more talking, Paige,” I said, the weight of our discussion bearing down on me. I was exhausted emotionally, but I needed her more than ever.
“More kissing?” she asked through puckered lips.
“Lots more kissing. Stay here with me tonight.”
“I thought you weren’t ready for that?” She pulled her head back in surprise, and I wondered what exactly she was thinking.
“I just want to hold you in my arms all night, if that’s all right with you.”
“It’s more than all right,” she breathed out before standing and reaching out her hand for mine. She led me into the bedroom, kicked off her shoes and looked at me. “What do you normally sleep in?”
“Nothing,” I said with a big smile.
“I figured. But what will you be sleeping in tonight?” She walked over to my dresser and opened up the top drawer before closing it. Opening up the drawer beneath it, she smiled and pulled out a pair of my workout shorts. I assumed they were for me to sleep in, but she unbuttoned her jean shorts and dropped them to the floor. My eyes fixed on her bare thighs, her hips, and the tiny piece of red cotton covering her skin. She pulled my shorts on over her underwear and I blinked.
Her hands gripped the bottom of her tank top and pulled it over her head as she walked toward my closet and flicked through my hanging shirts. Long brown hair hung down her back, and I realized spending the night just sleeping was going to be more difficult than I had imagined.
“Where are all your T-shirts?” she turned and asked, her breasts practically busting out of the top of her bra.
“Dresser,” I mumbled, watching every move she made. When she pulled out a Texas University shirt and slipped it on, I hardened even more. Seeing her dressed from head to toe in my clothing was a ridiculous turn-on.
“Your turn,” she said softly as she reached for the bottom of my shirt. It was such a bold move, but it felt right in her hands. I lifted my arms above my head as she pulled it off and tossed it to the floor near her discarded clothes.
This was a side of Paige I didn’t even know existed. This Paige was confident and bold and seemed completely unafraid, while I stood there half-terrified, feeling like my soul had been stripped bare and laid out in front of her. I hoped she’d be gentle with it.
Once she reached for the button on my jeans, I stopped her and did it myself. I trusted Paige but I was emotionally spent, and having her unbutton my jeans crossed the line from where my sanity and self-control lived. I wanted Paige in my arms. I needed to feel the closeness between us after what I’d just shared with her, but I wasn’t ready to push the boundary. Yet.
“I know this probably seems crazy to have you here like this and not…” I paused as I pulled the covers back on my bed. “Well, you know.”
“It’s not messed up. Do you have any idea how many times a girl would just like to be held, or have an amazing talk like we just did and have it not end up in the bedroom? I’m happy to spend the night with you. I’m even happier that it has nothing to do with sex. You have no idea how much of a relief that is for a girl.” She climbed in bed beside me, my shirt hanging well past her hips. “Especially for someone in my position.”
My emotions still raw, I pulled her against me, still thinking about my dad and feeling vulnerable. She rested her head against my chest and I kissed the top of it. “Thank you. For understanding.”
“Thank you. For not being typical.”
“Yeah, I’m definitely not normal. Pretty sure I’m broken, or damaged, or maybe just clinically insane.”
She looked up at me. “Pretty sure you’re amazing. And I’m lucky to have found you.”
“Pretty sure you’re just as messed up as I am,” I teased, before finding her lips and kissing her until I could barely stay awake.
A New Kind of Trust
Paige
My eyes fluttered open as the weight of someone’s arm reminded me that I wasn’t alone in bed. Memories of last night flooded through my mind, and I smiled as I buried my face in Tatum’s arm. I tried to turn over, but I couldn’t move. His body pressed against mine as he held me so tightly.
It was in that moment that I started to freak out, realizing that his mom would know I had spent the night with her son.
“Oh my gosh, Tatum,” I said, trying to shake him awake. “Tatum, wake up.”
“What’s up, babe?” he mumbled.
“Your mom.”
“What about her? Is she here?” He shot up.
“No. But she’ll know I spent the night. Oh my gosh, she’s going to kick me out of your house.” I dropped my head into my hands and closed my eyes.
Tatum wrapped one of his arms around me and squeezed. “She’s not going to do anything except probably bake us both more pie. She’ll be pleased as punch.”
“Pleased as punch?” I said, turning my head slightly.
“It’s a Southern thing. It means happy.”
“How do you know?”
“You saw her face last night. She lit up like a Christmas tree when we said we were hanging out together. I think she’s been waiting for this since I first brought you home and warned her not to freak out.”
“You warned her not to freak out? About me?”
“Well, yeah. I couldn’t just waltz in the house with you and not warn her. I am a gentleman, after all.”
“Is that what you call it?”
“What would you call it, Princess?”
I growled and frowned at him. “I hate you and I’m going to make up some stupid nickname for you that you hate. And I’m going to call you by it all the time. Because I’m twelve,” I said with a fake scowl.
“Sorry, punk.”
“But seriously, Tatum, I don’t want to disappoint your mom.” I hated the idea of her being upset at me.
“She’s not going to be disappointed. You’re reading way too much into this,” he insisted.
“By the way, what’s the deal with my car?” Not that I cared, I just figured I’d ask so I could pretend I needed to know.
“Oh.” He turned his face away briefly before looking up at the ceiling and shrugging. “I’m, um, never fixing it.”
I laughed. “That’s just rude, Tatum Alan Montgomery.”
“Is it?” He leaned over me, his mouth quirking up into a devilish grin. I wanted to smack his arm, be playful, or say something witty, but all I could see were his shoulders and the way his arms flexed as he held himself above me. Nothing in my life had ever been sexier than this moment.
“You see something you like?” Tatum winked as my focus returned to his face.
“A lady never tells,” I said coyly.