When was the last time I was just cuddled? I don’t even remember.
Probably because I hate to snuggle.
Hate.
“You’re overthinking,” he says.
“I am not.”
“You’ve been overthinking for the past thirty minutes,” he says simply. “As someone who shares that affliction, I’m here to tell you to stop. It’ll make you crazy.”
“You make me crazy.”
“I know. You’re wild about me. It’s embarrassing, really.”
I giggle, unable to stop myself. This playful side of him is just . . . fun. My chest feels lighter with the entertaining banter, making me relax. Maybe he’s right, maybe I do overthink everything.
“You really need an ego check.”
“Oh, I have plenty of those,” he replies and kisses my forehead. “But you were right, I do have things to do today.”
Damn. Not that I had any intention of keeping him to myself today, but this just feels so good. I don’t want it to end.
“Where is your phone?” he asks.
“Over there.” I point to the bedside table on his side, and suddenly he moves away, grabs it, then returns to me and pulls his phone out of his pocket. “We don’t need to text, Jake. I’m right here.”
“I don’t have your number. I only have the restaurant number.” He wakes his phone up, then waits expectantly for me.
“That’s the only number you need.”
“No, it’s not.” He leans in and nuzzles my nose. “Because I want to see you outside of Seduction.”
“Are you sure?”
“Been sure since the first moment I saw you, sweetness.”
I swallow hard and frown. “I don’t just hand my private number out.”
He looks a little hurt for a split second, which brings some tightness back to my chest, and then his lips spread in that cocky grin.
“Addison, will you please give me your number?”
God, he’s cocky. And I know I’m not going to tell him no. I mean, I can always choose to just not answer the phone. I rattle off my number for him. A few moments later, my phone pings with a text from him.
You are beautiful.
“You’re too charming for your own good,” I reply, rolling my eyes.
“Doesn’t change the fact that you look good in the morning.”
I grin shyly, then bury my face in my hands. He chuckles and nudges my hands away. His lips are just inches from mine.
“Addie, I want to kiss you.”
“Okay. I’m okay with that.”
“If I kiss you, we won’t leave this bed. So I’m going to save it.” Disappointment sits heavily in my belly as he simply kisses my forehead, then hugs me again, burying his face in my neck. “Are you okay?”
“Yes.” I smile as he pulls back. “I’m okay.”
“Good. Now, I need you to stop snuggling me and let me go. I have to work today.”
I raise a brow and let go of him, but he pulls my arms around him again and sighs, as though he’s frustrated.
“Seriously, Addie, I have to go. God, you’re clingy.”
“You’re not all that, you know.” I chuckle and sit up, then gasp when I see the time. “Holy shit, we slept until almost eleven!”
“You did. I’ve been awake for a while. Did you know that you snore?”
“Damn.” I bury my face in my hands again. “I was hoping I wouldn’t do that.”
“It’s kind of cute, actually. And it means that you slept well. I didn’t mind.”
I drop my hands and stare over at him. “You’re very nice to me.”
“I have moments.” He kisses my cheek and then climbs out of bed, scratches his head, making his hair even messier, then grins down at me. “I’m outta here. Call me if you need me.”
If I need him for what?
“Have a good day.”
“What? No call me if you need me too?”
“What could you possibly need me for?”
His eyes sober and he sighs as he watches me, as though he wants to climb back into this bed and take us for a tumble.
And I’m not so sure I’d turn him down if he did.
“That’s a list we’ll talk about later. Have a good day.”
And with that, he’s gone.
Did that just happen? I drag my hand over the bed, and sure enough, it’s still warm where he was lying.
Deciding to get my ass out of bed, I pad into the bathroom and start the shower and sigh in happiness when the hot water hits my shoulders and back.
Jake is funny. This morning could have been very, very bad.
But instead he made me feel at ease. He made me feel cared for.
He’s good at the morning-after thing.
And then it hits me: he’s good at the morning-after thing.
Which means he’s done it a lot. It’s old hat to him.
Crap.
I hurry through the rest of my shower and reach for my phone. I need some girl time. Mia and Kat are probably still sleeping, so they’re out. Riley would be way too logical.
Cami. She’s sweet, but also logical, and she has to be up by now. So I call her.
“What’s up, buttercup?”
“Hey, I need you to go to the gym with me.” I pull on yoga shorts, jumping in place to get them over my ass, then reach for a sports bra. I kind of did the whole shower-and-gym thing backward, but that’s what happens when you need an emergency heart-to-heart with a best friend and have too much energy to sit still.