We spent the rest of the day in bed. I’d taken a bath and despite the early hour had wanted to be buried under the covers.
We hadn’t moved much, except for me to answer what turned out to be a very awkward Skype conversation with Brad. I’d texted with him every day, letting him know how Trixie was doing; apparently that hadn’t been enough. Wanting to Skype with your dog took things to a whole new level. Sid had needed to leave the room because he was laughing so hard.
Now it was getting late, and we were curled up in the dark, though I was far from sleep. I had a lot on my mind.
“Why didn’t you want to tell Richards where we’re staying?” I asked quietly, my cheek pressed to Sid’s bare chest.
“The less people that know we’re here, the better.”
“You don’t trust him,” I deduced.
“No,” he answered, his voice a deep rumble inside his chest.
I lifted my head, my chin resting on his chest. I could just make out his bright blue eyes through the dim light. “Why?”
“Instinct.” He shrugged.
That was enough for me.
His fingers raked through my hair. “What’s on your mind? Whatever it is, that wasn’t it.”
Damn, he’d always been able to read me too well.
“Well?” he pressed, after I waited too long to answer him.
I pressed my cheek back against his chest, unable to look him in the eye. “I’m just wondering what happens next,” I admitted. “Talking to Brad earlier reminded me that he’ll be home soon.”
His fingers paused only a fraction of a second before continuing their journey through my wavy hair.
“And obviously I don’t think we can keep staying here once he gets here. Although I haven’t asked him,” I prattled on through the silence. “It’s a big enough house, I guess. But I don’t mean to assume you’dwantto stay.” I bit my lip as Sid began to chuckle. I lifted my head to glare at him. “What?”
He grinned at me, his dimples on prominent display. “You’re so fucking cute, babe.”
“I’m not being cute. This is serious!” I huffed.
“I wonder how long you’d have rambled until I stopped you?” he mused. “Actually,” he continued, unaffected by my glare, “I think Cade and I timed it once—two minutes was your record for uninterrupted speech. I was worried you were forgetting to breathe.”
“Congratulations on your crowning achievement.” I rolled my eyes. “Maybe you should shut up and let me set a new record.”
He laughed, rolling us so that he was on top of me. His body was warm and firm on top of mine. “Sweetheart,” he murmured, still grinning with his eyes full of tenderness as he looked down at me, “let me tell you what happens next,” he murmured, bending to kiss my neck. “You and I, no matter what, we’re going to be under one roof. We’ve been under one roof before,” he reminded me needlessly. “The difference is now we’ll sleep in the same bed.” He grinned as he kissed my neck.
“You—you want to move in together?” I squeaked.
He shook his head, his face still pressed to my neck. “No, Sam. Ineedto.”
My pulse quickened, battering his temple where it beat a violent crescendo from my neck. “What?”
He pulled away to look down at me once again. All traces of levity were gone from his expression, replaced with utter sincerity. “Sam, you’re my home, baby. You have been for a long time. Why do you think I stayed for so long, living with you and Cade? I could have gotten my own place a long time ago.”
“The rent was cheap,” I reminded him.
He looked uncomfortable, his eyes shifting to the side.
“Sid?” I pressed.
“Well—it wasn’t exactly cheap, Sam.”
My brow pinched in confusion. “What do you mean?”