49 - Jessica

Jessica

I stared at the wall of my bedroom. I've been awake for about half an hour, refusing to move because I might burst the bubble.

Please, don't regret it.

Please, don't say it was a mistake.

Matthew shifted behind me. I held my breath. I thought he was waking up, but he just pulled me closer to his chest and then sighed in his sleep.

I couldn't help but smile. I never peg Matthew for a cuddler.

Sure, there's still the dread lurking in the back of my mind, but for a second, I just let myself sink into our happy quicksand. There's only Matthew's arm around me, his chest against my back, and his breath on my hair.

My phone buzzed on my nightstand. I grabbed it immediately in fear of Matthew waking up from the buzzing.

I scratched my eyes, thinking I was seeing Harper's text message on my screen. She needed to talk and she's now in my apartment building.

She's on my approval list, so I'm pretty sure they're going to send her up.

My blood ran cold. I slowly wiggled my way out of Matthew's arm, grabbed a shirt off the floor, and buttoned it up on my way to the front door. All I know is that, if she comes to my apartment with Matthew still here, it'll be a very awkward situation.

Matthew and I haven't even fully absorbed what happened last night. We can't deal with Harper. Not right now. Not until I know for sure last night wasn't just some sort of spontaneous thing. That I wasn't just some mistake.

I popped my head out of the front door. Just then, the elevator opened, and Harper walked down the hall.

"Jessica?" She took two steps at a time when she saw me.

I sighed, mustering my courage. I gently closed the door behind me.

Her eyes glided from my head down to my bare feet. I know she gets the whole story by looking at me. I was wearing a shirt that wasn't mine, I had a muss of after-sex hair, and I'm pretty sure it was obvious that I wasn't wearing anything other than this shirt.

I simply did not have the time to grab anything else from the floor, thank you very much.

"I can explain," I blurted out. I struggled to find the words to say, failing mightily. I cursed instead. "I don't know what to say. This is so screwed up. I'm sorry. Matthew is in my bed right now and I—"

"Jessica, stop." She shakes her head urgently.

I continued to gush on. "No. You don't understand I just—"

"Jess, the girls made me do it!" The words spouted out of her in one breath.

I was caught off guard. "What? What do you mean?"

Harper sighed. "I never made a move on Matthew. He never initiated anything. Yes, I asked him on a date, and as we all expected, he turned me down. It was all to drive you nuts. And as they put it, 'act on your feelings'."

She made air quotations.

My brows furrowed. "But the group chat..." I trailed off, finally putting the puzzle pieces together. Although at a very slow pace.

"I'm sorry. They said you guys needed a little shove and they thought it was a great idea."

I let out a sigh.

Ugh. Why did I not see this? This sort of thing is exactly what my friends would do. I'm upset that they put me through hell. Maybe, half grateful that I just had the best lay in my entire life.

I cross my arms over my chest. "What are you getting out of the deal?"

She blinked. "Nothing. I was just helping you out. You know, sort out your feelings."

I gave her a blank look.

"Okay. A weekend at Audrey's private cabin." She fiddled with her fingernails. "Also, Chassie promised me this fabulous apartment that isn't on the market yet. She's got some great connections."

She chewed on her lips. "I'm sorry. Please?"

I uncrossed my arms. "It's such a sweet deal that I would've done the same thing."

Her face perked up. "I know, right?"

I pouted at her.

"So, are we good?" She opened her arms for me. "Can we hug it out?"

I narrowed my eyes on her. "You have no idea how much I hated you the past few days. They couldn't have chosen a better performer to pull this off."

She giggled. "I did a very convincing job, right?"

"Come here." I stretched my arms out for her, and she jumped in with her open arms. "Was Rachel in with this too?" I asked.

"Yeah."

I gasped, keeping her at arm's length. "Rachel? My sweet innocent Rachel?"

I'm starting to think she intentionally fed me misleading information the other day.

She scrunched her nose. "Yeah. We all thought it was a good idea." She then grinned at me. "On the bright side, Matthew's in your bed right now."

I put a finger over my mouth. "I don't want him to wake up yet."

"Sorry. Oh my, God. How was it?" She whispered.

I tried to keep a straight face, but I broke into a smile.

"That good, huh?" She wagged her brows at me. "Well, then, I don't want to keep you from a potential morning sex, I'll leave you two alone."

I waved as she walked down the hall and disappeared through the sliding doors of the elevator. I took out a happy sigh and tiptoed my way back to my apartment.

Sure enough, Matthew is still under the covers his arm reaching over my side of the bed. I gently lifted his arm and resumed my place on the bed.

His arm tightened around me, squeezing me further into his chest.

My heart thumped.

Oh, God. He's awake.

He pressed a soft kiss on the side of my head. "Where'd you been?"

I held my breath. Okay, a good sign.

"I thought someone was at the door, so I checked," I answered. I'm going to tell him later about Harper. Maybe during breakfast.

I adjusted myself a little, so I was lying on my back.

Matthew propped himself up with his elbow, his other hand playing with a strand of my hair. "Hi."

I smiled. "Hi. Good morning."

"Good morning," he parroted. His usually pristine brown hair was mussed in a way I hadn't seen before. Also, there were a few adorable curls brushing his forehead.

I toyed with them for a little bit before I rallied up my courage and asked, "How are you feeling?"

He thought for a moment. This time, he played with the top button of my shirt until it was unbuttoned (it was his, but I was wearing it). "You want an honest answer?"

I nervously bit my lip. "Yeah. Brutally honest."

"Very satiated. But absolutely game for a lot more rounds if you're up for it."

I felt my cheeks flush, suddenly shy. "No, that's not what I meant."

I could tell that he noticed me blush. Could tell that he liked it.

He lowered his head, an amused smile on his lips. "What do you mean then?"

I blink distractedly. Him being this close isn't helping my brain to focus. In fact, I can barely think at all. "Hold on, I'm trying to think."

"Okay." He stroked my cheek with his fingers. He leaned in, brushing the corner of my mouth with his lips.

I groaned. I like what's happening, but we need to talk. Again, I mustered all my courage and gently pushed him, just a few inches.

I searched his face. So far, he just had that dopey look and I love it. However, I still need to know. I gulp. "How are you feeling? Are you okay with this? Or are you feeling a bit of regret?"

A small crinkle formed between his brows. "No." Then he stiffened, worry stretching across his face. "Wait, are you?"

"No. Absolutely not." I cupped his cheek, feeling terrible for making him feel anxious. "I love everything that's happened... so far."

He grinned, planting a kiss on my palm. "Good. We're on the same page."

Matthew dipped his head and aimed for a kiss.

However, he paused when I put a hand over his chest. His warm, toned, very naked chest. Ugh. I'm a sucker for this guy. "Are you sure? Not even a little bit?"

He gave me a boyish smile. "Nope. Not even a smidge."

"Okay, then." I grabbed him on the nape, letting him place a soft kiss on my mouth. His lips brushed back and forth against mine, each touch making me so desperate for more.

My hands tangled in his hair.

I wanted more.

Matthew seemed to know that because I felt his tongue briefly touch my bottom lip, coaxing my lips open.

I gave in, completely subdued.

Matthew tilted his head and took the kiss deeper. His tongue softly moved along mine.

I let out a whimper.

He adjusted himself so I was now straddling him. One of his hands slipped under my shirt and I let out another whimper.

His palm on my bare skin made my toes curl. Every touch took me somewhere between cloud nine and heaven. Or just somewhere cloud nine and heaven combined.

Happy reading! Chapter 50 is now available on my Inkitt account.