Page 16 of Honest Boys Don’t Play

“Luke.” Sleep clings to me, dark and sticky and refusing to let me out of its grasp. “Luke.” Poke. “Hey, Luke?” My whole body begins to shake. “I have to pee like really bad so if you don’t want me to pee in this bed you’re going to have to wake up and let go of me.”

Those words finally penetrate my state of unconsciousness enough that I come awake. I realize two things—one, despite having trouble falling asleep that might’ve just been the best sleep of my life and number two I really like waking up with Bertie in my arms.

“Hey, sleepyhead.” She smiles over her shoulder. “Wanna release that octopus grip now so I can pee? My bladder is about to explode.”

“Oh, fuck. Yeah. Sorry.” I quickly untangle my body from hers where I had her cuddled to me like a child’s teddy bear.

I didn’t realize it last night but she’s wearing a tiny pair of shorts and a tank top. She hurries into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.

Rolling onto my back, I stifle a yawn. That might have been the deepest sleep of my life.

I give myself another minute before I climb out of bed and stretch. I swipe my t-shirt off the armchair in the corner and tug it on.

The toilet flushes and water runs before the door swings open.

In the light of the morning, Bertie looks slightly embarrassed. Her cheeks pink and her eyes unable to meet mine. “Thanks for letting me sleep here.”

“No problem.” I lift my shirt to scratch my stomach, and I don’t miss the way her eyes zero in on my abs. She licks her lips.

With a shake of her head, she says, “I’m going to get ready. Meet you in the hallway in thirty? Breakfast will probably be ready around then.”

Before she can flee like a frightened bird, I grip her wrist. “Are we telling them at breakfast or do you want to ease into it?”

Her lips flatten. “Um … I think I just want to rip it off like a Band-Aid. Get it out of the way.”

“Okay,” I breathe. “I’ll follow your lead.”

“Thanks,” she says breathlessly and all but runs away from me.

I hope she’s not mad about the cuddling. I was in such a deep sleep I had no idea I had grabbed onto her like that.

Thirty minutes gives me enough time to hop in the shower. While the water warms my skin, I try my best not to let my thoughts spiral. I don’t know her parents so I have no way of gauging how they might react to this news. Sadly, I don’t think Bertie knows them well enough either to have any guess.

I’m in the hallway first. I can hear the telltale sounds of her bustling around her room and talking softly to herself. I can’t make out actual words, but it sounds like she’s trying to hype herself up.

I don’t wait long, not quite five minutes, before she slips out the door. Her hair is in a low bun, a few tendrils escaping around her face. She’s wearing a pair of workout leggings with an oversized hoodie.

“Ready?” I ask.

“As I’ll ever be.” She straightens her shoulders, lifting her chin in the air.

We descend the stairs and I follow her into the kitchen. Since I passed on dinner, I’m starving this morning.

The sound of voices carries from what I presume is the dining area.

“Here goes nothing,” Bertie mutters.

We round the corner to face a large opening into a dining room. A long, elegant dark wood table spans the space with a large chandelier above it and a striped wallpaper on the walls.

The conversation between the two people who can’t be anyone other than her parents ceases at our appearance.

They’re not looking at their daughter, though. Their focus is solely on me, and I’ve never felt smaller. The obvious disgust on their faces is impossible to miss.

I look down at myself, wondering what they find so disgusting. My jeans and gray t-shirt are clean and free of any holes or tears. I’m not wearing any shoes because my mom raised me not to wear shoes in people’s houses, so maybe it’s my bare feet they find so offensive?

Bertie claps her hands together. “Hey, Mom. Dad.”

“Beatrice,” her mom speaks in a low, almost annoyed voice. “When you said you were bringing a friend I assumed you meant Rosie or another female. What if it gets back to Tommy that you brought another man here?”