Page 82 of Forbidden to Fall

I tried to smile. “Told you.”

He gave a chuckle, half of it drowned in drowsiness. “Are you warm enough?”

I swallowed. “Yeah.”

His chest rose and fell a dozen times, making me wonder if he’d fallen asleep.

“Thank you.” If his mouth hadn’t been so close to my ear, I might not have caught the words.

“For what?” I said. “Forcing you to endure a miserably cold night while I bask in the warmth of your things?” The warmth of you.

His head shook subtly, like it was all he could muster. “For doing this with me.”

I wasn’t sure if he meant the campout in general or the fact that we were keeping each other warm.

“I really needed it,” he mumbled, echoing my own words from dinner.

Again, I didn’t know if he meant the warmth or the night in general. I wanted him to mean both.

I’d needed the break too. The delicious food. The fresh air. The laughter. The adventure.

But these feelings I was having for James?

They were the last thing on earth I needed.

“What are friends for, right?” I joked weakly.

James’s only response was his slow, even breathing.

Something was tickling my nose.

I blinked open my heavy eyes to a bluish morning light. I was on my side, my right arm tucked against my chest, my other draped over my pillow.

I pulled the pillow toward me. My eyes widened, sleep scattering like birds after a gunshot.

My arm was not draped over my pillow; it was draped over a very solid person.

James.

Memories of the night flooded my brain, and I stifled the impulse to pull my arm off him.

I didn’t want to wake him—not until I figured out how to handle the situation.

We had agreed we were friends last night. This position—my arm wrapped around him, his chin resting against my forehead, the steady beat of his heart in my ear—felt a little tiny teensy bit beyond friends. I couldn’t speak for him, but I’d never done this with any of my friends.

I shifted my head gently in an attempt to move whatever was tickling my nose—another leaf, I realized—and James stirred.

Freezing in place, I closed my eyes and waited to see if he’d drift back off to sleep.

His body shifted, and his chin dropped slightly, putting his lips against my forehead.

I held my breath, hoping he was more comfortable and could settle back into sleep. I needed more time.

More time to think. More time to analyze. More time in James’s arms.

Scratch that last one.

Whatever I needed time for, though, I wouldn’t be getting it.