Something In Between: Sequel to On The Edge of Tomorrow

Chapter 31

Billy's homely face looked angelic as he slept; his lips slightly split as his eyes fluttered beneath his delicate eyelids blanketed by his thick eyelashes. I set the mug on the nightstand next to him and quietly turned to depart, but before I could take a single step, his thick arm caught me and pulled me to the bed, where he curled around me.

"Morning," his voice was hoarse as the sleep clung to him.

"I didn't mean to wake you," I murmured as his arm settled around me.

"I never mind being woken up by you, especially when you come bearing coffee." A drowsy smile was on his face as his eyelids trembled heavily over his still groggy eyes. "Come here," his voice had a childlike plea to it. "It's warm," he added.

"Are you...?" I could bring myself to say the world naked. Not that I needed to; my blush screamed it for me.

A hushed laugh slipped through the small part of his lips. "No," he smiled as he held the blankets up to entice me and show he was wearing flannel pajama pants.

"Those must be new," I noted as I tucked in beneath the blanket's warmth. Billy formed around me in a comfortable spoon.

"Christmas present from my mom. I thought you might..." He let his words drop, but I knew he had hoped I'd come to him last night. He allowed a hand to entwine with mine in a knot at the front of my chest. I stared at them, our skin equally pale.

A heavy sigh escaped me as my body melted into him and the warmth of the bed. I wanted to stay in this moment forever, in his heat. I didn't want to think of my schoolwork and career or his hectic schedule and public image, but most of all, I didn't want to think of Sam and Sarah. I wanted to be quiet with Billy forever in a snowy cabin in the middle of nowhere. I wanted him to be my only decision, my only data, my only conclusion, but life wasn't singular, and, despite countless movies and books, love is not always enough.

"I'm proud of you," he murmured.

I stiffened for fear that somehow either Billy had learned to read my mind or I had once again spoken my thoughts out loud.

"Why?" I prodded after a heavy and somewhat panicked pause.

"You want things for yourself, layers of things." He shifted just a touch. "I've been thinking about you a lot lately and even more last night. I want to be frustrated that you won't just give in and be with me; let me take care of you. I would, for the record. I'd give you anything, but I know you only want things I can't give you."

"Yeah, what would I ask for?"

"The things you'll give yourself; a career that you've worked for and will pay for a home far enough from people, so they don't annoy you, but close enough to downtown for food delivery." He gave my hand a squeeze that elicited a laugh from me. "You want to make a difference where you work, be depended on, and you will be. Whatever you decide to do, wherever you end up working, you'll be successful."

"How do you know?"

He had such confidence in me, a confidence I didn't even have in myself. I didn't even know what I wanted to be.

"Because you'll always do what you believe is right, not for you, but for the situation. People will see that and respect it."

I turned to face him, his face only inches from mine, but I was too taken with his words to be hypnotized by his lips. "Am I doing what's right for this situation?"

"I don't know, but I know you're doing what you think is right." He brushed the hair from my face.

"I wish I knew that." I let my head sink into his chest as he wrapped his arms around me and rested his chin on the top of my head.