***
I went into the bathroom, locked the door, and pulled pajamas out of my bag. I stared at the tank top I’d brought to wear so my wings would have room. I glanced at my reflection. Do I really need my wings now? They felt cumbersome. And I don’t want to try to sleep with them. I morphed back to normal and threw a T-shirt on instead. Blake’s seen enough of my skin tonight. I ran a brush through my now shoulder-length hair. One minute it’s long, the next it’s short. So weird.
I came out of the bathroom to see Blake had changed too. “Oh good,” he said. “Now we can snuggle.” He made no mention of my hair length. Honestly, I wondered if he even noticed the difference.
“Sure,” I said. Like he just wants to hold each other.
Turns out, he sort of did. We curled up on the couch, under a light blanket he’d found. We kissed some, but most of the time, I laid my head on his chest and listened to the thrumming of his heart. The later the evening grew, the more I realized Blake had no intentions of returning to his room. I peered up at him, and he immediately kissed my lips.
“I’ll have you know I am doing my best to restrain myself. I know you’re feeling a little weird about earlier.”
I was impressed he’d somehow known the reassuring I craved right now, I got more from his arms than his lips.
“Yeah, I’d rather not talk about that,” I grumbled.
“Just know, Sam, you are, and forever will be, the only girl for me.”
His words caught me off guard. There was no teasing or sarcasm behind them, just straight honesty. I pressed my lips to his while my mind screamed, Tell him you love him! I knew I did. I’d never felt like this before about anyone. For some reason, those words terrified me still; as if I’d wake from a dream and relive the nightmare in the cabin the moment I professed my love. I knew it wasn’t Blake and yet I hesitated. Somewhere between talking, kissing, and holding one another, I fell asleep.
Hidden Monster Page 46