one of the couches.
“ You are more than welcome to sleep in my bed.” Levi slumped down next to me, putting his feet up on the circular ottoman that matched the couch.
“ As tempting as that offer is, I’ll take my chances out here.” I slipped off my shoes and curled my legs up under me.
“ Wow, Levi, you’ve never offered to let me take your bed before,” Hailey said with exaggerated insult.
“ And I’ll never offer you my bed. If you don’t want to sleep on the couch talk to your brother, or better yet, go home.”
“ Aww, you are always so sweet to me.”
I laughed lightly at their banter. I liked how Hailey wasn’t afraid to stick up for herself. No one else ever seemed to challenge Levi.
Owen joined us and we all talked for a while, mostly about all the trouble Levi, Owen, and Jared used to get into as kids. It turns out they all grew up together. I laughed more than I had in ages, and eventually I must have fallen asleep.
***
I was so comfortable when I woke up. Warm and more content than I had been in a while, I tried to stretch. I didn’t have any room which was odd because my room at the hotel had a king size bed. I opened my eyes and first only saw the quilt; it was draped over me and someone else. I turned my body and looked right into those darn blue-gray eyes again.
“ Good morning, beautiful.”
“ Oh god.”
“ Sleep well?”
I struggled to move, but he still had his arms around me. Relief flooded me as I discovered we were on a couch and not a bed.
“ What are you doing here?”
“ You’re in my apartment, or did you forget?”
“ I mean why are you sleeping on the couch with me? Why aren’t you in your room?”
“ Oh, I gave my bed to Hailey.”
“ But I thought you’d never…”
“ I was just messing with her. Besides, I thought we could use the privacy.”
“ Was I really so zonked out I missed all of this?” I asked.
“ You fell asleep in the middle of a conversation and were leaning against me. You looked too comfortable to disturb, so I just moved us a bit.”
“ I see. Well at least we’re on the couch and not your bed.” I was only pretending to be calm. I couldn’t believe I had spent the night snuggled up with Levi. I was admittedly surprised, yet relieved he hadn’t tried anything.
“ Don’t sound so relieved about it.” His voice was playful but there was definitely a note of offense there.
“ Hmm, yeah because it would have felt great to wake up in bed with a guy I don’t know.”
“ You do know me, Allison.”
“ That again?” I asked him, still struggling to move out of his arms and off the couch.
“ You are really cute when you get angry.”
“ Just shut up and let go of me so I can get the heck out of here.”
“ Wow, calm down. Aren’t you going to let me make you breakfast? It’s the least I can do for the girl I just spent the night with.”
“ I did not spend the night with you, we were on the couch.” I blinked a few times, trying to get rid of the dryness in my eyes from sleeping in contacts.
“ You spent the night in my arms, sweetheart. Sex or no sex, you can’t argue that.”
I groaned. Sudden laugher reminded me that we weren’t really alone. I struggled against Levi again, and he finally relented so I could sit up. Owen walked into the room just as I stood up and made an attempt to get some wrinkles out of my dress. Levi remained lounging on the couch.
“ Good morning. Did you enjoy the wonderful accommodations of our living room?”
“ Where’s Jess? Please tell me she’s here somewhere,” I said, not bothering to answer Owen. I was so over being made fun of.
“ She’s in with Jared,” the guys both said at once.
“ Um, could one of you please get her for me?” I asked, slipping my flip-flops back on and picking up my purse from the floor.
“ There’s no way I’m taking the chance of seeing Jared naked,” Levi said sitting up and stretching.
“ Gross. Fine, which room is
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