Inevitable (Book One)

Chapter 23

Lyla

I wake up in my bed and roll over to check my phone to see that it's just past ten. I get up and head out of my bedroom to the kitchen where I make a pot of coffee with Megan's coffee maker. I send a quick text to Shawn saying good morning. I grab my coffee once it's ready and add some milk then leave it on my dresser. I gather my shower caddy and supplies then head down the hall to the washroom and shower. When I return to the room, my coffee is perfect drinking temperature as I sip it and read over one of my assignments I still have left to finish. It rolls around to eleven and I still haven't heard back from Shawn. I feel bad about last night as I remember the look on his face as he stood in the hallway. He went from relieved to angry in a split second as he eyed Austin up and down. I knew when my phone died that I should have remembered to fully charge it before we left but I was having a fun time and didn't want to leave early because of my phone.

I wish I could have snuggled him all night long, but this stupid dorm has a no boys stay over rule. Not that everyone follows it. I've definitely seen my fair share of guys trying to sneak out of the building some mornings. But, Shawn and I both don't need any trouble with the school given our scholarships and team commitments. I decide that I'm going to go for a run to try and sweat out some of the booze I've consumed this weekend. I get dressed in some shorts and a sports bra with a long sleeve shirt. I grab my phone and armband with my headphones before I lace up my shoes and head out the door. I cue up my running playlist as I'm walking out of the building. The suns out and it's a mild temperature, perfect for a run, as I hit shuffle on my playlist and take off.

Part way through my run I decide I'm going to stop by Shawn's house and take a break to steal some water and see him before I continue my way back around to campus. A few minutes later, I find myself at his front door and knock. A few seconds pass before Danielle opens the door for me looking hungover as hell. She squints her eyes when the sun hits her in the face as it floods through the open doorway. She winces as she steps back out of the sun and lets me inside. She just points to the couch as she passes it and heads through a door I'm assuming is her bedroom as she closes it behind her. I look to the couch and see Shawn scrunched up on it asleep under a blanket. He looks so uncomfortable and I wonder why he's sleeping on the couch. I sit on the coffee table in front of him and reach out to brush my hand through his hair. He starts to stir and slowly opens his eyes. He sees me and his brows furrow in confusion then he moves to sit up on the couch and faces me with a smile.

"Hey," he says sleepily as he stretches his arms over his head and I take the moment to appreciate the view of his chest stretching and flexing as he does.

"Hey," I say and lean in to give him a quick kiss as he finishes stretching.

"Did you run here?" He asks me as he takes in my sweaty appearance in front of him

"I did," I tell him with a nervous laugh, "I hope it's okay I stopped by."

"Of course," he assures me as he puts his hands on the top of my thighs and gives them a light squeeze. "You're welcome here anytime," he smiles at me sweetly.

"What are you doing sleeping on the couch?" I ask as I glance at his sleeping arrangement and chuckle softly. When I look back at him he's looking at me nervously and I know right away I'm not going to like what he's going to say next.

"Long story short," he tells me as he sits back into the couch and grabs my hands to pull me with him so I slide onto his lap and can't get away. I'm all sweaty and squirm to put some space between us for his sake, but he doesn't seem to notice or mind as he pulls me closer to him. "When I left your dorm, Danielle called for a ride home from the party so I went back. What she forgot to mention was that Erica was with her and they both piled into my car and came back here where I left their drunk asses downstairs. Then I was awoken by Erica falling into my bed an hour or so later and she passed out so I just left her up there and slept down here." He finishes explaining as he bends his neck to the side trying to stretch it out and lets out a sigh.