The Woman He Married

14. Sleep Sleep

Zane looked out the window to check on the pouring rain. He turned around when Mae came out of her bathroom. She looked at him, then asked, "Are you leaving?"

"I should leave," he said.

Mae glanced over her shoulder to the bottles of beer on the table. "You drank a lot of beer."

"Yeah," he stood still, staring at her. "I also had a drink with Xavi earlier."

"Huh," Mae tucked her hair behind her ears. She strutted to the window and looked out. "It's still raining, too..."

Zane hummed, nodding. "Are you going to be okay alone? You know," he sat down on the bed, "The thunder and all."

"I'm fine if I'm indoors," Mae nodded, "Except for that one time at the bookstore, but it's only because it's loud. Made me anxious and all."

"Then..."

"Do you want another drink?" Mae walked to the fridge again, "Oh, we're out of drinks. How about tea?"

"Mae," he called, "Do you want me to stay?"

She gaped at him, "Well, I don't want you to drive after having drinks."

"Five," Zane told her, "That's my limit for bottled beer. I can see and walk straight, still."

"You had two," Mae pondered, "And how much did you drink at home, with Xavi?"

Zane figured that she did want him to stay. He cleared his throat along with the memories of having just one can of beer before he left the house, "Uh... Four cans? Maybe four. I'm not sure."

"If you're not sure, then don't go home just yet," she told him. She then pointed at the bed, "You can sleep there, I'll sleep on the floor."

"Are you turning me into a bad person?" Zane asked her. He looked at the single bed, then looked at her, "It'll fit."

"Huh?"

"It'll fit both of us," Zane said, "And I'm lying on this outer side, you on the inner side. So if anybody falls because they sleep too well, it's going to be me."

"But--"

"Just sleep. Like sleep sleep." Zane said, standing up and showing her how they would look away from each other. "You sleep facing the wall, I sleep facing out. Okay?"

"Okay," Mae nodded, giving him the final say. She stepped out of the way when Zane walked past to go to the bathroom. As soon as the door shut, Mae grabbed her phone and jumped into bed, lying close to the wall. She checked her phone and texted Alaia.

Zane's sleeping over. What do I do?

Mae stared at the wall. The more she tried not to think about it, the harder her heart beat. It was cool until she realized she never slept beside a man in a long while. She was familiar with Zane and felt safe around him, but he's still a man. Mae lifted her phone when it vibrated and it was Alaia replying her text.

Baby, I'm too far to make condom delivery. Tell him to pull out.

Mae bit her lip out of frustration.