Puppy Love

Chapter 4

Amelia

I open my eyes and immediately shut them, the sun peeking through my bare windows almost blinding me. For the fourth time since I've moved to Seattle, I make a mental note to buy myself some curtains, before I actually blind myself one morning. Sadly, my temporary solution for now is to flip over and face away from the sun, so I do that and rest my head on the chest of the warm body inhabiting my...

Wait...

I immediately dart away, holding the covers to my chest as I inspect the intruder in my bed. Looking under the covers, I realise that he's not wearing any clothes, aside from a pair of boxers.

"Owen," I say hoarsely, tapping his shoulder. He snorts and scratches his beard but does not wake. I tap him again, firmer this time, but no response comes. A little annoyed, I shove him, almost throwing him out of the bed. "Owen, get up!" I hiss. This time, he definitely wakes, his bloodshot eyes quickly scanning his surroundings before looking at me. "What are you doing in my bed?"

He furrows his eyebrows and lifts the cover, just like I did moments ago, to see if he's completely naked. "I...I'm not sure." Gesturing between the two of us, he asks, "Did we...?"

"No," I swiftly answer, "You were out cold by the time I came back."

He blushes in embarrassment for a moment, before asking, "Then why are you naked?"

I raise the cover higher in defence. "I sleep naked."

"All the time?"

I widen my eyes at him. "That is none of your business; I don't need to explain anything to you."

"So you don't find it a little weird that you prefer to sleep..." I begin pushing on him with my hand, making it clear that I would like him to get out of my space.

"Get out of my bed," I say, shoving on his shoulder again.

"Okay, okay," he laughs, slipping out of the covers, "But I'm warning you, I'm only wearing boxers under here."

"I know," I say as he slips out my covers and walks out of my room. For a second, my eyes glaze over his body as he walks away from me, and I wonder what last night would've been like if he hadn't dozed off.

Just before he leaves, he looks back at me with raised eyebrows and a shocked smile. "No one likes a peeping tom." I roll my eyes and throw a pillow at him, but I can't help smiling at the comment.

---

"Did I really fall asleep?" he asks as we have breakfast together, breakfast being a bowl of cereal.

"You did," I confirm, stuffing a spoonful of cheerios in my mouth, "I came back and you were out cold on the floor. I tried waking you up, even hitting you. Nothing."

"That was not my intention," he chuckles, milk dripping down his chin. There's a bit of discomfort on his face, but I don't comment on it.

"Yeah, I figured it wasn't," I agree, smiling coyly at him. His cheeks go red again and I find it adorable that he's so flustered about all this.

A few moments of silence occur before he says, "So...you're a doctor."

"You know, we're always talking about what I do for a living," I say, setting my spoon down in my bowl, "What do you do?"

"What do I look like I do?" he answers, a mischievous smile on his face.

"Hmm," I ponder, eyeing his muscular physique, "You look like a...P.E. teacher."

"A P.E. teacher?" he repeats.

"No, a sports therapist!" I quickly say, pointing my spoon at him, "You're definitely a sports therapist."