platonic | short story

present: thirteen.

Roan’s POV. - now.

I wasn’t sure how long I slept for. I also wasn’t sure if Caden slept too, or if he just held me as we laid together on the couch.

The apartment was darker when I blinked my eyes open, met with the sight of Caden’s collarbones. We were in the same position, and I felt the gentle strokes of his fingers over my scalp. Our legs entwined, my arms around his waist and my face buried in the crook of his neck, I fell asleep apparently.

“Oh - hi.” He whispered, feeling the flutter of my lashes against his skin.

I swallowed the dryness in my throat, “Hi.” I rasped back, blushing softly, “Sorry I fell asleep.”

“It’s fine.” Caden breathed, his lips brushing over my hairline. He made no attempts in moving away from me - at all. He held me tight, my leg locked over his hips and the blanket covering us both. 

“Did you sleep too?” I checked. He hummed but shook his head, “Nah, not really.”

I lifted my brows, “Really? I thought you needed that. How’s the hangover?”

“Better.” Caden breathed, “Almost done, actually. And to be honest, I felt like you needed it more.” He referred to my nap, “I just listened to the storm.”

I yawned softly, “Right. Is it over?”

“Mhm. You slept through all of it.” He chuckled. My brows raised, “Really? Wow. I don’t think that’s ever happened before.”

I could feel his lips curling up into a small smile against my forehead, but Caden didn’t respond for a few minutes, “Lying next to you always used to put me right to sleep.” He admitted.

Part of me was glad that we weren’t eye-level. I kept staring at his collarbone while swallowing, “Yeah. Me too.”

“My arm’s asleep.” I whispered as I stirred a bit, wiggling around the small space. Caden didn’t say anything but held my thigh, his hand on my bare skin making sparks fly that I attempted to ignore. I dropped my eyes when he assisted me in rolling over, and with a firm tug to my hip, my back was pressed to his front.

Caden knew his way around my body blindly, and it was as if his instinct kicked in when he spooned me. We always used to sleep like this.

Without question or second thought, his leg slipped between mine to have me arch a bit more and his arm slipped around my midsection, palm resting on my chest above my breasts.

I puffed out a breath when he positioned me like a rag doll, yet somehow also knew that I wouldn’t want it any other way. This position was most comfortable for the both of us and I couldn’t recount how many hours of my life I had spent laying like this with him.

The thought brought tears to my eyes and the overwhelming feeling of missing him hit me like a sledgehammer.

“I thought of you, you know? Every time there was a thunderstorm.” His voice was soft as his breath hit the back of my neck, “Wondering if you were able to sleep.”

Tears leaked from my eyes as I blinked, staring into the dark living room of Caden’s apartment.

“I wasn’t.” I whispered in a watery voice, “I wasn’t able to sleep.”

“I know.” He softly cooed, his thumb stroking above the shirt, “I know, Ro.”

I sniffled softly and Caden squeezed me a little tighter, “I slept like shit too.” He murmured, “Trust me. Every fucking night. Wishing you were here.” He spilled and my heart skipped at the confessions he was whispering out in the darkness, “I’ve needed you here so often. It feels so right to have you here.”