Before I start this chapter, I wanted to thank @RoyaleGates and @aptseaswirl for their support on this story! I appreciate you guys commenting and reading my book, your support means a lot to me. Enjoy this chapter!
"Do you need anything? A towel, extra clothes.. A boxed DVD set with all four seasons of Outerbanks.. Anything– you name it, and it's yours." I said, folding a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt, and then placing them on the dresser for him. He looked back at me, nose scrunched up, with a towel in his right hand drying his wet hair.
"Why the hell do I need five pairs of pajamas? You already gave me some clothes." His tone was sharp, laced with irritation. Okay, maybe this was getting a bit overbearing, but I really couldn't help it.
I wanted to make him feel at home, after everything that happened tonight, I wanted nothing more but for him to feel comfortable around me.
I scratched my neck, looking down at him sheepishly, before saying, "I just wanted to make sure you had options. Comfort's kind of a big deal, you know?" I offered him a small smile, keeping my tone light and easy. "But if I'm doing too much, you can tell me— I'm just trying to help."
He scoffed, rolling his eyes, before tossing the towel that he was using to dry his hair to the side. I'd have to pick that up later. "I'm sorry if those don't fit, I had to pull it out from the bottom of my dresser. I got those sweats when I was in middle school–"
I stopped mid-sentence, remembering how offensive that might sound. However, it was too late, and he was already glaring daggers at me.
"Sorry.." I muttered, a small awkward smile playing on my face. "Anyway, how was your shower?" I asked, trying to make small talk as I changed the sheets on my bed for him. Riley was leaning against the wall, watching me with a disinterested expression. "It was fine."
"Just fine? Did you use the bath salts I gave you? And how was that moisturizer? My mom got it for me, but I don't really use that stuff," I chuckled, before continuing, "Oh, and how'd you like the–" before I could continue, he let out a loud groan, signalling his annoyance.
He was right, I should probably shut up. I was just excited to have him over, any more spewing and I'd just drive him away. His glare was sharp as he stood up straighter, arms crossed like a barrier between us.
"Do you ever just shut up? Like, for five minutes?" His voice was laced with irritation, and the words hit me harder than they probably should have.
I felt my cheeks flush, but I quickly looked away, trying to brush off the sting. He was exhausted— it had been a long night. That was all this was. "Sorry," I murmured, trying to keep my voice steady as I finished tucking the last corner of the sheets.
"I just... wanted to make sure you were okay. I'll stop talking now." I straightened up, offering a small smile that felt fragile in the space between us.
"The bed's ready. If you need anything else, just let me know. I'll, uh, grab that towel you left." I moved toward the damp towel on the floor, crouching to pick it up before he could say something else.
Riley scoffed, his arms still crossed as he watched me. "Comfortable? Yeah, nothing's more comfortable than sleeping on a stranger's bed and wearing his middle school hand-me-downs."
I stood there for a moment, the towel still in my hands, before nodding slowly. "Fair enough," I said, keeping my tone even. I threw the wet towel into my laundry basket, and turned my head to look back at him.
During the midst of our conversation, I didn't get the chance to take a proper look at him. Beads of water were dripping from his hair onto his neck, his blonde strands wet, falling onto his forehead. He looked even cuter, if that was even possible. I tried to hold my smile in.

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Cold and Charisma (BoyxBoy)
RomanceRiley Lachkov's life has only ever consisted of one thing - soccer. Raised in a family where emotions don't exist, Riley has put on a cold-front for as long as he could remember. Many people think that they know him - a cocky, arrogant, rude jerk wh...