Lovebeam

Chapter 14

I must've fallen asleep. I hear voices. There's a hand in my hair. I shift in my sleep.

"Please get married." Mom jokes, but I know she's serious.

I shift. My pillow moves slightly.

The hand is threaded through my hair.

I rub my eyes and open them.

My entire family is looking down at me, and Brody, and they're taking pictures.

I groan and roll over, muttering for them to go away.

Brody smells so good.

He always smells very lightly of axe, and of cinnamon and brown sugar.

It's magical.

I inhale slowly.

His hand still doesn't move.

I lift my head.

He's asleep.

He's so adorable.

I gently unwine his hand from my hair.

I take a photo of him.

"It's dinner time." Mom says, smiling.

"Why are you guys standing around?" I mumble.

"Because you fell asleep on your husband." Mom shrugs.
"You think we're getting married?"
"Sweetie, I know you are." She smiles.

I sigh.

"Wake him up." Dad says.

Normally I'd kiss him awake, but everyone is watching.

I lift his shirt to reveal his abs, and I lean down and blow a raspberry on his stomach.

He opens his eyes and looks at me.

"That tickles." He mumbles, rolling onto his stomach. I lay down next to him.

"Wake up." I mumble.

He mumbles something.

"No."

"Please?" I mumble.

"Why?" he asks.

"I'm an attention whore." I say.

He laughs a little.

"No you're not." He says. "And you're not a whore."

"Will you please wake up? It's dinner time."

He sighs, a long, tired sigh.

"Why are you so tired. We slept twelve hours."

"No, you slept twelve hours." He says. "I slept four."

"Why? We went to bed at midnight!" I say.

"I was up all night. I wanted to make sure you were okay."

I'm quiet for a minute.

"You stayed up even after I fell asleep?"

He lifts his head slightly.

"I was worried you were going to wake up sad."

Dammit, I wanna tell him I love him, but I can't.

Not in front of everyone.

My eyes start to well with tears.

He sits up.

"What'd I say?" he looks worried.