Like Gold // Nate Maloley

[ fifteen ]

...BOOM!

The thunder shook me out of my sleep and I sat up quickly. For a moment I forgot where I was, everything was dark and rain pounded on my window. I saw Nate's legs and my memory finally rushed back. He had shifted around in his sleep because I recall his arm being around me, but it wasn't when I woke up. I didn't know where my phone was but there was a clock radio on the dresser that read 2:13 AM.

I sighed and held my head in my hands. Without waking him, I got up and tried to feel my way around the room. I knew I had a bottle of water in my backpack & I found it.

Peaceful, I thought as I glanced over at Nate sound asleep. My eyes finally adjusted to the dark & the bit of light from glowing street lamps outside. I took a couple more swigs of water and took my suitcase with me to the bathroom. It was a funny moment for me as I looked down at my options for pajamas. There was my Snoopy t-shirt and matching pajama shorts...and there was a purple babydoll nightie that Elijah probably snuck into my luggage when I packed. If anything, I'd think he did this to try and prove me wrong. I told him I'd have restraint while on this tour and if Nate saw me in this nightie: game over. Or...maybe Elijah was just innocently helping me out & just packed all of my pajamas.

I took a quick shower & brushed my teeth. The entire time, something was telling me to wear the light & airy nightie. My brain was reaching for logic, telling me it would be wise considering this hotel doesn't even have air conditioning & it's better than wearing nothing.

"Fuck it," I whispered. I had been saying this a lot lately.

He was still fast asleep with his lips barely parted. While I was in the shower, he must've taken his shoes & denim jacket off. I slipped back in bed, not facing him this time. Only a minute passed before he put his arm back over me.

"You okay?" He asked in his sleepy voice.

"Yeah," I whispered.

He hummed as his face nuzzled near my shoulder. "You smell good."

"I took a shower, the storm woke me up. I don't know how you slept through that."

"I had half of a pot brownie before we checked in," he gently laughed.

"Should've known."

"I still feel it too. Like...you feel so soft right now. Wh-- what you got on?" He rubbed the fabric of my nightie together as he tried to figure it out.

"Just my pajamas, go back to sleep," I said quickly.

"Hold up," he chuckled.

Next thing I knew, the lamp was turned on and he looked under the covers at what I had on.

"Oh shit," he smirked.

"It's nothing, okay?" I was mildly embarrassed. "It's just there's no air conditioning and sometimes I get hot when I sleep. I don't wanna wake up in a pool of sweat and this is partially sheer."

"No need to explain," he smiled & turned the light back off. "Should I take off some clothes too."

"Oh...you didn't wanna sleep in your room?"

"You don't want me here?"

"I-I'm just saying, you have a full bed to yourself over there and-"

"That's not what I asked you." He rested his head on the headboard. "Do you not want me here? With you?"

"I don't know what I want," I exhaled.

Nate laughed as if he were agreeing with me, I knew he did. That's all I've been around him: a ball of uncertainty.