Saved

58. Better

"We don't have school tomorrow," I say quietly as I pull on my pajama pants. Paige is already tucked up under the blue blanket and has stretched herself out on the bed.

"Mmm, I know." She murmurs into my pillow and inhales deeply. I shake my head at her and then walk over to the wall to shut off the light switch. Our Winter Break begins tomorrow. Speaking of, I still haven't bought a present for Paige.

"Paige," I whisper, thinking that my normal voice would be too loud for the sudden darkness, "I can't see. Can you turn on the flashlight on your phone?"

I hear Paige groan for a moment and then her hand patting against the nightstand. "I can't reach it." Paige calls out to me. I hold onto the door knob as a point of reference and slowly try to make my way back to my bed without hitting-

"Ow! Shit, ow, ow," I throw myself onto the foot of the bed. I know it's there because I just ran into the corner of it with my toe. Paige's cool hands meet my back and she laughs softly into my ear.

"Are you okay?" her breath is warm against my neck and I nod, forgetting that she can't see me.

"Yes," I huff and scoot myself back towards my pillows. "But," I reach out my hands for Paige beside me and when I find her cool fingers, bring them to my lips, "you can kiss me to make it better."

"I would call you a cheeseball, but you're injured, so anything for you." Paige's toothpaste-tasting lips touch mine briefly, cautiously, and I wrap my hand around the back of her neck.

When my tongue laps over Paige's, she pats my chest lightly and disconnects her lips from mine. I pout into the darkness and try to grasp at Paige too pull her back to me.

"I have to work tomorrow and if you keep doing that, we will never sleep." I feel the bed sink beside me and I squint my eyes in her direction, hoping that the small amount of light coming in from the window shines on Paige.

"Do you still want me to come in for the mailman gig?" I ask quickly, my filter seemingly gone.

"Oh! Yes, I had totally forgotten about that." Paige gasps and touches my shoulder.

It lingers for a beat, her fingertips trail along the tip of my collar bone there. I know exactly what she is thinking. She is remembering the sling and all the shit that came from it. I'd like to forget.

"You have such nice arms," she hums, her voice barely audible.

"No more compliments, you promised." I grab her hand under the blankets and trace her palm with my fingers.

"Did not!" Paige giggles and I feel her warm body scoot towards me, so I release her hand and toss my arm over her head.

Once we are both settled against the bed- Paige halfway on my pillow and tucked in the crook of my neck and me completely pressed against her- I swirl a piece of her hair around my finger and place a short kiss on her forehead.

Paige's soft breaths blow against my chest and within another minute, I can tell she is asleep. I relish in the feeling of her arm tossed around my waist in her sleep before I shut my eyes and start counting sheep.

The blaring sound of Paige's alarm wakes me up quickly. I blink my eyes to try and clear my vision and smile down at Paige as she snores lightly against my chest. Her phone is too far away for me to grab it without waking her, so I run my thumb along her cheek instead.

"Stupid Richardson merger," Paige pouts with her eyes still shut. I snort and push her off of me lightly so I can reach over and shut off the alarm on her phone.

"Six AM, are you kidding?" I pull the phone closer to my face and stare at the time on the screen. Paige snatches the phone from me and slides her finger along the bottom of it.