A Billion Stars

Chapter 55

I wake up to a text from Ricky, the message flirty and putting a smile on my face before I can even fully wake up. I turn over onto my back and close my eyes, taking a deep breath before I get a call from Ricky. "Hey there." I hum into the receiver, my voice still sleepy and earning a laugh from him. "Morning sleeping beauty. I figured even though I didn't stay over, we should still get a morning together. So come over and open the door." I grin and rub my eyes, shaking my head in amazement. "You're adorable. And I think the door's unlocked." Ricky gasps a little and sure enough I hear the front door open before a light tap sounds on my bedroom door. "Nins! What the fuck! Lock your door next time!" I cover my mouth to hide my smile and I shake my head. "I'm safe." He blows air out of his mouth in disbelief. "Yeah because I'm here." I scoff and shake my head, pulling my sheets higher up on my body. "Do you see me dead? No. Do you see me raped or drugged? No. I can take care of myself babe." My eyes widen at the name that slipped from my tongue and the tension visibly leaves Ricky's body. His eyes light up a little and he takes a step forward over to the bed. "Yeah, I know you can." He says with a smile, his voice soft and sweet. "But please, can you just lock it next time? It'd make me feel so much better, and I know you're not here to make me feel good about these things, it's just-" I smile and reach my hand out to his arm. "I'll lock it, I promise. I forget sometimes because I'd always leave the door unlocked for EJ." He nods knowingly and sits on the bed. I take my hand and carefully place it on Ricky's thigh, rubbing my hand against his skin and his gym shorts. "Are these your PJs?" I ask, noticing that I've never seen Ricky in anything remotely chill or comfortable. I play with the hem of one of the legs of the shorts and he blushes a little. "Yeah, I knew you probably just woke up so-" I move over in the bed, pulling the sheets back and patting the bed softly. Ricky grins and slips in next to me, pulling me onto his body like we had done this a thousand times. "I love this." Ricky muses quietly and I turn further into him, holding him tightly. "Me too." I say into his chest. I feel one of his hands tangle through my hair and I let out a shaky breath. "You know, I hope you know I'm getting really attached to you." Ricky laughs brightly and cranes his neck down to look at me. "Really? Well that's a relief, I thought you chapped my lips last night because you only found me sexy." I push at his chest and laugh, faking offense. "Ricky don't even start with me, you were coming at me with your lips so." He laughs and shakes his head. "No Nins, you have it wrong." I giggle and press myself into him, drawing circles on his chest. "Shut up, even if we agreed to do it last night, I wouldn't be able to because you wore out my mouth." As soon as the sentence is out of my mouth I blush fiercely and pray he doesn't choose to have a conversation with me about it. "Is that so?" I blush harder but force myself to nod. "Huh, we'll have to plan it out then so that you don't have to deal with that." I perk up at his words and meet his eyes. "Plan it?" He shrugs and gives me a little grin. "Well not like, down to the day, hour and minute but like, a ballpark estimate. So that you keep your control." I feel my blush spreading to my neck but gratitude and happiness swell in my chest. "Give it a few weeks?" I ask quietly and he nods, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "Give it as much time as you need." I smile and press a kiss to his shirt. "Stop that, you're gonna get me attached to a healthy relationship too." He laughs brightly and his arms tighten around my body. "Babe, that's my cue to keep going." I burst into laughter with him and relax into his side.