Don't You Remember? (HSMTMTS Sequel to Meeting Me Halfway)

Chapter 19 |Cold 2|

Ricky Bowen
I look at my watch to see it was just 4 AM. I had slept for just a little bit but the haunting memory of Nini so upset wasn't leaving, nor was the face of Athena.

Because only I could make the 2 women in my life upset in just 1 night.

I look over at Athena who was sleeping peacefully. She holds her teddy bear tightly and rests like it's the easiest thing to do. I envy the way she can sleep so quickly but she's young. Problems are not even in her vocabulary.

I lean over and press a light kiss on her temple before slowly getting up and out of her bed. I check to make sure I didn't forget my phone and head out the door as quietly as possible. I shut it behind me and immediately have no clue what to do.

I don't think Nini would like me coming in at 3 AM when she said she wanted to be alone. I use my phone flashlight to travel through my apartment and onto the couch. I look around for a blanket but none are in sight and bitter coldness was making me lose my shit. I didn't want to continue to take up anymore space of Athena's bed.

As I struggle, I remember that there's a blanket in Nini's and I's closet. I sigh and get off of the couch and travel back to the hallway and to the door of my room. I grip the handle lightly and brace myself just in case she's awake.

I open the door quietly and step in, my eyes immediately flickering to the bed. Nini lays on my side of the bed, facing the door way and merely hanging off the edge.

The urge to push her back in and fix the blanket over her was heavy, but the thought of waking her up was heavier.

But none crosses out the love for her and common sense in my head and heart. I sigh and head over to the bed.

I put an arm under her legs and slowly put another under her torso before lifting her up gently and placing her further into the middle of the bed. I wrap the white comforter over her and tuck it around her, making sure she's kept warm.

I kiss her forehead and look around the room before deciding to grab a pillow off of the ground and plopping it half way across the room by the closet. I could sleep in here, but as long as I guess I'm not with her.

I open the closet slowly and take out the...very thin Grey blanket. I roll my eyes and wrap it around my body before throwing myself onto the ground.

I feel warm hands shake me, leading the cold to hit me harder than it already was. I blink my eyes open to see Nini, arms hugging her body and kneeling beside me.

"Nini.." I mumble, rubbing my eyes. I fix the blanket over myself but it feels useless. "What are you doing?"

"Come on, get up. Get in bed." She says softly, rubbing her arms. "Hurry."

"Wha-..what time is it?"

"4. Now come."

"I thought you were mad at me." I reluctantly sit up and bring the blanket with me.