Falling in Love + other Conditions of Living

Chapter 25

© kelliekook

The first thing Rachel noticed as her senses slowly tuned back in to reality was that she was somewhere unfamiliar.

The sheets, warm and soft under her hands as she shifted, were different somehow. They didn't have that silky quality to them, like hers. And it was quiet, so very quiet.

With a small groan, Rachel rolled and snuggled into a pillow.

She smiled, it smelt of him.

Her body tensed, she opened one eye and peered cautiously out at her surroundings.

Minimal furnishings of miss-matched wood, a man's shirt hanging carelessly on the back of a chair and walls, completely bare – this wasn't her room, but it was most certainly Nathan's.

Refusing to jump to conclusions, she took a few deep breaths and sat up slowly. What happened last night? Had she slept with Nathan? Rachel glanced down at the oversized men's t-shirt she wore and scowled. She couldn't possibly have forgotten they'd slept together, that was just idiotic. Wasn't it?

She sighed, god she was a mess.

What had she been thinking, coming here in the first place. If she'd taken anything out of Madison's various failed relationships it was that sex, wasn't something to take lightly. Not when you wanted it to mean more.

And she did, Rachel found, want it to mean more.

Running a hand through her hair she looked around, and spotted her bridesmaid dress, hanging from a hook on the bedroom door.

It came to her – the dreamy memory of him waking her, handing her some clothes. Nathan, forever the gentleman, he hadn't touched her. She was certain of it.

Pleased, Rachel smiled and shuffled across the bed. She'd find him, she decided, tugging at the ends of the oversized shirt as she walked to the door. Thank him and go from there, it was a plan, at least.

Sort of.

Rachel paused when she heard his voice on the other side of the door, unsure how to proceed, she cracked it open a little and peaked warily out.

Her heart did a little dance at the sight of him, standing in the kitchen, looking deliciously unshaven with a spatula in his right hand and the phone in his left.  Rachel sighed; she'd never had a handsome man make her breakfast.

He looked up at her and grinned.

"I'll talk to you later mum." He said into the phone quickly, ending the call and tossing it aside, "Morning."

Rachel smiled, closing the door behind her and leaning against it for support. Any woman would need it facing a smile like that. "Good morning."

"I'm making breakfast," he gestured with the spatula, "hope you like pancakes."

She walked over to him, sniffed, "Smells wonderful."

Unable to resist, Nathan put down the spatula and pulled her close, "Mmm," he murmured nuzzling in to her neck, "sure does." Rachel giggled despite herself.

"Did you sleep well?" He asked, pulling away slightly to look at her face.

"Like a log," she said honestly, "I can't remember much of what happened last night, actually."

"You fell asleep on the couch when I left you," he smiled, "I was only able to wake you briefly to get changed. You were exhausted."

She flushed, embarrassed, "I'm so sorry, that was rude of me."