Page 59 of Under His Protection
I wonder if Philip is awake. I hate inconveniencing him this way. He should be at home fast asleep in his own bed. Instead, he’s lying on a sofa that’s too short for him, trying to sleep, and keeping watch at the same time. How is that even possible?
When I can’t take it anymore, I sneak downstairs, listening for any sign that he’s awake. If he is asleep, I don’t want to wake him.
By the time I reach the bottom of the stairs, I can tell he’s awake. I can see the glow from his phone. “Philip?” I whisper.
“Yeah?” he whispers back, making me smile.
I walk into the family room where I find him lounging on the sofa. He’s half sitting, leaning against one arm of the sofa, with one leg stretched out lengthwise on the cushions, while his other foot is on the floor.
“I’m so sorry,” I say as I kneel on the floor in front of him. “This sofa isn’t long enough for you.”
“It’s fine. I can’t sleep anyway.” He threads the fingers of one hand through my hair. “I guess you can’t sleep either.”
“No. It is nice being home, though. I’d forgotten how comfortable my bed is.” My smile fades quickly. “But I do hate inconveniencing you.”
He leans forward and presses his lips to mine. “No apologizing,” he murmurs against my mouth. He tastes like peppermint. “I mean it. There’s nowhere I’d rather be than here with you.”
He scooches over and pulls me up onto the sofa with him. It’s a very tight fit.
When I lean back against him, he slips an arm around my waist, securing me to him so I don’t end up on the floor.
“So, tomorrow,” he says. “Your first class is at nine?”
“Yes. My chemistry lecture.”
“We should leave here around eight-fifteen. That will give us enough time to find parking and get you to your class.” He hugs me tighter and kisses my shoulder. “Now, you should go to bed. You need your sleep, and I don’t want to get chewed out for keeping you up past your bedtime.”
I sigh, knowing he’s right. “I look forward to the day we don’t have to sneak around like this.”
When he tightens his hold on me and places a kiss on the side of my neck, tingles ripple down my spine.
“I can’t wait,” he says.
I feel a lot less anxious after talking to Philip. And frankly, knowing he’s downstairs makes me feel safe. I return to my bed, and reliving the feel of his lips on my neck, I somehow manage to fall asleep.
My alarm goes off at seven, and I hop out of bed and into the shower. After I’m ready for school, I head downstairs to the kitchen.
Mom’s already dressed for work, and she’s pouring coffee into mugs. “Good morning, sweetheart,” she says, smiling when she sees me. “I hope you slept well.”
“I did,” I say, smiling across the room at Philip, who’s sitting on the sofa. His bedding is neatly folded and piled up on one of the cushions. “After having to share a bathroom with twenty other girls, I now appreciate having my own so much more.”
I notice that Philip’s hair is damp, and he’s wearing a different shirt than the one he had on last night. He must have taken a shower. “You changed.”
“I carry an overnight bag with a change of clothes in my truck for these kinds of occasions.”
“You mean when you have to babysit your girlfriend?”
He laughs. “Happens all the time. You’d be surprised.”
“Breakfast is ready, guys,” Mom says. “Come eat.”
I walk up beside her and lean in so our shoulders are touching. “Yes, please. I’m starving.”
She tilts her head to touch mine. “I made you some iced caramel coffee. It’s in the fridge.”
There are scrambled eggs and sausage patties warm on the stove. We help ourselves. I make toast for everyone and put out butter and a jar of strawberry preserves.
The four of us sit at the kitchen table to eat. Philip asks me to run through my class schedule for today. Dave is reading something on a tablet, and I’d bet money it’sThe Wall Street Journal. Mom is watching me and Philip with a small smile on her face.
