Page 68 of Do It Yourself
“Can we go back to bed, please?” Mabel’s the first to pull away, I could kiss her forever so it’s a good thing.
“Anything for you, Trouble.” Rearranging our bodies is awkward as we were perched right on the edge but we make it work, our bodies never fully disconnecting. Once we’re settled, my arms encircling Mabel’s body.
Her back to my front.
“You didn’t give me the chance to say it, but I love you too, Mabel.”
Waking up the second time in Mabel’s bed is much more enjoyable. Mabel is still asleep, so I take a moment to soak in the calm look on her face. I’m half-convinced I dreamed of Mabel’s declaration.
I know those three words aren’t going to fix everything, there is still the giant elephant in the room named Paul. I’m not sure how to get over that, I can only hope that the promise of his sister’s happiness might melt his ice wall of negative feelings towards me.
At least an inch or two.
I don’t have any responsibilities I need to address until this afternoon, Lola gave everyone morning off to recover from last night. Really, she gave everyone the day off but no rest for the wicked and all that. Lola’s going to be working as soon as she wakes up and I’m not one to let her work on her own.
I’m half-tempted to take the whole day off and see if I can tempt Mabel to stay in bed with me all day.
My brain whirls with the possibilities of the different kinds of trouble we could get into but the guilt of leaving Lola to push herself with no one around sends all the blood in my body rushing back up north.
Lola works too hard, I need to be there to take some of that weight off her shoulders. It’s quite literally my job. Helping Lola isn’t something I need to worry about until after lunch time, though.
For now, this morning, I’m going to soak in every part Mabel is willing to give me.
I settle into the bed, pulling Mabel’s sleeping form a little closer into my body. Her honey scent fills my nose as I snugglemy face into her hair, pressing a soft kiss on her temple. I don’t want to wake her but I can’t help myself. Having her in my arms and knowing she loves me, knowing I get to love her…It’s an overwhelming feeling.
I don’t know what I did to get this lucky but I’m going to do whatever I can every day to make sure I’m going to stay this type of lucky .
With that thought ringing in my head and Mabel’s warm, soft body pressed against mine it’s easy to relax into this sense of rightness and drift back to sleep.
Chapter Fifty-Eight
MABEL
Iwake up in waves.
First, I become aware of a presence in the bed with me.
Second, the events of last night slowly play like a movie in my mind’s eye.
Finally, my body starts to awaken, my eyes open and I’m graced with Jude’s sleeping face. His mouth is slightly open and small snores leave him, warm breath hitting my cheek.
The breath causes a few wisps of my hair to dance across my cheek.
It tickles and I can’t fight the giggle that bubbles out of me. This wakes Jude and he jumps, searching around confused. The look on his face turns my giggles into full on belly laughter .
Soon, I’m laughing so hard tears start to fall.
“Mabel, what’s wrong?” Jude’s voice is so shocked but he’s anything but alert. Poor guy is still half asleep but looks like he’s fixing to fight whatever’s caused me to catch this case of chuckles.
My gentle giant doesn’t realize it’s the memory of being with him, confessing our feelings to each other, that’s got me acting this way.
“I love you.” I press a kiss against the side of Jude’s mouth before climbing out of bed. “Wake up, Muscles. I’m going to start making us breakfast.”
I grab a pair of linen shorts as I leave the room, it’s not until I’ve made it into the kitchen that I pull the bottoms on. The skin on the underside of my boob is sticking uncomfortably to the skin underneath so I lift my boobs up and tuck the t-shirt I’m wearing into the space between so my skin isn’t touching my skin.
I hate that feeling.
Well, when it’s my own skin.
