Page 41 of Defying Ella
“But it’s too small for you.” I eyed the two-seater, mentallytrying to assess if I could even sleep comfortably on it. At five-foot-five it would be possible. Definitely more comfortable for me than Jared and his six-foot-one length. The leather would be a problem.
With a firm grip on my shoulders, he turned me until I faced the stairs. “Stop arguing and go get blankets and pillows, Els.”
Tiredness pulled heavily on me, so I didn’t argue. I rushed down the stairs in the dark and scooped up everything I could handle off my bed. By the time I returned, panting a little from the weight of the combined fabric, the teapot whistled.
“Now that’s a sound that takes me back,” I muttered before stumbling over a blanket trying to wrap itself around my legs.
“In a good way or bad?”
Jared freed me of the deathly fabric with a deep crease to his brow and concern darkening his eyes. He dropped the blanket on the sofa and went back to the kitchen to make tea.
“Good. My granddad used to use one.” I shrugged while I moved the coffee table. “I guess it just reminds me of being a kid and playing at his.”
I felt up the sofa, skimming all the edges in search of the lever that would make it unfold. I removed all of the cushions and found nothing.
“Why does fancy shit have to be so hard to figure out?” I muttered to myself, trying to force the frame to unfold.
Jared chuckled, brushing me aside. “You’re a bit of a spitfire when you’re tired, aren’t you?”
I straightened up, my brows furrowing at the unexpected change in dynamic. When did we go from awkwardly tiptoeing around each other to outright teasing?
He hit a button on the side, and the entire thing unfolded in a graceful glide with the low drone of a motor. I blinked at the damn thing.
“You’ve used this thing before.” I fixed him with an accusatory glare.
He shook his head, smirking. “Not this particular one, no.”
Shaking my head, I focused on laying out the bedding. I needed sleep more than I needed to debate his knowledge of fancy sofa beds.
I’d just buried myself beneath the blankets when he returned with steaming mugs. He handed me one before adding another log to the fire.
With a determined purse to his lips, he started making up the other sofa. I’d purposefully left it alone hoping he’d see reason and just share with me, considering there was plenty of space and we weren’t actively hating each other for the moment.
Jared sat down, placed his legs on the cushions and filled the entire thing. Not a single complaint left his lips, though. He sipped his tea and basked in the warmth from the fire as if he didn’t plan to stretch out.
“You know, there’s plenty of space for you to sleep over here.” I hid my face behind my mug as I whispered those words, afraid my smile at his antics would push him further away.
He shook his head, glancing at me quickly before focusing on the fire again.
I sighed, settling down against the pillows. The tea warmed my insides, while the fire made me seriously consider losing the hoodie. And miracles of miracles, I could feel my toes again.
“Thanks for lighting the fire.”
“No problem. Thanks for finding the kettle,” he said, his voice hushed.
“I mean, my reasons were entirely selfish but you’re welcome.”
He smirked. “Well, if we’re being honest, I was going to light the fire anyway.”
I chuckled. “Did the cold chase you out of your room too?”
“It felt like my fingers were going to fall off.” He nodded, glowering at the fire.
“And you couldn’t lose your most important digits.” I snorted before draining my cup.
“Absolutely not.” He fixed me with a heated stare.
Wait. I’d meant he wouldn’t be able to drum without them. What had he meant? My mind threw up some interesting suggestions thanks to the way his gaze roamed my face. I couldn’t stop myself from shifting in my seat.
