Page 72 of See It Through

I woke in the morning tucked against Remi, my face in his underarm. I had no clue how I’d gotten into that position, but I wasn’t upset about it. He was so warm there, and his natural scent was even stronger. I nuzzled my nose into him, his soft hair tickling me, and took a deep whiff.

His low chuckle alerted me I wasn’t the only one awake. “You’re sniffing my armpit?”

“Mmhmm.” I tugged on his pit hair and pushed up on my elbow, grinning at him. “I like how you smell.”

His hand came to the side of my face, cupping me gently. “That’s sweet and cute and a little gross.”

I laughed. “You just described me on a daily basis.”

“Nope.” He rolled us so he was half on top of me. “You smelling my pits is only a little gross—nothing aboutyouis. You’re funny and alive. You sleep like the dead except when you’re invading my personal space and my armpit. But you’re so cute about it, I don’t mind. Plus, you’re incredibly hot.”

I blinked at him, my cheeks flaming and heart going pitter-patter. Those tendrils that had been a threat last night were back in full force, clawing at my chest to attach themselves to Remi.

“Holy wow, Remington. I’m going to want to wake up to you every day if all these compliments are included.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

“It will be when you’re gone and no one’s telling me I’m hot at—I checked the time on his digital clock—“nine in the morning.”

His fingers flexed in my hair, and something dark and stormy clouded his eyes for a moment before he shook it off.

“I don’t think you’ll have to worry about a shortage of compliments, sweetheart.” He dipped down, pressing a firm kiss to my lips before sitting up and rubbing his face with both hands. “Let me make you breakfast. Waffles?”

“I like waffles.” I knifed upright and shifted to my knees behind him, my chin on his shoulder. “Fair warning—I don’t have my medicine with me. The chances of me spacing out or saying something before thinking it through are high. Don’t be alarmed if it happens.”

He turned, rubbing the side of his face against my nose. “Got it. We’ll get you fed then home for your meds. Anything you say or do will not be held against you.”

I kissed his shoulder, my chest so very warm. “Thank you, baby.”

He left the room, and while I got dressed, I glanced around at the decorations. This had been Remi’s childhood bedroom. There were still relics from that era scattered around. A football trophy. Ribbons from the county fair where he and Caleb had shown a few cows. Framed drawings Remi had done when he was little. A poster from a band I’d never heard of. A piggy bank filled to the brim with coins.

He’d replaced the twin bed that had been in here with a queen-size one, but otherwise, this room had been frozen in time. I’d asked Graham about it once. In his typical, nonchalant style, he’d told me it wasn’t his stuff and Remi would decide what to do with it when he came home. He’d been so sure Remi would return, and in the end, he’d been right.

As far as I was concerned, he could keep this bedroom the same. Maybe this would be his new home base where he’d land in between jobs. It would be nice for him to have that, even though the idea of him flitting in and out of Sugar Brush felt like an anvil dropping on my chest.

I had to stop thinking about the end when we were only just beginning. This thing between us might fizzle out on its own and all this worrying would be for nothing. Who knew?

I kept this thought clutched tight to my chest until I entered the kitchen. Remi was standing at the island, stirring the waffle batter. His hair was mussed, a few dark strands hanging over his forehead. He’d thrown on a T-shirt and sweatpants, both threadbare and barely stretching over his frame. Like he’d pulled them out of the drawers from his high school days. When he moved just right, a sliver of his stomach was revealed. I could have stood where I was and watched him all day.

How dare he callmehot when he looked likethis?

“How do you feel about sprinkles?” He held up the spatula covered in batter and colorful sprinkles. “I hope positively because it’s too late.”

I swallowed down my heart currently trying to leap out of my throat. Not only was he obscenely attractive, but he did cute things like put sprinkles in our waffles.

“I feel great about sprinkles,” I managed to answer.

“Good.” Remi patted the island beside him. “Now, put your pretty ass right here and keep me company. It’s been a while.”

I shuffled forward, giving him a wobbly little grin. “All of five minutes.”

His eyes danced over me. “Like I said, a while.”

Oh…I was screwed. But I hopped up on that counter anyway. If I was going down, I was going to enjoy every damn second of it.

Chapter Twenty-nine

Hannah