Free Stay With Me by A. C. Marchman Page A

of me once she learns the truth, and I don’t know if I can handle her leaving me.  My heart sinks into my stomach and I know I can’t keep my past from her much longer.  She’s been really understanding by giving me the time and space that I need, not nagging me like some of the girls I’ve been with.  
     
    “Uh, you alright?” Gabe asks, snapping me out of my pity party.
     
    “Yeah, I’m just thinking.  I’m not sure how to tell Allie,” I say, absentmindedly.  My mind wanders back to that sleeping girl in my bed, and I honestly feel like I’m going to cry.
     
    “Look, you have to be honest with her.  Have you told her about how you and Claire...first hooked up?” He chooses his words carefully, knowing that I can’t stand talking about her.  
     
    “No, not yet.  I told her that I met her while trying to make some money doing yard work.”
     
    “Are you fucking kidding me?  Are you serious?” His mouth is practically on the floor, staring at me in total disbelief.  “Has she read that book about the grey tie and that BDSM shit yet?  Because if she has, she might be a little suspicious.  Stacey read that series and I know more about that book than I care to think about.”  
     
    “Hell no, I haven’t told her.  She would flip the fuck out if I told her how it really happened.  I”m not ready to cross that bridge yet.”  I put my head in my hands.  “I want to enjoy her while I can.”  I can’t believe I used that excuse.  I remember one of the girls I was “seeing” was reading those books and told me all about it.  Of course, I wanted to try all the sex stuff.  I didn’t even realize I was paying attention to the other details.
     
    “You know, it’s going to make her even madder when she finds out the truth,” he says, his voice taking on a scolding tone.
     
    “Let me worry about that.  You worry about getting married tomorrow.” I stand to leave.  “Good night, man.”  I walk to the door and turn to look back at him, knowing he has something else to say.  We’ve been friends way too long, because I know he always gets the last word in.
     
    “If she learns what happened and stays, then you know she loves you.  But if she leaves you, then she still may love you, but you’re going to have a lot of kissing up to do.” My best friend looks me dead in the eye.  “Tell her soon, Don.  It will only hurt more if you prolong it.”
     
    I nod, unable to form any words.  I know he’s right, and it makes me sick to my stomach.  I’m going to go back to bed, and relish in the time that I have with Allie.  
     

Chapter 9
     
    Allie
     
    I wake up to Donovan wrapped all around me.  His legs are tangled with mine, his head is resting on my breasts, and his hands grip my hips.  No wonder I woke up, he’s practically laying right on top of me.  I’m burning up, so I try to untangle our bodies as gently as I can, hoping not to wake him.  It’s early, the sun is just now rising.  Great, even when I go to bed late, I still get up early.  I blame that on my dad.  He would wake Jon and me up at the ass-crack of dawn and have us help him with chores, so that my mom could sleep in a little more.  It certainly made me a much more responsible adult, I’ll give him that.  
     
    Since there is no way I’m going back to sleep now, I decide to get up and do my morning stretches.  I slip on my yoga pants and a tank top.  I do that mostly so that if someone wants to pop in Donovan’s room again, at least I’m dressed this time.  As I start to warm up, I hear footsteps down the hall.  Geez, someone’s up early.  I’m curious as to who it is, so I crack the door slightly.  I hope it’s not Donna, but something tells me that woman doesn’t get up before noon.  I see it’s Megan and she has her bridesmaid’s dress in hand.  I step out into the hallway and grin at her.  
     
    “Wow, you’re up early, too, huh?”
     
    “Yeah, your brother likes