Free RETRACE by Sigal Ehrlich Page A

that happened. I bring my hands from under the blanket to rub my eyes, adjusting my sight to the illuminated room. When I comb my fingers through my hair, a startled cry flits my mouth when I touch a hand that’s resting at the side of my head. My eyes rip open and I look up to see Reeves blinking away sleep.
    “Morning,” He greets me gruffly. I gaze at him with a mix of confusion and curiosity until the moments before I drifted off last night come back to me. I fell asleep… next to him. “Sleep well?” He asks, scrubbing his hands over his face, ending it with a short sigh.
    Too embarrassed to admit just how well, I just go with, “I was very tired.”
    “You looked too comfortable, and serene… I didn’t have the heart to wake you up.”
    “Thank you.” I smile at him. He reciprocates with a thin curve of his lips, his green eyes swallowing me in. My own eyes run over his face, not even trying to be subtle about it. The stubble decorating his cheeks is denser, adding a tougher edge to his raw, delectable appearance. As ridiculous as it may be, I’m less than thrilled to leave this position, but for the sake of not appearing clingy, needy, or pathetic, I slowly inch up.
    “Coffee,” I mutter, standing up. I stretch my neck from side to side and head to the bathroom.
    “I’ll make some.” His husky morning voice returns. I inwardly mock myself about how much I enjoy the little domestic morning exchange. Sad.
    Scrutinizing my face in the mirror while brushing my teeth, I decide that I look like a fresher version of myself. A version that finally had a good night’s sleep.
    There’s something about Reeves that puts me at ease, that just makes me want to, well, be next to him. His presence seems to distract me from… me. I can’t deny the serious attraction I have for him. If he hadn’t stopped that kiss last night, I would have probably embarrassed myself by climbing him faster than I could say, “slut.”
    I can’t overlook the sting of his elegant rejection. Subtle or not, it was still a rejection. Ouch . I guess I’m just not his type. Note to self, in order to prevent appearing pathetic don’t go at him, again.
    It’s been a while since I let anyone stay for a night, sleep while someone is next to me. It actually bewilders me that I let myself fall asleep next to him at all. I haven’t done that for a very long time.
    Reeves presses the last digit of his number into my phone as I see him to the door, after we have an easy talk over coffees, plural. Each. When his stomach started protesting and we checked my refrigerator for food, or more precisely the lack thereof, he asked if I wanted to join him for breakfast at his place. Just because I did, very much, I declined the invite with an excuse of grabbing something to eat on the way to the studio.
    “So, see you at Jake’s tonight?” He asks, as if we’ve discussed it before. I swallow the smile threatening to stretch my lips, too excited to learn he wants to see me later, again.
    “I guess.” I go for utterly-fake indifference. “We’ll probably be there anyway after the last class.” He cocks his head.
    “Alex and her gang.” The query becomes more evident in his features and I elaborate. “Alex, she’s also an instructor at the studio, and her friends. They go to Jake’s almost every night. I guess you’ll recognize them once you see them. Alex has purplish, spiky hair.” A smile crawls to his lips and stretches his prickly cheek. I notice that the green hue of his eyes is lighter, even brighter in morning daylight, for a short moment I space out, fixated on it.
    “The girls who gave the adult show last night?” I’m pulled back to the present by his question. Busted . He grins, noticing my ogling. I twist my mouth with a hint of a smile.
    “Yep, them.” His face lights up. I shake my head and push him out the door.
    “Bye…” Turning on my heels, I head to get started for the day, beaming.
    ~~~
    I rummage through my