Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 98736 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98736 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
On Thanksgiving Day, Forrest and I spend the day watching movies and catching up. We prep for the big meal the next day. Some years, we’ve gone to the guys' houses and have dinner with their families. They invite us every single year, and we used to go. However, when I turned eighteen and moved in with Forrest, I asked him if we could start our own tradition, and that’s when our movie and prep day started. This was our third year in a row, and I love every second of it.
I can’t tell you how many times I almost broached the subject of Roman and me. I even thought about just suggesting I’d met someone older, but I didn’t want to ruin the day or my visit home. We’re only here until Sunday. We have to drive back for a couple of weeks of exams before we come back home for Christmas break.
By the time I make it to the living room, everyone is sprawled out. Forrest is in his recliner, already looking like he’s half asleep. Maddox is sprawled out on the love seat, while Lachlan and Legend are on one end of the sectional. Monroe and Roman are on the other end, and wouldn’t you know there is just enough space between the two of them for me. I plop down and pull one of the throw blankets off the back of the couch, and snuggle up. I’m already wearing leggings and an oversized sweatshirt. Perfect napping attire.
“Oh, I want one.” Monroe hops up and steals the blanket from the back of the love seat. Maddox doesn’t even put up a fight when she takes it from the back. These guys know we’re always cold. She takes her spot on the couch and snuggles deep.
“Give me some of that,” Lachlan says, and pulls the cover over him as well.
“I’m going to fix this.” Legend gets up and runs downstairs. He comes back with three blankets. He tosses one to Maddox, one to Forrest, and keeps the other for himself.
“What about me?” Roman asks, pretending to be hurt he was left out, but we all know he’s just kidding from the tone of his voice.
“Sorry, only found three. Em, we taught you to share, right?” Lachlan says. He then proceeds to wrap himself up like a burrito on his end of the couch.
“Yeah, Em, share. If I have to, then so do you.” Monroe taunts.
Have I mentioned that I love my best friend? “Fine.” I act like I’m being put out. “But you better not be a cover hog.” I already know he’s not. He just holds me closer so that we’re both snuggled up at night or on the couch. But here, we can’t snuggle, not like we’re used to, but this is better than I could have hoped for this cold Friday afternoon. Belly full, snuggled up with my man and all my favorite people. I’m calling that a win for today’s festivities.
Roman settles the cover over him, making sure that I’m also covered, and his hand immediately finds mine beneath the covers. The room is quiet, with the recorded football game in the background. I’m warm and Roman’s hand is wrapped tightly around mine. The last thing I remember is Forrest and Maddox, both snoring as I drift off to sleep.
My eyes flutter open, and the room is dark. The TV is on, but the volume is still down low. Once my eyes adjust to the lighting, I see Forrest still asleep in his chair, and the others are all asleep too. Even Roman, my human pillow. As bad as I hate to move away from him, I know I need to. I try to sit up and his arms wrap around me tighter. I lift my head just enough to see his eyes, and he’s staring right at me. He bends his head and presses a kiss to my forehead, then sits back and closes his eyes. I glance to my right and see that Legend and Monroe have somehow changed places. She’s curled up on him, just as he is her, and Lachlan has his head in Monroe’s lap.
I smile because the five of us are like a twisted pretzel. Roman’s hand is still locked tightly around mine, and his thumb traces over my knuckles. He’s not ready to break this connection yet, and I know that if I pretend to still be asleep, I can lie here in his arms a little longer. Thankfully, Monroe and the guys have found themselves in a similar situation, which means there shouldn’t be any question as to why I’m using Roman as my pillow.
Closing my eyes, I try to go back to sleep, but it’s no use. Out of nowhere, I hear a thump, then “Motherfucker,” and I can’t help it. I start to laugh. Roman joins in and when I sit up, I see Maddox lying on the floor by the love seat.