Beautiful PRICK by Sophia Kenzie Page A

“Can I stay here tonight?”
     
    He pulls me to his chest and hugs me. He’s never hugged me
before, and I didn’t ask for a hug. But wow, it’s exactly what I need.
     
    How did he know?
     
    After a few seconds, I wrap my arms around his ribs and let
my weight collapse into him. It feels good to be held, especially when that
holding has intention. I close my eyes and let it happen. I allow myself to
feel comforted.
     
    He buries his nose into my hair and sighs. I can’t help the
smile that spreads across my face, even if I do try for a split second to hold
it back. But I don’t try very hard, because for someone so God-awfully
annoying, he’s good at this kind of stuff.
     
    “I’ll sleep on the couch.” He whispers when he finally lets
go.
    “You don’t have to…”
    But he doesn’t let me finish, and I’m so happy for it. I
want to sleep in a bed.
     
    Hell, I just want to sleep.
     
    We say goodnight and he flips the light off as I curl up
under the covers. I close my eyes, and allow my exhaustion to finally take
over.
     
    And take over, it does.
     
    Until I feel him shake me awake.
     
    “Wake up. Caroline, wake up.”
    “What? What?” I spring up, fearing a catastrophe has
happened. “Is it an earthquake?”
    “An earthquake?” He stops shaking me, and laughs.
    “Yeah, California has earthquakes. Don’t laugh. It’s bound
to happen sometime.”
    “California does have earthquakes.” He agrees with me.
    “Then why are you laughing?” Now I’m getting defensive. Why
won’t he stop laughing?
    “Because California isn’t currently having an earthquake.”
    “Then why’d you wake me up?” I purse out my lips to show him
I’m not happy about it.
    “You must have been having a nightmare, you were screaming.”
He pushes my hair from my face, suddenly changing.
    “I didn’t realize.” My eyes refuse to focus, as I’m still
half asleep, but it makes sense. I don’t remember the nightmare, but I can feel
it. Maybe that’s why I thought it was an earthquake. I can feel the ache in my
bones. “I’m so sorry.”
    “Don’t be.” He caringly smiles. “I just wanted to make sure
you were okay.”
    “I am.” I nod, but I think I’m lying.
    “Good.” I can tell he doesn’t believe me, and I’m okay with
that. For some reason, I don’t want to hide from him. “Then I’ll…” his gaze at
me softens. “I’ll get back to the couch.
    I let him reach the door before I stop him. “Wait.”
    “Yes?” He quickly spins back around.
    “Stay.”
    “Here?”
    “Please?”
     
    He’s already in bed and under the blankets before he says,
“of course.”
     
    That certainly didn’t take much convincing.
     
    He keeps his distance, which I really appreciate, and yet,
honestly, am slightly disappointed by. But just knowing he’s there makes me
feel safe.
     
    I feel a little guilty after hanging up on Nick earlier that
I’m now laying in the same bed as Johnny. It’s not like anything is happening
or will happen, and yet I still feel guilty. Or maybe it’s that I feel guilty
that I don’t really feel guilty.
     
    Emotions: what the heck?
     
    I begin to drift back off to sleep, but before I do, I reach
my hand out to the center of the bed. I don’t really know why, or what I’m
hoping for, but when I feel his fingers wrap around mine, it all makes sense. He
must have been hoping for the same thing. I close my eyes and fall asleep.
     
    The next time I open my eyes, the sun is shining through the
lightly draped windows, and I can feel its warmth on my face. I haven’t moved,
I’m still curled up on the same side of the bed, but Johnny is no longer on his
side. He’s wrapped around me,his arm slung over
mine, and his leg wrapped around my hip.
     
    But I don’t say anything. I just lay there with a smile on
my face.
     
    Johnny Braylock, my childhood crush, is snuggling with me.
     
    Life can be pretty funny sometimes.

 
     
    CHAPTER SIXTEEN
     
    Johnny’s been on set