Chapter Forty-Three - Too close.

McKenna

The sound of knocking on my bedroom door wakes me from my sleep. Who is that at this time? Paxton. I glance over and see him sound asleep next to me still. Shit that means it can only be one other person: my brother.

I panic, and before even thinking, I push Paxton out of bed onto my floor.

“What the fuck?” he hisses.

“You need to stay down there. Carter is at my bedroom door.” I whisper.

I can’t see his face, but I am sure he is freaking out as much as me. I quickly climb out of my bed and rush to the door, opening.

“Everything okay? You don’t usually wake me up at this time?” I ask.

“What was the loud banging noise? Did you sneak someone in last night?” he asks with a raised brow.

Yes, brother, your best friend. I don’t think that would go down well.

“I kicked my bedside table when I climbed out of bed. You know me, so clumsy.” I laugh.

“Sorry, I woke you. Did you hear Paxton leave last night? He isn’t in his room. I wanted to ask him if he wanted to meet me after work for steak and beers. Did he mention to you he was leaving?”

I shake my head, “No, I didn’t hear anything. Maybe he couldn’t sleep and went for a run.” I suggest.

I can’t exactly tell him the truth.

“I am sure. Let me know, will you? I worry he went out last night and got himself into some trouble.” He sighs.

“I am sure he will be fine. There aren’t many ways for him to get himself into trouble while here,” I chuckle, “I will make sure he texts you when he arrives back.”

He nods, “Thank you. Sorry for disturbing you.”

I smile and close the door. I head over to the bed and crawl to the other side. I glance down, making sure Paxton is okay. He is lying on the floor, glaring up at me. I don’t mean to, but I bust out laughing.

“I am sorry. I didn’t know what else to do.” I say between giggles.

“I am glad I can amuse you.” He huffs.

I probably could have woken him up and told him to get out of my bed, but I wasn’t thinking straight. I did the first thing I could think of. We weren’t doing anything but sleeping, but Carter wouldn’t have cared about that. He would see red if he caught Paxton in my bed. He wouldn’t think before pouncing.

I offer Paxton my hand to help him up. He takes it, and I help him as best I can. He is a muscular guy and isn’t easy to pull up. I scoot over to my side of the bed, and he climbs back in next to me.

“You didn’t hurt yourself, did you?”

“No, I am fine. What would you have done if I had hurt myself? Kiss it better for me?” he smirks.

I roll my eyes, “Do you want me to push you off my bed again? I will.”

He chuckles, “No, thank you. Once is enough for one day.”

I nod, “You should text my brother soon or find a way to make it seem like you have just come in from a run or something. He is worried something has happened to you.”

I can understand my brother’s worry, especially given the trouble Paxton was getting himself into before he came here. My brother has dealt with him more than anyone else, and he knows what he has been through more than anyone else.

“Do you think I could shimmy down the drainpipe without breaking my neck?” he asks.

“Don’t you dare? You aren’t a teenager anymore. You don’t have the same strength and fearlessness from back when you sneaked into girl’s windows using the drainpipe.” I laugh.

He has always been a lady’s man. I can only imagine how many windows he has climbed in and out of. He isn’t doing it here because it is too high.

Paxton holds his hand in the air, “Fine. I won’t. How else am I going to get out of here?”

“Sneak to your room and change before going downstairs. You can tell him you came in while he was showering.” I suggest.

He nods, “Good idea. I will see you in a bit.”

He sneaks out of my bedroom, making sure there is no sign of Carter. I hope he doesn’t get caught, or he will need to come up with another excuse on the spot. I sigh and lie back down. That was too close. There is no point in trying to get back to sleep because it won’t work until I know we haven’t been busted.

I groan and pull my ass out of bed. I may as well go downstairs. I pull a hoodie over my pjs and head down. There is no one around. Cater must be in the shower, and Paxton must be in his room still. I start some coffee for everyone.

I hear someone come downstairs, and the front door opens and closes again. I assume it is Paxton, pretending he has just arrived back. He appears in the kitchen in shorts and a tee, his hair looking wet.

I snicker, “Did you splash water on your hair?”

He laughs, “Yes. I wanted to make it more believable. Where is he?”

“In the shower.”

“What are you doing up?” he asks.

“I wouldn’t have gotten back to sleep not knowing what was going on downstairs, so I decided to get up. You should probably jog on the spot or something if you want him to believe it because you don’t look like you have been for a run.” I say.

Paxton runs on the spot, and I sit back, watching and laughing at him. We hear Carter come downstairs, and he stops.

“Where did you go?”

“I went for a run. I woke and couldn’t get back to sleep.” Paxton lies.

He nods, believing his story. He has no reason not to. I smile and head to the coffee machine, pouring us all some. The three of us sit down at the breakfast bar.

“Why are you up? Is it because I woke you up?” Carter asks.

“It is fine. I may go back to bed soon.” I smile.

I will wait until he leaves and see how I feel. It is only six-thirty, so there is no need for me to be up this early, the same as Paxton. He may go back to sleep, too. I probably shouldn’t have invited him into my bed last night, but I had no other intention than to maybe help him sleep. I hope I didn’t give him the wrong idea. I still meant what I said to him. Nothing can happen between us again, not after everything that happened in New York. Sticking with it won’t be easy, but I need to. It is best for everyone.

I get lost in my thoughts as I sip my coffee.

“Are you okay, dimples?” Paxton asks.

I look at him and smile, “Yes, fine. I am trying to decide if I want to go back to bed.” I laugh.

I don't know if he believes me, but he smiles and nods. He may ask again when it's only the two of us. I will tell him the same answer and make him believe it.