I mentally fumed at his words. I can't believe that he was capable of being incompetent for someone who looked so dignified.
"We're going to my place. I don't want people seeing you like this," I chided softly as I lightly nudged him to walk while I kept my arm around his waist.
William chuckled and patted my back roughly. "If I've known it would take me being drunk to get you to take me anywhere, I should have done it before."
I rolled my eyes at his comment and paid for our drinks. After that, I ushered him towards the door. And for a brief moment, I enjoyed a drunk and sick William. This was another side of him I've never seen. And it's side of him that I find really cute in a weird way.
Twenty-Seven
"I think he's dead," Terry alleged softly as we lightly placed William's body down on top of my bed.
I rolled my eyes and sat on the edge of my bed. "Can you help me take his clothes off?" I asked inaudibly as I quickly removed one of William's shoes.
"I thought you'd never ask," Terry replied with a huge grin as he rubbed his hands in excitement.
I turned towards him with my eyebrow raised and my hand held up, telling him to stop. "Wait. I change my mind. Can you please order some Chinese take-out, preferably some soup? William would need it when he wakes up."
He stopped mid-stride and eyed me in defeat. I kept my expression serious until he let out a defeated sigh. "Fine. Call me when he starts assaulting you. Wait … I don't care if he does. The man looks dead anyway," he grumbled in reply as he walked out of my room, slamming the door shut in a childish manner.
I chuckled and continued to remove his other shoe and socks. After trying to remove his shirt, I stopped stripping him and pulled the blanket over his body. When I was done, I sat back down on the edge of the bed for a moment and looked at his peaceful, sleeping face.
"Thank you," William suddenly mumbled as his closed eyes fluttered twice.
"For what?" I asked softly, keeping my face blank.
"Thank you for taking care of me," he replied weakly, his eyes fluttering again and closed. He let out a small yawn. "I'm going to stay here for a while," he stated dreamily.
"Sure. I'll leave you," I chuckled at his words and slowly stood up.
"Wait! Can you stay here with me?" he asked aloud, his eyes wide as he sat up in my bed, making me turn around.
I gaped at him for a moment as I stared at his pleading eyes. So, he was awake all this time? "I … I'm … " I stuttered as I tried to come up with an excuse.
"Please," he begged, his voice deep with need. Then, swiftly, he moved out of the bed and grabbed my hand. He tugged me back to where I sat and went back under the covers.
"Okay," I replied softly as I watched his every movement.
He leaned towards me and pushed the blanket aside as he patted down his hand in invitation. "Come on. I know you're tired as well," he noted.
I gapped at him in shock. "I'm not sleeping with you."
"Technically, in an intimate way, that would be impossible. But if you're up for it when I'm better … " he countered with a grin.
I slapped his leg playfully as a smile crept on my face. "Jerk," I mumbled as I shook my head in disbelief. Without thinking too much of it, I crawled on the space William had offered.
With a victorious grin, William pulled the blanket over both of us. I quickly grabbed one of the pillows under me and place it between us like a barrier.
"Don't think I'll let you cuddle me," I stated resolutely, though I couldn't help hide my smile.
"You'll give in one of these days, Andy," William retorted with a chuckle. Then, I felt a slight movement in the bed and gasped as the pillow between us suddenly vanished. "Don't flatter yourself. I don't like cuddling either," he said sarcastically he placed the pillow by our feet.
I rolled my eyes at his comment and turned from his smirking face. I couldn't help but feel happy in the moment, even though nothing had changed between William and me. Or am I the only one assuming it?
I didn't know I fell asleep when I was woken up by a warm, hard surface on my back. Faintly, I could feel something moving behind me. When I realize and heard someone breathing on my neck, I quickly moved away from the figure. I didn't realize I was close to the edge when an arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me back safely from falling off the bed.
"Careful there or you might fall." William's deep raspy voice was by my ear, evoking a sensation through my body.
"Let me go or I'll make sure your mini you won't see the light of day," I hissed in reply as I sat up and moved towards the foot of the bed.
William quickly moved as he raised both of his hands in surrender. "Are you always this feisty?" he asked with his eyebrow raised and a mischievous grin on his lips.
"You should see her kick me out of bed. You're lucky she just squirmed and yelled at you," Terry agreed. His voice suddenly made me notice his presence by my desk.
I stared at him, shocked at his calmness. "How long have you been watching us sleep?" I asked in a low voice as I controlled my anger.
"I don't really know. Since the soup has gone cold, I would say for a while," Terry replied nonchalantly though I could still see the teasing glint in his eyes.
My eyes hardened at his words. I was about to scold him when I heard a faint chuckle beside me. I turned towards William and gave him a dry look, which made him stop mid-chuckle.
With a defeated sigh, I slid out of the bed and stood up while I lightly straightened out my wrinkled clothes.
"I'm going to get something to eat. Stay here and rest. I'll get your soup," I turned back to William as I reached the door and stared him down to make my point clear.
"Yes, ma'am," he replied with a faint southern accent, making me raise my eyebrow at him. He just gave me a wink in reply.
I shook my head in disbelief and got out of the room before things got weirder for me. As I finally took myself out of the current situation I was in, I recounted on what I just did today.
First, I had a make-out session with the man I thought I loathed and then I slapped him "accidentally." Also, I rudely asked him to get out of my father's hospital room, where he clearly overstepped a boundary. And now, I'm taking the responsibility of taking care of him because he is both sick and drunk and he is my boss's brother. I didn't know it would take a day to make life shift so quickly. And I almost forgot, I think I just flirted with him. Yeah, because agreeing to sleep with him is a form of flirting.
I felt the stupidity of my actions. Why do I feel so attuned to his presence? Do I really hate him in the first place? And I did admit to Terry that I had a thing for him. What is happening to me?
"Are you okay?"
I looked up, startled at Terry's entrance. "I'm fine," I assured as I placed a hand on my chest and let out a sigh of relief.
"Good," he studied me for a moment before taking a few steps towards the main door. "I think I'm going to go now. Andrew wants me to pick him up from work," he said as he took another step away from me.
"What? You're leaving me with him?" I squealed in disbelief as I pointed at the door leading to my room.
"You'll be fine. Besides, if he does something to you, just shout to your neighbors," he proposed sarcastically with a light chuckle.
"You're abandoning me … " I pouted my lips in a ploy to make him feel sorry for me.
Terry wasn't falling for it. He laughed at my expression and continued to walk towards the door. I followed behind him, pleading half-heartedly. But in truth, I wanted him to stay. How was I supposed to act normal after what just happened with William and me?
Before I closed the front door, Terry gave me a brief farewell and a few lewd gestures- making kissing faces as he pointed at my bedroom. In reply, I closed the door with a slam. Now I'm alone with a man I may or may not have feelings for.
I silently walked back to the kitchen to check on William's soup that I was reheating. When I was done, I carefully poured the soup in a small bowl and placed it on a tray. I grabbed a bottle of water to go with the soup. With ease, I carried the tray towards my room.
It took me awhile to open the door using my foot since I had my hands full. As I entered the room, I heard a soft rumbling snore coming from my bed. I stopped at the foot of my bed and watch William's peaceful sleeping face. I can't believe he went back to sleep when I just told him I'll be serving him food.
I stood there for a few minutes debating whether to wake him up or not. And after much deliberation, I slowly walked out of the room and quietly closed the door behind me. With a strained sigh, I looked down at the wasted soup and decided to eat it myself.
That night, I decided to sleep on my couch. I've been destined to sleep in one since I've moved into this city. Even when I already had my own bed, fate made it clear that I will go back to sleeping on a couch. I sighed and mumbled a good night to no one in particular as I closed my eyes to a dreamless sleep.