I laughed. “That was entirely mean.”
“Wasn’t it?”
“But I know you’re lying.”
“You do?”
“Yep.” I moved my hand, gently touching her cheek. Her eyes snapped open, and I smiled down at her. “You’re going to miss me, but you’re not going to admit it.”
Shortcake was silent as I trailed my fingers from her jaw to her chin, coming close to her bottom lip. “I’ll miss you.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
Her eyes drifted closed as she relaxed against me once more. I continued to trace a path from her cheek to her lip, haunted by what she had said in her sleep. “You talk in your sleep.”
Her eyes opened, and I swear she paled. “I do?”
I nodded.
“Are you messing with me? Because I swear to God, if you’re messing with me, I’m going to hurt you.”
That unease was back, and I wasn’t sure why. “I’m not messing with you, sweetheart.”
She sat up, twisting on the couch, facing me. “What did I say?”
“Nothing really.”
“For real?” Her expression was so earnest and so serious I wished I hadn’t said anything.
I leaned forward, scrubbing my hands down my face. “You were just murmuring stuff. I couldn’t really make out what you were saying.” I looked at her. “It was kind of cute.”
She held my gaze, seeming to take what I said as word and then glanced at the clock. “Holy crap, you suck at your special ability at knowing the time.”
I shrugged. I knew it was well past three in the morning. “I guess I should be going home.”
She opened her mouth, closed it, and then tried again. “Be careful when you drive.”
Standing, I stretched my back. “I will.” And before she could freak on me, I bent down and kissed her on the forehead. “Good night, Avery.”
Her eyes were closed, hands balled together in front of her chest. When she spoke, it sounded like she was whispering a prayer. “Good night, Cam.”
I made it to the door before she sprung up like a tight coil, hands gripping the back of the couch. “Cam?”
My heart beat wildly as I stopped. “Yeah?”
She took a deep breath and that heartfelt expression was back. “I had a really good time tonight.”
I smiled and was amazed to see her lips do the same. “I know.” I opened the door, stopping on my way out as I turned to her. She was still there, kneeling on the couch, watching me. “I’ll see you Monday.”
“Okay.”
I didn’t want to leave. “Bright and early.”
The smile reached her eyes, lightening them. “All right.”
And for the first time in forever, I didn’t want to go home. I wanted to stay here. I had to force myself out the door.
Twelve
Jase shocked me with a text before I got out of town, asking if he could tag along. Him going home with me wasn’t so much of a surprise, but I had thought with the four-day break, he’d be at the farm.