Page 14 of The Accidental Dating Experiment

In the doorway of the main bedroom, I stand scratching my jaw, trying to understand why anyone over the age of twelve would want bunk beds at all, let alone two king-size ones stacked on top of each other. I hunt for words and come up blank except for the obvious. The only thing to say, actually: “Why?”

Next to me, Juliet gawks at the double serving of bed. She must be wondering the same damn thing.

Except…nope.

She’s not gawking. She’s grinning, then running past me into the room and diving onto the lower mattress. “This is the best,” she says, flopping face down, then moving around like she’s making snow angels on the bed.

I’m still no closer to an answer. “Do you really want to sleep staring at another bed three or four feet from your face?”

“One, I don’t stare while I sleep.”

I roll my eyes. “You know what I mean. Don’t we outgrow the desire for bunk beds?”

“You’re such an only child,” she says into the mattress. “And no. Bunk beds are like birthday cards with money in them. You never outgrow that.”

Damn. She’s not wrong about that.

“Besides,” she continues, “haven’t you ever heard of fun? Kitsch? Nostalgia?”

“Sure. But that doesn’t mean I want to sleep in a bunk bed.”

She rolls over, propping up on her elbows to face me, but then she tips her head back. “Oh.” The word comes out a little sensual. She points upward, a mischievous smile on her face. “Right there, Love Doctor. That’s your why.”

As I step into the room, I look where she’s pointing.

Wow.

The underside of the top bunk is a mirror. I’m intrigued, and I sit on the foot of the mattress next to Juliet, looking up.

But hold on. There’s more of us.

I pop off the bed and crane my neck to see the ceiling, where there’s a mirror above the top bunk too. I let out a low whistle of…approval.

I didn’t see either mirror when I was standing in the doorway, but now I see both clearly. Now, I’m not considering the why of bunk beds. I’m contemplating the why of mirrored ceilings.

As if I needed an incentive to think after-dark thoughts of Juliet. Now I’ve got all these reasons reflecting back at me.

I take a few moments then clear my throat, trying to clear away the dirty thoughts. “I stand corrected. I get it now,” I say.

“Then get back here and enjoy the full mirror experience.”

I don’t need the temptation of being next to her in bed. I’ve reached a nice, even Zen in our working relationship. No need to rock it. “I’m all good.”

“C’mon Doctor Stuffypants,” she taunts. “Remember? Birthday card with money. You just need to try it once.”

“Twist my arm,” I say, and I definitely don’t hate being near her in bed. But that’s sort of the problem.

I park my ass on the edge of the bottom bed again. That should be enough.

She grabs my shoulder, her tone excited. “C’mon. All the way. You have to see it.”

Not helpful.

I lie back on the bed, keeping several inches between us. It’d be rude to lie too close to my co-worker. Also, I don’t need the temptation when her eyes distract me every damn day.

They’re pretty. Really pretty.

And, yeah, that’s not helpful at all, seeing her and me, reflected back. Seeing her inviting smile, her bright eyes, her exuberance.