Page 93 of Down Beat

“Where’s the bathroom?” I stick my head in each door, unsure how I’ve missed it.

“Each room has its own,” Rey explains as he sets my bags down in the middle of the living space.

Sure enough, empty drink bottles, food wrappers, and clothing lie scattered all over the plush furniture.

“It’s just like they’re at home, I imagine,” I say, pointing to the mess.

Rey shoves a bunch of T-shirts aside and smiles sheepishly. “We’re boys. We’re messy.”

“Honestly, I don’t care.” My hands clap together, loud in the huge room. “So where do I sleep?”

Upmarket style aside, surely one of these sofas folds out?

“With me.”

I snap my gaze to Rey, suddenly all too aware it’s just me, him, and a huge empty suite. “Okay?”

“Is that all right?” He rubs one arm. “I can probably arrange something else if it’s not.”

“No, it’s fine.” I mean, yeah we’ve kissed. So it’s no big deal to share a bed, right?

This is such a big deal. Does he think I’m not here for the mental coaching, because I’m clearly down with more? But at the same time I don’t want to come off as easy.

Why is this so hard? This is why I’ve avoided serious relationships so successfully until now. Exactly! Who said this was serious? Play it casual, play it cool. Take it as it comes, Tabby.

“Wanna let me know what’s going on in there?” Rey takes a step forward, ducking to look me in the eye.

“I was in my head again, wasn’t I?”

“Just a little.” He smiles.

“Sorry.” I take a step toward him also and slide my arms around his middle when we meet. “Kendall tells me off for it all the time. You better get used to it.”

“Huh.” His arms band around my shoulders, squeezing me tight. “What were you thinking, though?”

“About how out of my depth I am. I have no fucking clue what I’m doing.”

“You’ll do fine. You’ve got me.” He chuckles, pulling away to look me in the eye. “Come on. I’ll show you how fucking awesome the bed is.” He takes off, unaware of how that sounded as he continues. “You’re gonna love it after last night. It’s like a fucking cloud.”

I head toward the room he disappeared into, my nerves pinging as I literally step over the threshold from safe and open territory into intimate and personal space.

Rey lies on the enormous bed, one hand behind his head as he pats the mattress with the other. “Try it.”

“It’s a bed, Rey,” I level. “I’m sure it’s fine.”

“Try it,” he repeats, low and persuasive.

“Ugh. Fine.” I kick my Uggs off and climb up.

Holy shit. It’s like there’s a gazillion fluffy bunnies all holding me up. “It’s so soft, and yet it’s not too soft, if that makes any sense.”

“I know, right?”

“I want one.”

“I’ll buy you one.” He rolls to face me, a grin splitting his face from ear to ear. “We could share it.”

“Whoa.” I lift both hands between us, as well as both eyebrows. “Slow down there, tiger.”