Carol looked at me wide-eyed for a second, then she answers, "Umm... more than 10, I guess!" Michael looks up at her in shock. "What? How are you going to manage that?" Michael asks her with visible pain in his voice. "What? She meant sexual partners overall. Not simultaneously. Right?" she looks at me for clarification. "Yeah, but I would want to hear from Michael why he thought it was simultaneous?" I said Dylan kept looking at me as though he was trying to read me.
"Oh! Well, I think that has to do with our psyche, right Dylan?" Michael justified, Dylan, turned to him with a shrug as though he was avoiding the chance to make a statement. "Ah! You're a changed man! I get it. I am the player in the group now!" Michael sat there like a lost puppy with a sad face; Carol threw her hands around him in response. Dylan looked at me again, as though he was wanting to ask me something. I sat there, pretending to be unaware of his eyes on me.
Michael suddenly looked at his watch and exclaimed, "Oh no! It's 11 already. I have to get home, guys. I have a dog to feed and a job to get to tomorrow." He stood up and looked at Carol, expecting her to join him. "You're not coming, Carol?" he asked.
"Ah! I will sleep here anyway; I have to come back tomorrow to babysit Meg." I looked at Dylan in horror. Now, this was going to be a problem. "Oh! That's okay, Carol! You can come in the afternoon. I feel a lot better now." I said, trying to avert the disaster.
"Don't worry, you two! I will sleep here on the couch, with buds in my ears. You guys can break the bed, and I will not hear one thing." Carol said, looking at both of us. "Alright, then! So that is sorted. I will see you guys later. Bye, Carol!" Michael said and kissed Carol goodnight before walking out of the door.
Dylan and I looked at each other, not knowing what to do or what to say. "Maybe I should go home!" Dylan whispered into my ear. "You think so?" I asked; I couldn't hide the unknown pain that reflected in my eyes when he said he was leaving. "What are you guys whispering? Don't worry, go in and do what you think. I will go to sleep." Carol said, pushing us away before crashing on to the couch.
"Now, I don't think that will be a good idea," I whispered to Dylan as we knew if she saw Dylan leave, she would start suspecting this whole arrangement. And her finding out will be the worst-case scenario, she will never let me do this, and I knew she would be right for doing that. Dylan looked at me helplessly, only to break into a smile, which lightened my mood as well.
Whenever he smiled, I felt he was weirdly familiar to me. I knew him a lifetime ago or something, as though, we were meant to meet but in the wrong circumstances. Dylan walked into the bedroom, shaking his head and trying to suppress his laughter. I looked at him, not knowing what he found so funny. Carol looked at with her evil eyes. As though she was picturing in her head about all those things we would do in that room together. Only if she knew, I thought to myself.
"Goodnight, Carol!" I said as I walked without giving much strain to my left leg into the bedroom. I felt relieved that I was now able to walk by myself. She returned my goodnight with a wink and a thumbs-up; whatever she meant by that, I smiled as I walked into the room.
I saw Dylan sitting on the bed as I entered the room. Our eyes were talking way too much tonight than we ever did through words. "Close the door!" he said in a hushed tone. I narrowed my eyes in response as I didn't understand what his intentions were or where he was going with this opportunity.
"Listen! We can't risk Carol finding out about us. And you will have to get used to us sleeping together in a room we will have to do that a lot in my family's presence." I was still confused with many questions running in my head, but he was right; we couldn't risk her knowing about us in any way. And getting used to us sleeping together was a far-fetched concept for me as I was finding it hard to getting used to him in the first place.
I turned around to lock the door. He kept on watching me as I looked over my shoulder at his face. "You want to try this on for me?" he asked, picking up the bag which had the dress he brought for me, as I turned around. I took the bad from his hand, and I walked into the washroom to change. My heart was beating so fast my temperature was rising. It was a strange feeling; my head was having a debate of its own if the pact stands or not.
I changed into the gown and looked at myself in the mirror. It was see-through all over my neckline, belly, and throughout my legs, and as it was a full-length gown, I had a beautiful trail behind me, which made me look like I was going to walk on the red carpet. I have never seen such a beautiful dress in my life, let alone wear it. I took a deep breath before I walked out of the washroom.
I slowly opened the door of the washroom, entering the room, reluctant to look at Dylan yet. He stood up from where was sitting, looking at me walking in. "Oh my god! I have not seen anyone look so cute and hot at the same time. You're so beautiful, Meg!" He said as he walked closer to me. I looked up at him; I knew my eyes were again letting out all its secret.
"I have something to ask you, Meg!" Dylan said. "You can change into your lounge clothes; I just wanted to make sure if this fits you well," Dylan said and sat back down on the bed. I was low-key disappointed at the way he responded. But I felt a little taken aback when he said he wanted to speak to me. I turned and went back into the washroom to change back into my lounge shorts and tee.
I came back in and sat on the bed from the other side. I noticed Dylan had changed into his tee and shorts. He looked at me as I sat on the bed. He turned and stretched his feet, and turned to face me; I looked at him without knowing what to expect. "Meg! You have to be very honest with me here." He started; I was feeling nervous already. "Do you have feelings for me?" He asked, and I sat there, not knowing how to respond.
I wanted to address it since yesterday, and here was asking me the big question himself. My logic side switched off; maybe it was the beer or just me being lovestruck, I had no idea, but my mouth was hellbent on lying to him tonight. "Of course not!" I laughed. He continued to stare at me with a straight face as though he was trying to read me closely.
"What makes you think that?" I asked, looking at him. His face was stone cold; this was the first time I was seeing him like this; it didn't feel that right. "I was noticing some things, like the way you look at me, how you wanted to kiss me more, and that fucking dare. I don't think you're one of those who would be like that with a guy like me without having something for real. No offense, but you're not a that great actor." He explained it did make sense of how he came to that conclusion, and I was pretty impressed at how he derived it.
But right now, I had to protect my ass. "Maybe you underestimated me! Well, I do feel sexually attracted to you, can't lie! You're hot, and having you this close with no touching rule is hilariously torturous." I said in one breath, without meeting his eyes. Talking about emotions to a man who is scared of them would do no good for me, I knew.
He looked at me, the same way he looked at me that night, as though he was undressing me with his eyes. "What are you looking at?" I asked; I could feel my cheeks burning again as I felt his eyes piercing through my body.
"So, what are the bed rules?" he asked, "since we will do this a lot, it's good if we know our boundaries." I slowly got up and walked to my cupboard to pick up a thick blanket and made a wall in between our two sides of the bed. "Oh! So I have to stay on this side of the bed and you on that side." He said, looking at my little wall.
"Precisely, yes!" I smiled at him, then crashed into my pillow, sliding into my comforter. He watched me and smiled as I looked at him from my most comfortable sleeping position. "So what if you break the wall at night and put your hands on me? Am I allowed to act on it?" Dylan asked as he crashed into the pillow himself.
"Of course not! Well, I am a very silent, peaceful sleeper; I won't be doing that." I said, turning my back to him. "Okay, then! Goodnight, Meg!"
I smiled and returned his goodnight. I felt terrible thinking back at my half-lie; I don't know why I am not able to bring myself to tell him how I feel. Why do I feel so obligated to help him? I didn't know when I passed out.
My consciousness return as I feel a hand around my belly. I open my eyes and turn to look at Dylan lost in his deep sleep, but the wall was down, and we were hugging each other in our sleep. I try to move his hand off my belly, but he grabs me even, but I was sure he was completely asleep.
I look at his peaceful face, which was just inches away from mine and, realize how much I liked this man. I felt so complete lying under his grip, so safe and comfortable I could ever be. I snuggled into him and dozed off in minutes, unaware that we broke our first bed rule. I didn't regret it, though, but I don't know what he would say when he finds out himself.
Whatever was the cost, I prepared myself to pay to have these moments with him. Maybe I was falling for real.