“I don’t give a fuck about the rules right now,” he says with complete conviction. “You need a friend and that’s what I’m going to be. I’ll sleep on the couch—I don’t care where I am as long as I know you’re safe.”
I pick up the shirt he laid out for me and pull it over my head. I crawl toward the bed and slide under the covers, sighing when my head hits the pillow.
“You don’t want to take a shower first?”
“No. I just want to forget tonight ever happened.”
“Oh. Okay. Well…I’ll be out in the living room if you need anything.”
I sit up. “Gavin, don’t go.”
He looks at the empty spot on the bed. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”
“Please just stay with me for a bit.”
He joins me on the bed and lays down on top of the covers. “Do you want me to turn something on from Netflix?”
“Sure. What’d you have in mind?”
He gets a boyish smile on his face. “Okay…if anyone asks about this, I will deny it until I’m six feet under.”
“And what’s that?”
“I’m going through a Dawson’s Creek binge right now. Wanna watch it with me?”
I can’t help it; I laugh until I’m snorting. “Are you serious?”
Gavin grabs the remote and begins flipping through the menu. “Completely serious. I never joke about The Creek.”
“Wow…I have no words.”
He bumps his shoulder into mine. “C’mon, you’ll love it. Have you ever seen it before?”
“Of course I have!” I reply. “Do you know how many Dawson ugly cry memes there are in existence? I had to know the source.”
“Yeah, I’m definitely Team Pacey all the way. Dawson is way overrated.”
I smirk. “Oh my God, when did you grow a vagina? I could’ve sworn you were a dude.”
His expression changes from jovial to angry in an instant. “We both know damn well I’m one-hundred-percent male. Don’t make me prove it to you, Kat.”
And with that, my expression morphs into equal parts stunned and horny. “Uh…”
He clears his throat and pushes a button on the remote. “And on that note…let’s forget I said that and get lost in North Carolina teen angst.”
“Okay, but make sure it’s an episode that has Mitch in it. Dawson’s dad is where it’s at.”
“You like older men, huh? I’ll have to remember that.”
I burrow under the covers and yawn. “I walked right into that one, didn’t I?”
He smirks. “Pretty much.”
“Just hit play, smartass.”
“Now that, I can do.” He presses play and the opening sequence begins.
As we lay there watching the show, I begin to slowly drift off. I smile softly when I feel Gavin petting my hair. My eyes close as I give myself over to this wonderful feeling. For the first time in my life, I fall asleep feeling completely safe.