EIGHTEEN

NATHAN

Vera looked up at me with surprise.

"You mean you're going to spend the night here?" she asked.

I nodded, the raised an eyebrow. "Do you have a problem with that?" I asked.

She shook her head hurriedly. "No, I don't. It's just…" she bit her lips and her cheeks became tinted with red. "The couch is messed up," she said.

Her eyes flicked to the couch and I followed it. There were all kinds of wraps on the couch, and if they were any indication, there should be a carpet of crumbs and bits too.

She hadn't been here all through the day, so these must be from yesterday. I grimaced. How can she keep my place so neat and hers so messy?

I turned back to her.

"Yep. It is," I agreed. The tint deepened.

"I could clean it up though. It won't be perfect, but it should be —"

"I'm not sleeping on the couch," I stated flatly.

The embarrassment on her face morphed into confusion. "There's nowhere else…unless you're sleeping on the floor?"

I had to bite back a chuckle. If only she knew…

"I'm slee