Accidentally In Love - Chapter 5
"Are you going to keep standing there or are you going to get in?" Jason sat up on his elbows on the bed. His bare chest was exposed; his waist was covered by a sheet.
"It's just a little awkward. You know, sleeping in the same bed." Alexis wrapped her arms protectively around herself. She wore a black satin pajama set, which covered her from neck to toe.
Jason sighed. "We've already been sleeping together for a week. The only thing that's different is tomorrow I won't wake up with a bad back."
It was true. For a week, Jason and Alexis had been sleeping together on the sofa. It was the only way she'd been able to fall asleep after the Jerry incident. On the second night Alexis was at the Penthouse, Jason learned a valuable lesson: Everyone needed help sometimes; even the people you least expected.
He passed by her room, late that evening. He thought he'd heard her stirring moments earlier. Suddenly, he heard her scream out. When he checked on her, he learned that in her dreams Jerry lived on. In her dreams, Jason never showed up and Jerry managed to choke the life out of her.
That night Jason brought her chamomile tea. Together, they sat on the sofa in silence. She suggested that he go up to bed and not worry about her.
Instead, he asked her, "Did you sleep last night?"
She shook her head, "no."
"Would it help if I stayed here with you?" He placed a pillow in his lap. He watched her face. He could see she wanted to refuse his offer. However, exhaustion overtook her and she simply stretched out and rested her head on the pillow. They'd both fallen asleep there in similar positions for the last week. He often watched her before he drifted off; taking in her elegant features. For the last couple of days, he'd stroked her hair while she slept. He hoped it might bring her some added measure of peace.
They hadn't spoken of her need to sleep or his helping her to do so until this morning. Afraid his back couldn't take another night on the sofa and aware that Graciella might be called as a witness in a trial against one or both of them; he raised the subject.
"Graciella comes back from vacation tomorrow. She might think it's strange if she finds us sleeping on the sofa every morning." He knew she'd never agree to sleep in the same bed with him without a good reason. He also knew she would have the nightmares if she tried to sleep alone. Now that Kristina and Molly were at the Penthouse with them, he was afraid the screams from her nightmares would scare them. So, he gave her an out.
"What are you suggesting?"
"That we sleep in the same bed on the nights before Graciella comes to work."
"Fine." She'd left for her office without a word.
He thought that was the end of it, until now when she wouldn't actually get in the bed. She eyed him suspiciously. "Do you have to sleep half-naked? This was not part of the deal."
"I get too hot if I sleep in a shirt."
"We could crank up the air conditioner." She raised a hopeful eyebrow.
He collapsed on his back. "I'm going to sleep. Sleep where you want."
"Fine." She climbed in quickly and pulled the covers to her chin.
Sometime during the night, Alexis lost her shyness. When he awoke, he found her laying against him with her head snuggled into his neck. He wondered how one woman could smell that good so early in the morning. Her hair smelled like fresh cut flowers.
"Mr. Morgan, there are two little girls in the guest..." Graciella entered. She was immediately embarrassed.
While Alexis slept, he explained that Alexis and her girls would be living there. Graciella smiled and commented that Alexis had always been a pleasure to work for. Soon enough, she was gone.
The day should have gotten progressively easier. Alexis went off to work an hour later. Kristina went to school. Viola picked Molly up for her playgroup. He had some accounting he planned to look over before his insta-family returned home. The problem was he found it very hard to concentrate. Images of Alexis and her girls kept flashing through his mind. He'd always kept Sonny and Carly's boys, but he'd never spent so much time with little girls. In one week, he'd played two games of trouble, had three tea parties and painted two sets of nails.
Then there was Alexis. During this same week, he'd learned she was not just the nonsense lawyer she allowed the world to see. She was funny. And she was both street-smart and naive. Surprisingly, she was a great kisser; even if she only kissed him in public. All in all, he'd really begun to enjoy her company. After another failed attempt at punching numbers, he decided he'd stop by her office and see her.
Most people around town had already learned they were a couple. Alexis had seen to that. On the fourth day of their arrangement, they'd taken the girls to Kelly's for lunch. The usual suspects were there: Robin, Patrick, Ned, Jax, Elizabeth and Kate. They'd told Jax and Elizabeth on Day three, along with Ric who was an expected nightmare. He'd been pleasantly surprised by Jax. Sure, he expressed disappointment that Alexis was with Jason, but Jax seemed most upset to know that Jerry hurt Alexis. On the other hand, Elizabeth was crushed by the news. She'd unsuccessfully fought back tears.
They'd decided it was best for people to get used to seeing them together which was why they decided on Kelly's. The girls immediately ran toward the kitchen to see "Grandpa Mike." He and Alexis sat at a table. In an unscripted moment, she reached out, took his hand and kissed it then drew it to her cheek. He was touched by the tenderness of the moment. Without thinking, he leaned in and kissed her tenderly on the mouth. It was this image that flashed in his mind now.
He entered Alexis's office and greeted her receptionist, who'd been familiar with him from the time he dated Sam. She told him Alexis was in with, "her ex." He couldn't be surprised; their encounter with Ric the day before was less than pleasant. They told him about "their relationship" when he dropped Molly off at the Penthouse. It was no surprise Ric threatened to keep Molly away from Alexis...until he threatened him. What was surprising was the way Ric became fixated on Alexis. He'd gone from implying she was tramp to insinuating their recent coupledom was fraudulent. Now, he was sticking to her like glue.
Jason smiled as he thought about the prospect of playing jealous boyfriend with Ric. It game him the opportunity to rough Ric up a bit or at least making him pay for sleeping with Sam while Alexis had cancer.
He opened the door to her office expecting an argument or at least a heated discussion. What he hadn't expected was to see her embracing another man or the twinge of jealous he felt inside. "Sonny? Alexis? What's going on?"