Never in her life had she wanted to kick herself harder than she did in that moment. Devastatingly, her exuberance did not go hand in hand with gracefulness. Evidently, the two couldn't reside in her body at the same time.

She'd opened the door forcefully, and what was done was done. It produced a noise. Just like in any traditional sitcom, it hit a chair beside the nearby wall in one soul-crushing swing before she could prevent the powerful impact. The all-too-familiar drill of terrible luck.

He had been sleeping. Not snoozing lightly, like he often did. The man had been sleeping as sweetly as a newborn human who'd just fought his way into the world.

His head snapped from his pillow straight away. The muscles in his face were adjusting in the transition between complete relaxation and wakefulness.

"This better be important," he grumbled, relieved, yet grumpy when he realized it was her. His head returned back to his pillow almost immediately.

She considered apologizing but decided against it.

She kept her underwear on and walked the few steps towards his bed as silently as she possibly could. As if it was any use.

She joined him in his bed, the one he'd chosen the mattress for. And the bedding, and the pillows.

"You know, for such a slender woman, you're annoyingly loud," he informed her without opening his eyes. He was laying on his left side, and his chest looked inviting and soft. She moved her body towards him until her belly made a silent impact with his. Her arm proceeded to wrap itself around his middle and her head was met with the fine hair of his chest and his right nipple.

"So, I woke you up, huh?" she giggled when he pinched the skin over her ribcage in revenge. It hurt. He hugged her middle, his arm heavy and unapologetic before she could tell him he'd caused her well-deserved pain.

"Sorry," she whispered and kissed his chest. Twice, thrice. He kissed her forehead, tit for tat.

All was forgiven.

"Shut up, Lizzie." Sound advice.

She followed it.

Author's Note: Gotcha! What, did you think he was bedding another woman?! Come on now, you know me better than that! Oh, chapter 18 ends here.