When Ashley opened her eyes again, it was to the sound of the movie ending. It’d only taken her maybe ten minutes to pass out. What was really concerning was where she’d slept. She had not only slumped over onto Nathaniel but had cuddled herself into a spot on his chest. Worse, she could see a small spot of drool. His arm moved off her as she moved away and rested itself on his side. Ashley had to admit he was more comfortable than the couch. Maybe it was the winter shirt. Her body ached for her to lay back down but she couldn’t. She wasn’t close to Nathaniel, at least not this way. All the same, she wasn’t sure what to do. He was fast asleep with his head rolled back on the couch. Not wanting to disturb him she looked at the TV. The movie was over but she didn’t want to stop…whatever this was. When she got up to pick a new movie, Nathaniel relaxed more on the couch and stretched out. It was impossible to sit down without sitting on him. She gingerly pushed his leg aside a bit and he perked up instantly.

“What’s the matter?” he asked sleepily. His eyes barely opened as he looked at Ashley. “We getting up?”

“No, I just woke up,” said Ashley, somewhat embarrassed. He knew she’d fallen asleep on him and was okay with it. “You can go back to sleep.”

“Wouldn’t be a good friend if I slept when I’m supposed to be watching you.” He sat up and gave her plenty of room to sit on the couch. “I like this movie anyway.” They sat in awkward silence as the movie started. He yawned and stretched a little. Ashley thought he was about to put his arm around her, but he kept his hands to himself. She realized part of her wanted him to hold her again.

“You know you can go back to sleep,” she said quietly. “It won’t bother me.”

“Why?” he asked. “I can nap at home. I came here to spend time with you.”

“It’s not like we were hanging out earlier when we were asleep.” Nathaniel gave her a small smile.

“You were snuggled up on me trying to keep warm. If that’s not spending time together, I don’t know what is.”

Heat flooded her cheeks but Ashley was sure her whole body went red. It was hard to believe he’d never dated before because he wasn’t nervous at all. He was acting as if her sleeping against him was completely natural. This also threw her mind through a loop. Did he think this was normal and wasn’t even thinking about being closer to her? Or did he want her being close to him after all? His eyes gave nothing away and she found herself smiling at him. He was hard to figure out.

The front door clicked and Ashley stood up quickly. Nathaniel barely moved from his position on the couch, but sat up straighter. He cocked his head back and looked to the door with Ashley. Her dad walked through and was putting away his coat when he called for her.

“Ashley I’m home.”

“Right here dad.”

He turned around with a smile and then he saw Nathaniel. His mouth twitched between a smile and a frown. His eyes darted back and forth quickly to analyze the scene but there was nothing wrong with it. The movie was still within the first ten minutes so it’d been put on recently. Nathaniel was sitting calm and relaxed which suggested he knew he was innocent. Ashley was tense and embarrassed, but nothing was wrong with her either. He made up his mind and approached with a smile.

“Hello Ashley, feeling better? And Nathaniel, what brings you here?”

“I’m just here making sure Ashley is feeling better. I made her some lunch and made sure she was relaxing instead of running out into the snow.”

“I did no such thing!” said Ashley suddenly.

“You were trying to.” Her dad looked at her with a bemused frown. Ashley went a little red and looked away.

“I’ve never seen it snow before,” she said quietly.

“Well you should know better,” said her dad. “What did you have for lunch?”

“Breakfast.” grinned Ashley. Nathaniel stood up off the couch.

“I hope you don’t mind Mr. Jameson,” said Nathaniel. “I borrowed a little food. Ashley tried to make something, but I don’t think it worked out too well.”

“It was alright,” said Ashley madly.

“I’m sure,” said her dad. He walked away into his kitchen and started to work on making himself a snack. “Will you be staying for dinner tonight Nathaniel?”

“No thank you sir. I’ll need to get home in a bit or my mother will have my head. I just wanted to make sure Ashley was doing alright.”

“You’re certainly a good watchdog, aren’t you?”

Both he and Nathaniel shared a laugh. Ashley tried to join in, but she wasn’t sure what to do. She was horribly embarrassed. Why did it feel like she’d been caught making out with Nathaniel? They weren’t like that, but who knew what her dad believed. He was acting in good humor and was messing around, but he was just as hard to read. Her thundering heart refused to relax.

“Well the master is home so the dog may retire.” Nathaniel moved to the door and started to put his boots on.

“Oh I was kidding,” said her dad. “You can stay for a bit even if you’re not having dinner.”

“I’d like to, but if you’re home it must be getting late. My ride home is my dad when he leaves the shop. I have about thirty minutes to get there before he’s done working and begins to wonder where I am.”

“Do you need a ride?”

“No thank you. It’s not too far of a walk and it’s not too cold out.”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

“Can’t argue with that. It’s a nice day for a walk, if you’re not sick.” Alex shot Ashley a look. “When the real snow starts to hit it won’t be so nice.”

“Isn’t that the truth?” Ashley came a little closer and watched as Nathaniel laced up his boot. Her dad headed into the basement with a small sandwich in hand.

“Do you have to go?” she whispered.

“Yes,” he whispered back, “my dad is my ride back. Sometimes we all come down together if he works early.” She nodded. Nathaniel rose and threw his long coat over his shoulder. “Don’t worry. I’ll come back to check up on you again soon enough.”

“Okay,” she said with a smile. She felt herself lean in for a hug without even thinking about it. He put one giant arm around her and wrapped her in a warm hug. She felt herself hold on for a second longer than usual. “Have fun.”

“You too. Get better.”

Nathaniel opened the door and leaned over to her. Ashley’s whole body tingled as she felt his lips on her head. It was quick and fast, but it had happened. It was nothing more than a peck, but she felt him closer to her than he’d ever been before. He gave her one last smile before he closed the door behind him.

Ashley felt her cheeks go redder than a ruby and was glad Nathaniel couldn’t see it. She made her way upstairs and into her room. She peeked out of her window to get one last glance at him. Nathaniel was walking briskly down the street with his coat still over his shoulder. The cold didn’t seem to even bother him.

*

Ashley still had another week off from school. She felt fine and was ready to go back to school, but her dad and doctor refused. They both said she was lucky to be as well off as she was and they didn’t want to push her luck any further. All it might take would be a bad day out in the cold to send her back to her bed full time. She tried to argue the point, but storms were still moving in throughout the week. The snow was thin and usually melted fast, but it was still coming down which meant she had to stay inside.

Staying inside meant agonizing days of boredom. There was only so much to read and watch. Months of hiking, running, and socializing didn’t translate well to enforced isolation. After her third day of being trapped inside, her dad admitted that she was a terrible patient.

With so little to do Ashley’s mind was free to roam and think as it pleased. And all it wanted to think about was Nathaniel. Her feelings for him had been confusing until that quick peck on her head. Worse, the few times she spoke with Liz, Liz acted like they were a couple or something. Liz seemed to have given up on her pursuit of Nathaniel and seemed to accept that he belonged to Ashley now. While she was grateful, it also bothered her because she had no idea what Nathaniel really thought. When she asked Liz, Liz appeared as clueless as her. Nathaniel was unreadable to everyone else and she hadn’t heard from him since his last visit.

The weekend came and passed. On Monday afternoon, Ashley heard knocking. When she opened the door she was pleased to see Nathaniel standing on the other side. His usual long coat was covered in the last remnants of the falling snowstorm. The weather was finally starting to clear up. The storm clouds were moving away and the sun was starting to break out over the town. She instinctively took a step back to let Nathaniel inside even though he didn’t ask. She closed the door and leaned up against it as he took his coat off.

“Where have you been?” she asked.

“Working. Sorry you, but I have to be more places than just here.”

“Yeah I know, just surprised you haven’t been around.”

“Well I’m back. Someone has to come and check up on you.”

“You know other people besides you have come by.”

“Yeah I know, but none of them care as much as I do.”

Ashley blushed. Fortunately Nathaniel turned away so he didn’t see. Ashley looked at how well Nathaniel was dressed and then to herself. She didn’t feel quite as good in her pajamas and blanket.

“I’m going to go get changed real quick. Hold on.”

“Okay.”

Ashley ran up the stairs two steps at a time dragging her blanket with her. She found some clean clothes and changed as quickly as she could. It wasn’t as matching or pretty as she would like but it would do. When she headed downstairs Nathaniel wasn’t in the doorway anymore. She looked around from the stairs, but she couldn’t see him.

“Nathaniel?”

“Yes?” He was leaning against the wall of the stairs next to her. She was so surprised by him she fell onto the closest stair. “Well aren’t you cute,” he laughed.

“Don’t scare me like that.”

“Well at least this way I can check on your head. Hold still.” Nathaniel leaned forward and pulled on the tape of her tiny bandage. She winced a little as he peeled it away and looked at her stitches. “Well they look okay. They should be coming out soon I think. It could use a small clean and a new bandage. Come here.” He took her by the hand and led her into the bathroom. He took a washcloth off the rack and patted the counter. “Up here.”

“Yes doctor,” she said in a patronizing voice.

“Why thank you, but I don’t think I’d make a good doctor.” He wet the washcloth and dabbed her head lightly. She hissed a little and he pulled back. “Sorry. I’ll be lighter.” He dripped some of the water on her head and let it trickle down. The cool water felt both sweet and strange over her wound. He wiped it clear and used the dry end to dab it. He started to look in the cabinet for a new bandage. Ashley clenched her fingers on the counter as she looked at him. With a deep breath she built up enough courage.

“Nathaniel, can I ask you something?”

“Of course.” She wanted to bite her tongue but it was too late. The dam was broken and the words were coming out whether she wanted them to or not.

“Do you remember last Wednesday when I fell asleep on you?”

“Yeah.”

“Why didn’t you try and hold me again when we woke up?”

“Because I knew you were still unsure about me. I care more about you as a friend than to push you away trying to be close.”

“Really? Is that all?”

“Yes. I’m not a very good liar.” Ashley smiled a little. Nathaniel put a new bandage on her head and gently pressed the tape down. He leaned forward and kissed the wound carefully. “Now feel better.”

He turned around and headed out of the bathroom. Ashley looked in the mirror and felt her head. Her heart had skipped a beat and she couldn’t find the strength to get off the counter just yet. It was strange. This was the second time he’d kissed her and it wasn’t even on the lips. Yet her whole body was warm and tingly. Only the sounds of Nathaniel in the kitchen made her remember where she was.

There was something about the way he looked at her. The tone of his voice when he spoke to her. She dropped off the counter and followed him into the kitchen. He was looking through the cupboards.

“What would you like for lunch?” He turned to her with his hands out.

She didn’t answer. She put her arms around his neck and leaned up to kiss him. His lips were rough, but she didn’t let go of them. He bent down so Ashley didn’t have to lean up anymore. When they parted Ashley put her head on his chest and held onto him. He put his arms around her and pulled her in tight. She’d never felt as close to someone as this or as safe in their arms. He kissed her head and nudged her gently. “I think I’ll make us something simple then.”

“As long as you don’t go anywhere you can make anything you want.”

“I won’t. I went through a lot to find you.” He kissed her again.

“Not even going to ask me out on a date?” she whispered, her lips barely apart from his.

“I saved your life, been here for you whenever you’ve needed me, and I’ve been making lunch for you on and off all week. What else do you call that?” She barely had time to grin before he kissed her again.

“I call that you making me lunch on and off, not all week.” He laughed as he brought her in close, kissing the side of her head.

“Adorable brat.”