I felt Danny next to me, the slight shifting of his breath and the delicate flipping of pages. I sensed his movements were muted, trying to prevent waking me. My intent became the same; I didn't want to disturb him. I laid there in a stalemate for a few more pages before I could no longer take not seeing him. I tried to roll over as though I were still in a dream but just shifting. My hand fell to his stomach, and I felt him tense beneath my touch. My eyes opened to find him frozen in place: one arm tucked behind his head, the other clutching a paperback. His face tipped my way; his gaze locked on me, piercing me.

"I'm sorry; did I wake you?" His smooth voice was so low it rolled over me like the thunder of a summer storm. He was creeping around his room but still apologizing to me. His body looked even taller and leaner than I recalled as he stretched out. He froze; each breath was shallow to keep his chest calm.

"No," a serene smile spread across my face. "How long have I been asleep?"

"A couple of hours." His body relaxed a bit as he tucked the book by his side.

I curled into his chest. I missed being encased in him. My fingers glided over his tattoos. "What was your first tattoo?"

Danny let out a little laugh. "You can't see it anymore." He tapped a round tattoo on his chest.

"Is that a manhole cover?" I slid a finger over it.

"Yeah, I wanted a Portland tattoo but couldn't stomach the usual lighthouses, lobsters, and black bears. A manhole cover seemed more my style." He was right; it fit his style better and, with a rose in the center and Portland, Maine, mingling with the design, it was perfect. "Plus, it fits with what was there."

I tugged my eyes from the tattoo to meet his gaze.

His crooked grin crossed his face. "My first tattoo was Michelangelo." His free arm looped around me, pulling me to him further. "The Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtle."

I tried to stifle the laugh. "That's amazing."

I pushed forward to give him a long kiss. Something about a cartoon being his first tattoo reminded me he was a kid. We were young and, not so long ago, he was watching ninja turtles.

"I love you so much," I beamed as I pulled away with a shake of my head; I couldn't fathom how much I loved him.

"Now, I wish I didn't cover it up." He let out a laugh as I let my head fall back to his chest.

"So, what is your favorite tattoo?" My fingers circled the hidden turtle.

"I think the blue moon."

I remembered Conner saying Danny wouldn't listen to that song, but I stuffed it down, not wanting to change the mood.

"Have you ever thought about getting a tattoo?" He asked as he kissed the crown of my head.

"Me? No, never. I'm not too fond of needles. I'm getting queasy just thinking about my checkup tomorrow." The skin on my inner arms crawled at the thought of the blood draw, but getting tested was the right thing to do. Plus, I could get some shots I needed for college at the same time.

"I was planning on hitting up the clinic on my break tomorrow too." After a moment of silence, he added, "I don't think a tattoo would suit you. It would mess with the product." He grinned before pulling me up for a kiss.

I let myself roll out of the blankets until I was on top of him. His hand moved down my back until he hit the bottom hem of the t-shirt and then froze.

"Pants," he mumbled amid our kiss.

I just kissed him harder, but felt his hands fall away from me. I pulled my lips from his in defeat.

"You don't play fair at all." Ge struggled to pull his eyes to mine as they clung to my legs.

"I wouldn't tease if I didn't think you could handle it." I begrudgingly rolled over and pulled on my shorts.

"We need to get to know each other better if you think I can handle it." His gaze drifted over me before adding, "any of this." He leaned back as I settled into his chest again. "Emma," his voice creaked.

"Yeah." My voice was soft and peaceful as his heartbeat lulled me. The silence calmed me before I realized he was still pausing. "Everything ok?" I lifted my face so I could meet his eyes without leaving the comfort of his chest.

His face softened at my worry. "Yeah, Em," he kissed my temple. "Everything is perfect, but I should get you home."

I let out a sigh and curled deeper into his chest. "I miss you," I whined, not wanting his arms to eject me. "I miss you staying with me."

Danny pulled me in tighter.

"If I wear a snowsuit and promise not to tease you, will you stay tonight?" I added.

His arms tense around me as he pondered the request.

"I miss my best friend," was my last plea.

His arms relaxed around me as his resolve crumbled. "I miss you too." Breathy relief filled his voice. "I'll stay with you, no snowsuit."

"Really?" I didn't even try to hide my excitement.

Danny stifled a laugh. "But no teasing." His expression was sincere.

"We'll just be friends again." I couldn't help but tease one last time.

"You're going to throw that in my face?"

"Sorry, last tease of the day."

"Making promises you can't keep is my job, not yours." There was a facade of humor but also reluctant honesty as he rolled over me to stand.

We didn't even pretend there was another goal when we got to my place. There was no lingering in the living room, flipping through channels and movies. There was no chatter about taking a swim or watching the sunset. Wordlessly, we just ended up in my bed. I put on my Loony Toons pajama pants that, coupled with Danny's t-shirt, would have to meet the no teasing guideline and slid into bed next to him.

"I'm dressed like a 10-year-old boy, and you get to go shirtless?" I muted my protest for fear he may put his shirt back on. My fingers tingled in anticipation of tracing his tattoos.

He just gave a faint shrug as he settled into the pillows.

"I'm glad you're here," I added.

"Me too." His hand slipped beneath my shirt and found the small of my back where his fingertips traced the familiar patterns.

"So, tell me about work," I murmured without lifting from his chest.

"It's not bad. I enjoy working with my hands. The cars make sense to me."

"I wonder if I'll ever know what makes sense to me." I sighed as my mind drifted to UNH.

Inevitable questions about majors and classes started making my brain itchy. My body went rigid at the worries. As Danny's arms constricted around me, a second thought crossed my mind; I wouldn't have Danny there.

"You'll visit, right, when I go to school?"

"Yeah, of course." But his voice was distant, and his body tensed. I couldn't help but note it.