"constantly, consistently, continually, you."

⋆✧⋆✧⋆

The sun peeking through the curtains shines on me, waking me up.

Groggily, I try and move but quickly realize I'm trapped.

Under Sterling

I am trapped under Sterling.

Part of me knows I should wake him up and move, after all, we're only friends and I don't want to overstay my welcome or cross any boundaries, but the other part of me wants this. To stay here, wrapped in his arms, bathing in his warmth. And after the night I've had, I let myself.

I let myself soak in the comfort he gives me and the heat his body radiates.

I fall back to sleep, feeling more comfortable than I ever have.

Probably an hour later I wake up once more, this time overheating and really needing to pee.

God, this man is a fucking furnace.

I turn over, as much as I can while trapped under his limbs, and just look at him.

Admiring the way his face looks when he is asleep and at peace.

His lips hang slightly open as I think everyone does when they're asleep. But while it looks unflattering on most people, including me, he looks damn good.

His skin is basically perfect minus a couple scars I'm beginning to notice, probably from hockey; one just below his right eye and another across his jawline. His jawline by the way, could cut glass.

He has the longest eyelashes I've ever seen and I'm not at all jealous– that's a lie. His nose slopes at a perfect angle and I watch as he breathes in and out deeply. His brown hair is messy from his slumber yet somehow flawless.

This man needs to be studied by a scientist, just to rule out he's not artificially made. Cause fuck me, he's close to perfect.

The only thing I can't admire is his eyes. Those deep green eyes that express more emotion than I can handle at times.

As if he's reading my mind, his eyes flutter open, and I have full view of them.

"Creep," he smirks at my staring.

"Not a creep, just bored and the I took interest in your face," I retort, poking him in the cheek with my finger. "You have me trapped you know," I refer to his hand snaked around my back, holding onto me tightly. "I couldn't move, so I gave up and just stayed."

"Can I say I'm glad?"

"You can."

"Well, in that case, I'm glad you stayed, creep."

Of course he needed to add in that last bit.

His look of amusement falls as he scans my face which is probably all puffy and gross from crying last night, "Are you okay?"

I nod my head, "I think so, thank you for last night."

"No need to thank me Laney." He pauses to emphasize what he's about to say, "I think I'm going to end up reminding you this a million times, but, I will always be there for you."

It takes everything in me not to tear up at his words. God, how did I deserve someone like him– whatever he is to me.

I don't know how to respond, so I don't. Instead, I just smile gratefully and lay my head back down on his chest, savouring the way his touch comforts me.

I move my view to his arms and absentmindedly trace his tattoos. I only realize what I'm actually doing when he speaks, "Charlotte's birthday." I focus my mind on the tattoo I'm currently running my fingers across. It's a date with a small rose running through it.

Of course this man has a tattoo of his baby sister's birthday.

"That's so sweet, darling."

I move my finger down his arm and stop at a quote written in cursive 'Take the risk, or lose the chance.'

"Something my mom used to tell me. It's in her handwriting too."

My heart breaks for him. For the boy that lost someone so important, so young. For the fact that he had to stay strong for his little sister and watch as she dealt with the loss.

"I'm sorry," my voice comes out soft.

"Nothing you need to apologize for, Laney. But, thank you."

I point at another tattoo of his, 5 tiny dots, the first one simply an outline, but the other four are filled in.

The way he doesn't immediately tell me what it is gets me curious.

"Me, Luke, Mason, Owen, and Theo."

At first, I'm confused, but then it hits me.

This man has a fucking tattoo for his best friends.

My mouth falls open mostly from shock and partly to mock him — not that it's something to mock — but he looks embarrassed and I want to milk it. He just takes his finger and gently moves my jaw up, closing my mouth for me.

"Do the other guys have one?"

He nods his head.

"And the first one is filled in because it's you?"

He nods his head again.

"And the other boys all have a different dot filled in for them?"

He nods his head a third time.

This is fucking adorable.

"You little softie!" I can't help but say.

"Don't call me that."

"What? It's true."

I should've taken that back because, suddenly, Sterling's eyes go dark and he jabs me in the stomach, tickling me.

I squeal and can't help but laugh.

Eventually, I catch my breath and decide it's time to start my day. "Alright, I have to get up."

"No."

"Yes."

I try and move but his arm pulls me back to where I just was and tightens around me.

"Darling," I try again but it's basically no use.

"Mhmm?" he mumbles.

"Sterling," my tone is slightly more stern.

He doesn't reply.

"I have to pee."

"Fine," he lets me go and I get up, feeling the cold of his absence, and walk to the bathroom.

The two of us head downstairs and we find the other 4 boys, plus Daisy, sitting around the living room.

Owen looks between the two of us, "You two fucking up there, or what?"

My jaw drops open

Sterling just laughs, "No, you pervert."

"What? I heard a scream and thought it was finally happening," he defends his comment.

"She's even wearing his hoodie," Luke comes up behind me and pulls the hood over my head.

I jokingly roll my eyes at the two of them and Sterling just trips Luke on his way over to the couch. Everyone else just lightly chuckles at the boys and I can't help but join.

"I'm hungry, should I make breakfast for us? Pancakes?" I offer to the group.

Clearly, my offer excites Owen who jumps up and throws his arm around me, "Yes please!"

Sterling shoves him off me and onto the floor, "Hands off."

I try and ignore the two of them while Theo and I chat.

After going to the hospital and getting some tests done, doctors ruled it a concussion and put him on rest from hockey for a couple weeks. It's no doubt he's devastated about not being able to play, but we all know it could've been much worse. I'm just grateful he's okay and I know Aspen is too, who was beyond worried about him.

"That sounds great, but I'm pretty sure we've run out of everything edible," he informs me.

"Oh that's alright, Sterling and I can run to the store, if everyone can wait that long."

"We can?" Sterling looks over at me.

"Yes," I pat his shoulder, "we can."

After making a list of what we need and putting Theo in charge of calling the girls to come over for breakfast, we drive to a nearby Walmart. On the way over Sterling has the idea of bringing Charlotte to join us and he hands me my phone to text Mason to get her from his dad's house.

⋆✧⋆✧⋆

This chapter was supposed to include both their shopping trip and breakfast because the first part was supposed to be brief, but I got carried away. So now, once again, I have made this book incredibly long by separated 1 chapter into 2. Whoops.

Question of the chapter: Who's book (if I end up writing it) are you most excited for: Jemma and Chase's or Theo and Aspen's?

Comments and votes are so so helpful besties <3

Anyways, I hope you're all staying safe and healthy. I love you all! :)

Also this is sorta what I pictured for Sterling's tattoos:

[Matching with boys]

[Mom's handwriting quote]

[Charlotte's birthday]