35. Hannah

THIRTY-FIVE

HANNAH

Walking back from the bathroom — which was thankfully lit with the same red Exit sign as the stairwell— I press my lips together, wanting to keep the dopey smile off my face.

I'm not trying to play it cool or pretend that what we just did wasn't the best experience of my life, but I don't need to look like I'm completely in love.

Even though I might be.

I push that thought aside and settle for smitten.

As I round the corner, I find Maddox shoving even more furniture together.

Definitely smitten.

"What are you building now?" I come to a stop next to him, both of us dressed again.

He gestures to the four armchairs he wedged against the four corners of the bench bed. "I don't know how much you move around in your sleep, but I don't really want the benches sliding apart and us crashing to the floor."

"I'll have you know; I sleep completely still. Like a lady."

Maddox snorts. "Sure you do. But on the off chance you don't, these will hopefully work. And those." He points to the cushions on the far end of the little bed. "Are our pillows."

I glance at the chairs and see the missing back cushions. "Clever."

He looks down at me. "I figured those were safer than the butt cushions. But either way"— he pats his chest— "you can use me as your pillow."

I bat my eyes at him. "My hero."

He surprises me by dropping his mouth to mine and pressing a quick kiss on my lips.

Then he makes up for the sweetness by slapping my ass. "Now get in bed."

Crawling across the benches, I decide not to ask about his roommates.

I'm new here and haven't had time to make friends, so I don't have anyone to call. But Maddox has been here for years. He knows everyone. He lives in the Football House with several of his teammates— a tidbit of information I got from Sissy earlier today. Not that his roommates can unlock the doors for us, but they could fan out around campus and find a security guard. They could do something. But for whatever reason, Maddox isn't calling them.

And I'm okay with it.

Maddox lies down beside me, spreading his arm wide and patting his chest.

I'm super okay with it.

I shuffle over, pressing my front into his side, and rest my head on that spot right where his shoulder and chest meet.

Using his far hand, he lifts his unzipped hoodie. "Our blanket."

I help him lay it over our top halves.

With our blanket in place, Maddox curls his hand around my side, holding me to him.

"Comfy?" He yawns.

"Mm-hmm." Inhaling, I let my lungs fill with his scent, then I hook my knee up over his leg, and something sharp pokes me through his jeans.

I slide my hand down between us and slip my fingers into his pocket.

Maddox twists his hips, giving me space, and I'm able to grab the item.

I hold it up, tipping my head back to look at him. "Really?"

His smile is sleepy. And incredibly adorable.

"Here." He takes it from me and presses one corner of the triangle between his pecs with his pointer finger against the opposite corner, propping the paper football upright. "Make a wish."

I can't stop my grin. "I think that's for birthdays."

He shrugs the shoulder my head is on. "Same rules apply for finger football as for birthday cakes."

"How silly of me not to know that." I settle my cheek back into its spot.

"I live to teach." He presses his lips against the top of my head. "Now make a wish and flick it."

I battle the butterflies in my stomach and focus on the task. "What am I aiming for?"

He makes a contemplative sound.

"Gotta land it on that chair for it to come true." He uses his shoeless foot to point at the chair securing the far corner of our bench bed.

I rest my hand just behind the football, the edge of my palm against his chest.

Then I close my eyes and make my wish.

I wish for Maddox Lovelace to be the man I marry.