Chapter 4 Late Night
I stirred when I felt myself moving. I slowly blinked my eyes open, squinting to adjust to the lighting.
"Hey Fi," Wes spoke quietly, a small smile on his lips as he looked down at me. "What's your dorm number?"
"Mmm..." I licked my lips that tasted like alcohol. "202." I kept my eyes shut as Wes carried me to my dorm, bridal style. I was too hazy and buzzed to fully understand what was going on.
Wes carried me inside, to my bed and laid me down, placing the blanket on top of me and tucking me in. I thought he was going to leave but instead, he grabbed some make-up wipes off the desk and started to gently wipe my face with them.
"Wes," I looked at him through squinted eyes and he softly rubbed the make-up off my forehead.
"Hmm," he looked down at me, raising his eyebrows.
"Why did you leave Michelle to bring me home?" I tilted my head to the side as I looked at him.
His features and eyes were soft, his tongue very slightly poking out of the corner of his mouth as he focused on wiping my face. He shrugged casually, "I didn't care about getting with some girl, Fia. I wanted to hang out with you. I'm more concerned about getting you home safe."
I puckered out my lips in thought. "But I thought you wanted me to find you a girl."
Wes smiled softly, looking down at me. "Fia, you're my friend. I don't just keep you around because you're my wing-man or match-maker. I actually enjoy your company."
I stuck out my bottom lip in awe, my whole heart feeling warm. "Wes," I drawled out like a little kid. "Maybe you're not as bad as I thought you were when we met."
Wes chuckled, quirking an eyebrow. "I'm still the hottest friend you have, though." He shot me a wink. And the Wes I knew was back.
I laughed, swatting his arm softly. "You ruined the moment."
"You didn't deny it," he wiggled his eyebrows.
I shrugged softly, grinning at him goofily. "I'll deny it when I'm sober but for now, yes, you've got a pretty face."
"You're forgetting about my body," he joked. "But thank you anyways. I like to know I'm easy on the eyes."
I rolled my eyes at him. "I'm sure you already know that without me having to tell you, pretty boy."
Wes chuckled, placing the makeup wipes down. "You need to get some sleep. As much as I enjoy your drunken rambling, you're going to have a killer hang over tomorrow."
I blew air out into my cheeks, thinking for a moment. I moved over on the bed, laying as close to the wall as possible. "Don't leave yet. I don't want to sleep."
I didn't know where that came from but I said it before I could stop myself.
Wes quirked an eyebrow, looking at the empty spot beside me on the bed. "You need some late night cuddles, Fi?"
I stuck out my bottom lip like a little child. "I don't know, just keep me company for a while." I felt like an idiot as I spoke but with the state I was in, I didn't really care.
Wes inhaled deeply, hesitating for a moment before he moved so he was sitting beside me where I was laying.
"Lay down, dummy," I mumbled softly, poking his arm.
Wes paused. "You sure that's a good idea? Wouldn't want Nate raging in here and breaking my neck." He let out a forced laugh.
I scoffed, turning my head to stare at the wall beside me. "I could make out with a guy right in-front of his eyes and I highly doubt he would look up from his phone." I chewed the inside of my cheek, trying hard to ignore the hurt that made me feel.
Wes stayed quiet for a moment in thought before he exhaled slowly and scooted into the bed beside me. He laid down, his arm brushing against mine as we both looked up at the ceiling.
"So..." I mumbled, clearing my throat. "Michelle?"
Wes turned his head to look at me but I continued looking at the ceiling, refusing to lock eyes with him.
He quirked an eyebrow, his eyes narrowing in almost a challenging manner like he was trying to see what I was implying. "What about her?" He spoke calmly, keeping his voice levelled like he was refraining from reading further into anything.
I shrugged nonchalantly. "You said you needed a girl. You found one."
"I sure did," he mumbled quietly, exhaling slowly.
I turned my head to finally look at him. My eyebrows pulled together, "What?"
"Nothing," he brushed it off, grinning a little as he looked at me. The way our faces were merely an inch a part made my heart beat faster. "I hardly talked to Michelle for five minutes, Fia. What are you talking about?"
I shrugged again. "I don't know. She's a nice girl, maybe you can give it a shot if you're really being serious."
Wes let out a breathy chuckle. "I'm good."
I bit on the inside of my cheek, confused. "Why?"
He licked his lips, the simply act making a shiver run down my spine. God, he was a fine, fine specimen.
I should not be thinking like this.
I have a boyfriend but everything Wes did made my mind spin.
Wes paused. He looked back to the ceiling as he folded his hands on top of his stomach. "I don't know, sweetheart. I'm just not concerned about her or any of that right now."
I looked at him for a long moment. His nose was almost perfectly straight, his jaw line strong with a small stubble forming. His eyes were the lightest and iciest blue, picture perfect.
"Quit staring," Wes's voice was in a playful whisper. He looked at me from the corner of his eye, not turning his head to look at me. A small smirk twitched on his lips. "You're starting to creep me out."
I rolled my eyes, swatting his arm before looking back to the ceiling. "Shut up."
Wes chuckled a deep chuckle that rumbled his chest. "It's cute, don't get shy on me now."
I covered my face with my hands as a blush crept onto my cheeks. "Stop," I whined out, my voice muffled through my hands.
Wes only chuckled more, his whole face lighting up as he laughed. "Man, Nate is such an idiot."
That comment snapped me back to reality. I let my hands fall from my face as I turned to lie on my side so I was fully facing Wes now. "Why do you say that, Wes?"
Wes paused for a moment, staring at the ceiling like it was the most interesting thing in the world. He exhaled sharply, turning to lie on his side so we were now face to face. He tucked his arm under his head, "Because he doesn't see how good you are, Fia. Any guy would be lucky to have you yet the guy who does have you, has no idea how to treat you properly."
My eyebrows pulled together in thought. "You don't know me. How can you say that?"
Wes shrugged softly. He peered at me with his thoughtful and deep eyes, not taking his eyes away from mine for a second. "I know enough. From what I've seen in the short amount of time I've known you, it's enough to tell me that you deserve so much more than him."
I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth as I let my gaze fall, sighing softly. Maybe Wes was right but Nate wasn't a bad guy. We were just going through a rough patch because something was going on with Nate lately. I just didn't know what.
Wes continued peering at me softly as my eyelids started to feel heavy again.
"Goodnight, Fia." He whispered the words softly, tucking strands of my hair behind my ear.
The soft touch of his fingers lingered by my face for a moment longer. That was all I recalled before I had faded away.