Part 2Married to My Childhood Friend: A Polite Arrangement

Caleb changed into his pajamas and got into bed.

I flipped through my book, my peripheral vision instinctively darting toward him. He was wearing dark pajamas, long sleeves, and long pants.

[Tank tops are better. Easier to cop a feel. Shame I only dare to do it when he's asleep; I'm terrified of waking him up halfway.]

[Ugh, I really want to slip a sleeping pill into his water.]

[Then I could do whatever I want with him.]

I stared blankly at the words in my book.

Caleb, who had just gotten into bed, suddenly threw off the covers and got up.

I looked at him, puzzled. "Not sleeping?"

"I haven't been sleeping well lately. I'm going to take some melatonin."

I didn't think much of it and went back to my book.

When Caleb came back, he had changed his clothes. He was wearing exactly what I wanted: a loose tank top.

He explained, "It was too hot."

I replied softly, "Mhm."

Caleb lay down. Maybe it really was too hot; he only pulled the covers up to his waist. He rested his arm behind his head. His broad chest and defined muscles made it hard for me to look away.

His body was better than a fitness model's.

He fell asleep quickly.

Thoughtfully, I turned the AC down.

After reading for a bit longer, I turned off the light and went to sleep.

In the dark, Caleb silently opened his eyes, staring with a complex expression at Olivia sleeping beside him.

She was fast asleep, her eyes shut tight, taking shallow breaths.

No secret touches. No 'wet and wild' scenes.

Caleb just lay there with his eyes wide open until dawn.

The next morning, I walked out of the bedroom, rubbing my sleepy eyes.

Maria was cooking breakfast. The delicious smell woke up my appetite.

I pulled out a chair and sat down like a good girl.

Today it was sweet potato pancakes and a fresh smoothie.

Maria smiled at me. "Is it good?"

My mouth was too full to answer, so I nodded enthusiastically.

"Don't choke," Maria said, handing me the smoothie. "My own kids never appreciate my cooking this much."

Speaking of her kids, Maria couldn't help but sigh.

I comforted her. "They just don't get it."

Maria genuinely adored me. Even though I seemed aloof on the outside, my eyes would instantly light up whenever I ate something delicious.

It gave her a huge sense of accomplishment.

"Speaking of Caleb, he's usually up by now, isn't he?"

"He took a sleeping pill last night."

A sleeping pill?

Maria thought back to when she was cleaning the bathroom that morning. The bottle in the medicine cabinet hadn't looked touched.

But the lid on the espresso powder hadn't been screwed on tight.