41: can’t help it

can’t help it

When Heaven returned to her husband's bedroom, her eyes landed on the bed. Dominic was already settled on the bed with his back against the headboard and a book in his hand.0

'So predictable,' she mused inwardly, dragging her feet to sit on the edge of the bed. Dominic said nothing, completely ignoring her.

'This is it?' she wondered while all the scenes she previously had in mind disappeared. 'He really is unbothered with this new setup. Well, he is a rational person. I'm sure he'd do anything for his son even if that means he had to stomach the thought of sleeping on the same bed with his detestable wife.'

"Is that your routine every night?" she broke the silence when she couldn't take the awkwardness anymore.

This time, his long and thick lashes fluttered, lifting his gaze to the other end of the bed.

"What are you reading?" she asked when he didn't answer, glancing at the book's cover. Her face twitched when he tilted the book, showing off the cover that says; Gentle Parenting.

"Do you plan to sleep here?" he asked, putting down the book on his lap with his thumb in between the pages. "On this bed?"

"I already said so."

"I will not sleep on the couch."

"I didn't say you have to." Heaven pulled up her legs on the bed, facing him squarely. "The bed is wide, so don't worry. I won't take up your space."

Dominic studied her face, only to realize she was dead serious.

"Anyway, do you want to watch or something?" She inquired as she reached for the blanket, covering her leg with her eyes still on him. "Or are you going to sleep soon?"

"No." Dominic peeled his gaze from her nonchalantly and set them back on the book. "You don't mind keeping this lamp open, do you?"

"No."

"Then good."

Silence followed.

The lights automatically switched off, with only the lamp beside Dominic opened. He stayed in that spot, reading quietly. Meanwhile, Heaven lay on her back with her eyes on the ceiling. She could see him from the corner of her eyes, wondering what he felt with this new setup.

"Don't force yourself and sleep." After minutes of nothing but silence, Dominic was the first to break it. He cast her a side-eye, seeing that her eyes were still wide open. "I didn't ask you to do all this. All I'm asking is for you to be nice to Sebastian."

He slowly turned his head to her. "I'll sleep on the couch."

"I'm not forcing myself." Heaven blinked as she slowly returned his gaze. "Just stay here. Unless you're uncomfortable that someone is on your bed, then I'd go back to my room."

"I don't mind. You said it yourself. The bed is wide enough."

"Then if I don't mind, and you don't, I guess there's no problem?"

His lips drew into a thin line as he rocked his head. Dominic placed the book on the bedside table, pulling up the blanket to sleep. But just as he lay on his back, his eyes slid to the corner.

"Can't sleep?" he asked, turning his head to face her.

"Mhm." Heaven rolled to her side, propping her jaw against her knuckles. "Can I ask a question?"

"Ask away."

"Are you okay with this new setup? I know I've been leaving you with no choice, but it'll be a lie if I say I'm not curious."

His lips parted but then pursed them again. "I don't mind."

"Are you sure?"

"Mhm." He slowly closed his eyes. "You go to sleep."

Heaven watched him calm his breathing as his body relaxed. She stayed in her stance, eyes stuck on him. When minutes had passed, she rolled on her back to look at the dim ceiling.

'I can't sleep,' she thought. 'Now that I think about it, I never shared a bed with anyone before.'

The original Heaven had memories of sharing beds with her friends in the past. But the current soul had zero recollection of sleeping on the same bed with someone. One big factor of that was because of her position in the organization and the life she had. She could never trust anyone to the point she'd allow them to stay beside her, and it was the same for others.

'This is the first.' She turned her head to the side, eyes on Dominic once again. 'This is quite harder than I originally thought. I guess he isn't as simpleton as I thought he was.'

Heaven rolled to her side, fixing her gaze on him. "Are you sleeping?"

"How can I?" Dominic slowly reopened his eyes, casting her a laid-back look. "When someone is watching me sleep? I'm not used to it."

"You better get used to it from now on I guess?"

Dominic frowned slightly. Sharing a bed wasn't a problem. They were a married couple. Moreover, they already shared not just bed before. Yet, having her here was slowly showing effects and it bothered him. Heaven's unfaltering gaze wasn't helping with that as well.

"I'll sleep on the couch." Her hand suddenly grabbed his arm just as he was about to get up.

"I'll sleep on the couch," she proposed. "If you're uncomfortable, I'll sleep on the couch. Maybe, I'll just go back to my room. But then again, we'll be back to zero instead of having a small progress. Should we put some pillows between us? Will that make you feel more comfortable?"

"Stop staring. That's all you need to do."

"I can't help it." Heaven pouted. "My husband is so handsome and it needs to be appreciated."

"Are you… possessed?"

"What?"

"Nevermind." Dominic huffed deeply, closing his eyes again. "Keep quiet. I need to rest."

"Mhm…" Heaven nodded but kept her stance with her knuckles propped against her temple and eyes fixed on him.

"Stop staring," he spoke after three minutes, reopening his eyes, only to see her still looking at him. "It's not helping —"

"I'm sorry, Dom." Her quiet voice cut him off mid-sentence.

His brows rose. "Hm?"

"For making you sad. I'm sorry." Her eyes softened as a warm smile turned up on her face. "Please tell me I'm not too late."

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