NINE

MAY

I wanted to move. I really did. My brain exploded with thoughts I couldn't even comprehend. He was naked. Things could go south. The easy way out would be to shrug his hands off or jump off the bed but there was also a massive possibility that Edmond would rouse. I didn't want to have to deal with the conversation that was sure to arise from such an awkward encounter. So I stayed still. I told myself it was just an embrace. It did not have to be termed as something sexual. Plus, the duvet still shielded any real body-to-body contact. I carefully retrieved my phone and clicked the lowest button. The screen sprouted to life and my eyes were greeted by a notification from Snuggle just like I had expected. Congratulations, It said. Two hundred dollars have been credited to your account. Below Snuggle's notification was a statement from my bank convincing me that Snuggle had indeed been true to their word. Perhaps, I thought to myself. Perhaps this didn't such a terrible arrangement af