I leaned back, several thoughts swimming in my head as I watched the fire take its last breaths.

“You’ve been silent for quite a while…”

“I suppose I have,” I answered, yawning cavernously. “I’ve just been thinking.”

“Yes, I find that thinking can have a disastrous effect on a mind not used to normal cognitive use.”

“If I weren’t sleepy, I’d clobber you with Emily Dickinson.”

“I’m glad you’re sleepy, then.”

In response, I gave another yawn and folded my arms in an effort to retain my warmth.

Suddenly, I was grabbed by my upper arms and yanked further into the couch.

I gave a small gasp of surprise, but then I realized that I had been slipping off the sofa and Raine had pulled me back.

“Man…don’t do that,” I told him, sounding quite foggy. I felt it, too.

Not really knowing why, I leaned onto his shoulder; I felt him tense like spring underneath me, but I paid it no heed.

“You know what? You’ve got pretty eyes…”

I only caught a glance of his stunned face before I fell asleep.