Abbie goes up to her room, and the night ends

Abbie unlocked the door to her room, stepped inside, and dropped her shoes by the door. She let the door close quietly behind her, but didn't turn on the lights. She was sure Jake was asleep. She didn't want to disturb him, but at the same time, she needed to deal with some things in the room, starting with a shower.

She managed to make her way to the bathroom without any noise. She closed the bathroom door, then turned on the light and the shower. As the water began running, it occurred to Abbie that she and Jake had never actually slept together. Not fuck -- sleep. There's a **** intimacy to sleep, a different kind of intimacy than sex. There are also hosts of unknowns about the other person -- breathing, snoring, positions, pajamas. All these thoughts rushed through Abbie's mind.

She stepped into the shower, and let the hot water rush over her body. She soaped up a little bit, wanting to make sure that she fully cleaned herself after everything that had happened that evening. She was exhausted, a little sore, but it all felt so wonderful. As she was washing her body, she heard Jake's voice.

"Hey, Abbie. I'm in here, hope you don't mind."

"No, of course, Jake. I'm sorry I woke you."

"Not at all. I was thinking about you," he said. He walked up to the shower, and stood just outside it, looking at Abbie.

She leaned out of the doorway, and gave him a quick kiss. "I was thinking about you too!" She thought, I was thinking about you while I was out with other people. Do I want to tell him that? Does he want to hear that?

Her pause was long enough for Jake to notice. "Something bothering you?" he asked.

She shook her head and stood under the hot water. "No, nothing. You were just on my mind a lot tonight, that's all." She smiled at him. "And I was thinking that you and I have never actually gone to sleep together. Is it going to be weird?"

Jake laughed. "That's exactly what I was thinking!"

"We're going to have to pick sides of the bed, fight over blankets and pillows -- oh, I hope you don't snore!" Abbie laughed. "Oh my god, I don't actually care if you snore. I'm a pretty sound sleeper, so it wouldn't bother me, I'm sure."

Jake took the bath sponge, and standing just outside the shower, washed Abbie's back for her. If he was also wondering what she had been up to with Chris and Michelle, it didn't show. And instead of asking about it, he said, "I was wondering things like, does she read before bed? Does she play games on her phone? What kind of pajamas does she wear?"

Abbie giggled. "These are such normal questions and normal topics. It's so wild to think of what we do know about each other compared to what we don't."

Jake nodded. "Mm-hm. Really, not trying to push 'relationship' language on you, but it's like the first time you have a girlfriend sleep over at your place."

"Is it different from just having a lover spend the night? I mean, someone who's not like a significant other?"

Jake sighed. "I don't know, Abbie. But it feels different. It's like our conversation from earlier. This is more serious than a hookup with a fuck buddy. But I don't know the words to use for it."

"With a one night hookup, no one cares which side of the bed you take. And you don't read before bed because you fall asleep after sex."

"Right."

Abbie was done rinsing off, and she stepped out of the shower. She grabbed a towel, and wrapped it around her waist, her top half remaining naked. Abbie stepped to the bathroom sink and brushed her teeth. She and Jake glanced at one another in the mirror, grinning, as if tooth brushing was some kind of secret event that had previously been taboo.

"I usually either sleep naked or in a tank top and shorts, or maybe just panties," Abbie said. "I don't typically wear actual pajamas unless there's a reason to -- like a pajama party or someone gave me some as a gift or something."

Jake nodded. "I normally wear boxers if it's hot or like cotton pajama pants if it's cool. No shirt." He was wearing boxers and no shirt. "Like this."

Abbie said, "what would you like me to wear?"

Jake smiled. "You're asking me? Um ... will you wear a tank top and panties?"

"I will." Abbie twinkled at him.

They walked into the bedroom. "I'll take the far side of the bed, the right side if you're lying on it." She went to her suitcase and pulled out a white tank top and lavender panties. She pulled off her towel, and put on the sleepwear. "You know, I'm not even checking my phone. It's in my suitcase, but I don't want to be distracted."

"Same. What could possibly happen that would need to take my attention away from this weekend?"

Jake turned out the room lights, leaving just one over the bed. They got into bed, under the covers. Abbie lay on her back, looking at the ceiling. Jake angled slightly to his side, looking at Abbie.

"There are a couple day-before-the-wedding events tomorrow. We can talk about them in the morning, decide what you want to do."

"You know me, Jake," said Abbie. "I'm up for anything."

Jake yawned. He stretched an arm out toward Abbie. "You're going to think I sound stupid, but -- can I kiss you good night?"

Abbie rolled over to face him. "That's not stupid. It's sweet. And of course you can." She leaned in, closed her eyes, and kissed him tenderly. She slid her body closer to his, snuggling with him. She wrapped her arms around his chest, and rested her head on his shoulder. "Good night, Jake."

"Good night, Abbie." Jake hit the button that turned off the overhead light. He stayed awake long enough to feel Abbie's breathing change as she drifted off to sleep. He rested one arm on her upper body, and felt her breath go in and out. He pulled the covers up over them, closed his eyes, and fell asleep.