Chapter 7

I've been in Los Angeles for nearly three weeks now, and much to the boys' dismay, I haven't seen or done much of anything other than that one party where we met, Chick-fil-a, and this house. Does work count, too?

"AJ, I'm bored." Chris whines, making it the longest three word sentence I've ever heard.

"Bruh, we're at your house. What do you want me to do?"

I don't think anyone in this house knows how to wake up at a halfway decent time. I literally got here at 12:30, and Chris is the only one who isn't still sound asleep. If Wilder and Tyler would get out of bed, then we could explore LA like they promised, but I don't foresee leaving this house any time soon.

A mischievous little smirk crosses Chris's face before he giggles, dragging me off the couch, "Let's go wake them up. You take Declan, and I'll take Tyler."

"Are you sure that's a good idea. I'm not trying to get bitch slapped on my only day off this week."

"Well, me either! That's why you're waking up Declan and not me. He actually likes you, and he can't hit you because you're a girl."

Gee, thanks. That sure makes me feel a lot better.

Just before I reach for the handle on Wilder's door, Chris adds, "Oh, and he was out really late last night, so I'm not really sure what you're walking into."

Mmm, I appreciate the heads up. So much for Chris being the nice one. I can't help but roll my eyes as I cautiously enter Wilder's room.

He's surrounded by pillows, but not one of them is actually under his head. His curls are a disheveled mess hanging down the side of his forehead as he's sprawled out across the bed. He looks so much younger with the cover pulled up to his chest, rising and falling as he pushes puffs of air through his parted lips.

I know what I said earlier, but I really don't want to wake him anymore.

My hand carefully reaches out to move a stray hair, but I quickly jerk it back when music blares from the next room. After the initial shock, I begin the mental preparation of Wilder's morning wrath, but he doesn't budge. My eardrums are confused at the sudden concert level volume, and this bitch is still asleep. How the hell is he not awake?

"Wilder," I only half yell, knowing it will make no difference, as Chris makes his way into the room with the speaker still on max, shooting me a confused look when he realizes Wilder is still fast asleep.

"How the fuck is he not awake already?" Chris asks loudly before motioning for me to shake him awake.

Sitting down on the side of the bed, I slowly pull the cover down enough to shake his shoulder lightly. He stirs long enough to roll onto his side, grab my arm, and pull me down beside him. A soft gasp escapes from my lips as my head hits the bed, barely grazing the wall behind us. He's surprisingly strong for someone who is now wrapped around me like I'm a stuffed animal protecting him from monsters.

I manage to free my arm and reach up to caress his chin lightly before squeezing his cheeks and shaking his head from side to side, only stopping to tap his cheek lightly. "Declan Wilder, wake up!"

His eyelids flutter open slightly as a small smile creeps across his face. "Good morning to you, too." His husky morning voice enough to make me forgive him for being so damn hard to wake up. "What are you doing?"

"Trying to get your dead ass out of the bed, you idiot."

He's a little more alert now, refusing to loosen his grip around me as I try to writhe my way out. "If you wanted to sleep with me, all you had to do was ask."

"In your dreams." I push against his bare chest to loosen his grip to no avail.

"Every damn night."

"Ugh, Wilder let me go," still trying to force myself out of his arms. "You promised me that we would go explore today."

"Well, I lied." He shrugs, trying to keep a straight face.

"Bullshit. You can't get out of this just because you turned into your turnt alter ego and had too many white claws last night."

"Ugh!" He feigns offense. "I would never stoop so low. I prefer Truly's"

"And I prefer not being stuck in bed with you all day."

"I promise I could change your mind." He laughs, but loosens his grip slightly.

"I'd love to see you try."

"Umm, hello. I'm still here." Chris interrupts. "Are we going to go or what? I wanna get some new shoes, and Tyler is going to be ready any minute."

Wilder rolls his eyes, climbing out of bed right behind me, but he catches my arm before I can leave with Chris.

"You won't always get your way, Princess."

What did he just call me? For some reason, that hit different. Sassy or not, I could get used to someone calling me Princess.