Page 104 of Static/Cling

“Jesus,” he muttered. “That was a day.”

Kassian snickered. “They aren’t all like that.”

“I should fucking hope not. I thought I was a janitor.”

Kassian laughed out loud.

“Help me.” Nudging Leif, Bjorn leaned down and kissed his hair. “Babe. We’re home.”

“Mmm.” Leif snuggled against him.

“Hey.” Bjorn nudged him a little harder. “Need you to push the elevator button.”

“Yeah. Okay. Fine. I’m up.” He stirred, righted himself, and yawned.

Kassian took some of Bjorn’s weight as he lowered himself to the sidewalk.

“You seem recovered.” Bjorn noted for the first time that Kassian himself was no longer hobbling and limping.

“I was stiff from not being able to move, but I’m good now. Probably be hella sore tomorrow, but nothing some stretching and yoga won’t cure.”

“You do yoga?”

“Sun salutations at dawn. Every day.”

“Really?”

Kassian grunted. “You try living with an argumentative asshole in your head all the time. You’d need some Zen therapy, too.”

Leif peered past Bjorn to Kassian. “I’m in.”

Kassian stared at him a long moment.

“What?” Leif frowned.

“Sunrise?”

“Did you think you were going home alone?” Leif asked. “After everything?”

“I—”

“Don’t,” Bjorn warned, nudging him yet again, “be dumb.”

“Dumb.”

“Yeah. For a supposedly smart guy, you have your moments of absolute thick-headed opacity.”

“He’s not wrong,” Rufus muttered from the driver’s seat. “Can I go now?”

Bjorn leaned past Kassian. “Thanks for the lift.”

“Always. Take care of my little brother.”

“Always,” Bjorn echoed.

Kassian stiffened slightly, but Bjorn only tightened his hold. “Let’s go in.” He didn’t look back as the van eased away from the curb.

CHAPTER 13

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