Page 63 of Love Spell

There was a soft ding and a razor-blade of a light stabbed into Noah’s retinas.

“Alexa!Close the curtains!Are you a fucking sadist?”

“Calm down.It’s not even early.I’d normally have been out running an hour ago.”

“Then go run.I don’t care.”Lying on his searing back, Noah draped both forearms over his eyes.“I only care that you don’t cripple my back by night and blind me next morning.It’s like the start of a crime thriller, luring the victim into this room …”

“Firm mattresses happen to agree with me.But send me a link and I’ll order a new one today.Whichever one you like.”

“You have to test mattresses, not choose online.”

“Then test some at lunch.I’ll go with you.”

“Stop being so agreeable.You’re making me feel guilty for complaining about your bedroom the first time I’m in it.”

“That’s an easy fix.”

“Don’t complain?”

Timo dragged one of Noah’s arms off his face to kiss his hand and Noah squinted at him through the gloom of closed curtains.

“Accept this bedroom as your own,” Timo said.“You live here now.I’m not sleeping on a marshmallow, but you should get a say in your own bed and surroundings.That’s how moving in together works.”

“I’m only here for a few more weeks.”Noah turned painfully to face him.

“Until you’re here long term, you mean.I keep telling you not to worry.”Timo kissed his lips, then pushed himself back, hopping out of bed with an energy that suggested he was still wondering if he could fit in a run despite the late alarm.

Noah was just stewing about Timo being all sweet and mild-mannered again, feeling bad that he’d snapped at Timo first thing in the morning, when Timo cheerfully said as he reached the doorway, “Alexa, open the curtains,” and Noah’s guilt evaporated.

* * *

At work, Noah tried to get caught up, stewing about how everyone smiled rather nastily when they saw him and said nothing.He couldn’t do anything, couldn’t say anything.After all, they only smiled.Yet they were smiles that spoke a thousand words.

He’d forgotten all about the mattress by 1:00 p.m.when Timo arrived at his desk.

“Ready?”

“For what?”

“To go shopping.I’m looking forward to it.Everything closed?Let’s go.”

Noah protested.He apologised for bitching and moaning earlier.He said they both had a lot of work to do.He told Timo not to worry about it.He suggested one of those nice latex mattress-toppers instead of dealing with a whole new bed.

Twenty minutes later, they were in a mattress shop in Bermondsey.

Again, Timo was cheerful while Noah squirmed but gave in.If Timo was actually happy about this, then what was the harm?Yet Noah didn’t want stuff pushed at him.He didn’t want Timo to be constantly showing off or one-upping his own last gesture for a bigger or grander or soppier one.It wasn’t even Noah’s bed.Noah should have kept his mouth shut, even if it was like sleeping on the floor.

On their way back to work on the Tube, Timo teased him about his “fluffy” favourites and Noah had to relent, finally won over by the infectious good mood.It was, after all, a really nice thing to do.Noah had no reason to be uncomfortable when Timo was the one who’d wanted to go shopping.

They were across the street from the office when they stopped for a quick sushi lunch and Noah talked Timo into letting him fix dinner tonight.

“My mom’s spaghetti and meatballs.”He curtailed objections with, “Heavy on the meatballs and sauce, with a salad, not garlic bread.”

“Only if you’ll come to the gym with me first.”

“I don’t do gyms.Ride a bike, swim, even jog a bit — maybe.Not gyms.”

“Please?”Timo actually wheedled.“Just walk on a treadmill if you like.”

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