Page 75 of A Series of Rooms
“Can I askyousomething?” Ellis returned after a beat. “I meant what I said about the need for a support system, but I also realize I don’t know your history. I imagine things weren’t great at home, for you to have been on your own so young.”
Jonah flicked him a look, a silent demand to get to the question.
“I just want to make sure that you feel safe going home with your mother tomorrow.”
“What would happen if I said no?” Jonah asked, part irritation and part genuine curiosity.
Ellis looked out at the city for a few long seconds, then reached into the pocket of his leather jacket. He shuffled closer to Jonah, still keeping himself at arm’s length, and held out a small rectangular card.
“I know you don’t have much reason to trust me,” he said. “If we never speak after today, that’s okay. But if there ever comes a time when you need help, you can call me, day or night. That’s an offer with no expiration date, and no strings attached.”
Jonah eyed the card warily. “What would I want from you?”
“Maybe nothing.” Ellis shrugged. “But I’ll feel better knowing you have the option.”
Jonah was about to reiterate how little he cared about Antonio Ellisfeeling better, but he bit his tongue and took the card. On it was his name, number, and email. Jonah tucked it into the pocket of his sweatpants.
The door opened again.
“Jonah?” Liam stood at the entry this time, a blanket pulled around his shoulders. “Is everything okay?” The way he eyed Ellis spoke volumes about his own dubious feelings about the man’s sudden redemption. Despite everything, Jonah felt a stitch of affection.
“I’m fine,” Jonah answered.
Liam was already making his way toward them. “It’s freezing,” he scolded. He didn’t miss a beat, lifting the corner of the blanket to pull Jonah under with him.
Ellis cleared his throat. “I’m going to turn in. I’ll leave you to it.” He stopped as he passed them, leveling a meaningful look at Jonah. “Day or night,” he repeated. “I mean it.”
Jonah pulled the blanket tighter around him, watching as the man rounded the corner of the entryway and disappeared from sight, wondering if it would be the last time he ever saw him.
“What was that about?” Liam asked.
“Nothing.” Jonah blinked, coming back to the moment. “What are you doing out here?”
Liam smiled, producing the slip of paper from his pocket.“Your friend, Jonah?’”he quoted, bumping their shoulders together. “Clever.”
Jonah bumped back and didn’t pull away after, leaving their hands brushing between them.
CHAPTER 34
Liam
Liam’s teeth were at risk of chipping from chattering so hard, but Jonah seemed content to stand under the blanket on the rooftop with him, so he didn’t dare nudge them inside. He would have stood out there all night if that was what Jonah needed.
The cold was a grounding force for Liam, too. The brave face he had tried to maintain for Jonah’s sake was beginning to slip as dawn drew nearer, and he was clinging onto the last threads of his control.
In a matter of months, Jonah had carved out a place in Liam’s life that couldn’t easily be filled. Despite the circumstances that had brought them together, the bond they’d formed was genuine, and it was the kind Liam had spent his whole life aching for. Selfish as it was, he didn’t want to let that go.
When he’d received that call from Jonah, less than forty-eight hours ago, he’d had no idea how quickly things wouldmove. Now he was here, minutes away from Christmas Day and grappling for the words to say goodbye to the person he had only just gotten back.
Tomorrow, Jonah would get into a car with his mother—which Liam had his own feelings about, but dutifully kept to himself—and drive beyond state lines. There was no telling what that distance would bring.
What if this fragile, unnamed thing between them wasn’t meant to last in the outside world? What if Jonah didn’t even want to try? Liam couldn’t blame him, if that was the case. There was a real possibility that Liam’s presence would only serve as a reminder of the worst period of Jonah’s life, that Liam was inextricably linked with this city and all the pain it had caused him. No one was more deserving of peace, and Liam would rather lose Jonah than stand in the way of his healing.
But if there was a chance—even a small one—that Jonah wanted to keep him in his life, this might have been Liam’s last chance to try.
“I know I already made the offer,” Liam said, “but I need to hear it from you one more time. Are you sure you don’t want to stay with me for a little while?” He felt Jonah turn to him, even as he kept his own eyes forward; there was only so much courage he could muster at once. “I’m glad your mom is willing to try and fix things between you, but it’s hard to watch you with her, knowing what your family did to you.”
“It’s hard for me, too,” Jonah admitted.
