Page 51 of Sunrises & Salvation
“Collins?” He blinks, his eyelashes dark and lined with tears.
“Yeah, it’s me. I’m here, you’re okay,” I reassure him, keeping my hand on his cheek. The slight stubble grates against my fingers, but I secretly love it. It makes him look more masculine, and the soft pinch reminds me that even when we don’t feel real at times, we are.
“Oh fuck. I’m so sorry. I—” He cuts himself off, leaning down and putting his face in my neck. His tears start to soak through my shirt, and I cup his head in my hands, stroking the soft strands of his hair.
Thomas’ phone rings, and I hear him whisperhellointo the receiver before he walks out the front door, securely shutting it behind him.
“Come on.” I keep him wrapped around me, and we stumble our way to the guest bathroom. I turn on the water, silently apologizing to my parents for wasting the water. Steam starts to fill the room, and I help Adam out of his shirt, peeling the fabric that’s already sticking to him away from his skin.
I try not to stare at his chest, I really do, because he’s not feeling well and I’m not taking advantage of him like that.
“Do you need medicine? What symptoms are you experiencing?” I ask, worrying, because if he’s sick, I’m canceling all our plans for this weekend, and Danielle and Thomas can go without us tomorrow. Nothing is more important to me than making sure Adam is okay.
“I’m fine,” he says, his voice still timid. But he’s not shaking anymore, so I’ll take that as a win.
“You’re not fine.” I sit on the floor, propping my back against the wall. I tug his hand, guiding him to sit on the floor between my legs, his back pressed against my chest.
His breath passes through him and into me while we sit there, letting the steam from the shower cover us in a thin sheen, making our bodies stick together.
I trail my fingers up and down his arms, tracing the veins protruding and feeling the life inside of him pulse rhythmically.
“Talk to me,” he whispers, his chest rattling on his exhale.
“About what?”
“Anything. I just need my mind off the memories.” What memories? I want to ask him, is he remembering how hisparents used to act when he was sick? Is he sad they’re dead and wishing they were here to comfort him instead of me?
But I do as he asks, rambling my way through the plots of books that I love, one after another. My voice starts to grow hoarse, and the water has turned cold, the steam no longer covering the mirror. But all the while, I never stop. I feel his body relax against mine, his warm skin pressing against mine.
“I like your artwork,” he says when I finished the plot from the most recent book I read. I didn’t remember much, so I’m glad he finally spoke up. I wasn’t sure how much more I could have talked about.
“Thank you, it’s not much but?—”
“Don’t. Don’t do that. Stop selling yourself short, Collins. You’re amazing.” My face flushes under his praise.
“You have to say that, you want me to like you.”
“Do you not already like me?” His voice is teasing.
“Maybe.”
A knock on the door breaks us out of our happy bubble, and I tense underneath Adam.
“How long are you going to be in there, Adam? I’m starving, and Hunter said we could order pizza for dinner.” He turns his head, and when his eyes catch mine, I have to cover my mouth with my hand, not wanting the slightly unhinged laugh to burst free.
“I’m almost done. Where’s Hunter?” he asks innocently, and I shove him off me, and we both quietly fumble to stand up. I help Adam slip his shirt back on over his head, trailing my fingers down his abdomen. He shivers and his eyes heat.
Don’t,he mouths, and my face breaks into a Cheshire grin.
“I don’t know, Thomas has been outside on his phone for like an hour. Maybe he went somewhere.”
“Maybe. I’ll be out in a minute. Why don’t you go get Thomas?” My eyes widen, and he smirks at me. His discolored eyes lit up with mischief.
We wait, our ears pressed up to the door.
Adam cracks the door open, and he looks both ways before rushing out, and I follow behind him.
“Backyard,” I hiss on a whisper, darting out the back door. He nods his head and goes the opposite way, toward the front door.
