Page 75 of Light Up
He thought about telling Tal everything that had happened from the moment the truck overtook him, but he decided not to. What if he implanted memories in Tal’s head? It was better to keep quiet and if Tal remembered the same as he did, then they could be a little bit crazy together. If Tal didn’t remember, if he wasn’t who Corey thought he was, then Corey would accept that, but he needed to know Tal was all right before he walked away.
To where?
That was a problem.
He should have known it was all too good to be true. Trekking all that way in the snow, finding a hotel in the middle of nowhere, then discovering Tal was just what he’d always wanted?
To stop himself thinking, he sang quietly to Tal, and felt himself falling asleep.
Seventeen
“Who the fuck are you?”
Corey jerked his head up from the bed, yelped at the pain that caused, and met the puzzled stares of two guys in winter coats. One tall, one not. Clearly not doctors or nurses.
As he straightened up, clutching his ribs, Corey took a guess. “Louis and Benjamin?”
“How do you know who we are?” asked the smaller guy.
“Tal told me about you. Which one of you is Mojo?”
The smaller guy’s eyes opened wide. “Me. You’re the guy who was found with Tal.”
Corey nodded.
“What are you doing in here?” asked Louis.
“I wanted to see if Tal was okay.”
Louis frowned. “No, he’s not. He has a serious head injury. He’d have been unconscious after the crash and he’s not yet regained consciousness. How could he have possibly told you about us?”
“He wasn’t always unconscious.”
Corey was so tempted to tell them everything but he knew they wouldn’t believe him. Not unless Tal said the same thing.
“What happened?” Benjamin asked. “The police said there was a crash but gave no details.”
Corey told him up to the point that he and Tal had reached his car.
“You rescued him,” Benjamin said. “Saved him. Thank you.” He glanced at Louis. “He could have burned to death.”
“The engine was smoking but Tal’s car didn’t catch fire until we were a little way away from it. Luckily, I’d managed to get his coat and his suitcase out before it did.”
Benjamin shot him a little smile.
“You got him out of the car, dragged him up to yours with a broken foot and retrieved his belongings?” Louis looked down at Corey’s walking cast.
Corey recognised the tone of his voice. Louis didn’t believe him.Fuck you!
“You’re half his size.” Louis stared at him. “More likely that he saved you. Or maybe you’re just confused.”
Corey fought to hold back his irritation. “Tal was trapped in his car. I used a tool from my car to puncture his airbag and to cut his seat belt. I’m not claiming I’m a hero, but I pulled him out, not the other way round.”
Benjamin put his hand on Louis’ arm.
“Thank you. Sorry.” But the words from Louis had come out grudgingly. Why would he think Corey would lie?
He was still pissed off. He didn’t need thanks. He needed to be believed. He knew he should have kept his mouth shut, but if they weren’t going to believe him anyway… Then why not tell them? “We waited in my car for a while but we didn’t stay there,” he blurted. “Tal had seen lights further back. We walked to them. There was a hotel on a hill. Solas Suas. They took us in. We made snow sculptures and Christmas biscuits. We did a painting class together. And line dancing.”
