Page 113 of Heartbeat

I turned on my flashlight and started searching for my clothes. I was able to put on my boxers and jeans without having him so much as alter his breathing. I grabbed his T-shirt, seeing as he was lying on top of mine, and just as I was about to stand up, he grabbed me by the wrist.

“Don’t…” he murmured, eyes closed.

I turned to him, tucked my hair behind my ear, and tilted my head. “I can’t stay tonight,” I whispered. “Sleep, baby.”

“No. Let me walk you home.”

“You can barely speak, let alone walk.”

“Mmm.”

I smiled, leaning in slowly, and kissed him on the cheek.

“Stay a little longer, then. Just until I fall asleep again,” he said softly.

“Okay.” I lay back and adjusted myself next to him.

He instantly scooted closer, wrapped his arm around, me and rested his head on my chest.

“If I had no principles, I would’ve totally taken your picture, you know,” I mentioned.

“You can take my picture,” he mumbled.

“You are aware that you’re naked, right?”

“Uh-huh.” He nodded almost in slow motion. “You can still take my picture.”

I stroked his hair, gently moving it from his eyes.

“You have the strongest heartbeat,” he mentioned, smiling.

“Yeah, that’s…new. It’s somewhat recent.”

“It’s your Bluebird,” he said, almost falling asleep again.

I kept stroking his hair, basking in how beautiful he looked.

“Did it work?” he asked quietly.

“Did what work, baby?”

“Today. Are you feeling better?”

I smiled. “It worked,” I said sincerely.

“Good.” He smiled.

Then he was quiet for a beat, further nestling into my arms.

“Tom?”

“Yeah?”

“I really like you.”

“I really like you too, Ethan.” I’d never meant anything more than in that very instant.

He grinned, tightening his grip before finally dozing off. I couldn’t bring myself to leave. I kept feeling his breath on my chest and how he seemed so calm and how being there felt so right. I waited for as long as I dared, deciding I’d leave the moment he moved away from me. Once he did, I carefully pulled the duvet over his back, grabbed my shoes, and left.

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