“Fine with me.”Ryan shrugged as he peed.
Blake thanked him and went back to his room to toss the fresh sheets onto the bed.He took a moment to check on Marin, who was still sitting on the couch, fiddling with the iPad.
After wrestling with his mattress for a solid fifteen minutes, Blake grabbed his pillow and headed out into the living room.
“Hey, bed’s ready,” he said, tossing the pillow onto the futon.He grabbed the throw blanket resting over the back.“I’ll sleep out here tonight, so don’t hesitate to grab me if you need anything.”
Marin set the iPad aside.“Wouldn’t it be a better idea if I slept with you?”
Blake blinked at him, taken aback.Marin cleared his throat.“I’m not having the easiest time with walking, and if I need assistance I wouldn’t want to have to shout and wake up your roommate.”
That… was pretty solid logic.Or maybe Blake was tired from the…everythingthat had occurred and didn’t want to argue with Marin only for politeness’ sake.He was so exhausted that his bones ached and if he had to sleep on the ground next to the bed in order to make Marin comfortable, then he didn’t have a problem with that.
“Yeah, no, you’re totally right,” Blake nodded, reaching out towards Marin.“Here, let me give you a hand.”
Marin wrapped his hand around Blake’s wrist, using it to pull himself to his feet, but he overcorrected and careened into Blake’s chest.
“Oof, you all right there?”Blake asked, helping to stabilize him.
“I’m fine,” Marin replied, voice muffled.He tapped on the broad expanse of Blake’s torso, thoughtful.“You’re a pretty solid guy, you know.”
Blake had a feeling that Marin wasn’t referring to his personality.
“Th-thanks,” he stuttered, still flustered at the attention.Most of the comments he got on his body were more along the lines of “Why are you so big and scary?”and “What protein powder do you snort for breakfast?”The change was… nice.
He guided Marin towards the bedroom, embarrassed again by its Spartan contents.At least Ryan had the decency to buy real furniture—all Blake had was a queen-sized bed on a box spring and a card table he used as a desk.
“Sorry,” he apologized without hesitation.Marin shook his head, kneeling on the mattress.He set the iPad down on the sheets and rolled over, making himself comfortable.
“It’s fine,” he said.“It’s a lot more interesting than staring at the back of the racing slides for twenty years—and much more comfortable than the bow of that ship, too.What side of the bed do you sleep on?”
“What?”Blake asked.Marin scooted over to one side of the bed, quirking an eyebrow up at him.
“Do you have a preference?”he asked, pointing towards the empty side.
“I was gonna sleep on the floor,” Blake admitted, taken aback.“I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
“I think this is much more comfortable,” Marin said, pressing his palm into the mattress.“It’s very soft and I don’t mind if you lie beside me.”
“I…” Blake hesitated.It had been a long time since he’d shared a bed with someone—chances were, it was back when he used to hook up with his friend Jace during their sophomore year of college.They often crowded together on an extra-long twin, almost lying on top of each other.
Blake had convinced himself that buying the queen mattress was a good idea for his height and how much he liked to spread out while he slept, but he’d be lying if he said he hadn’t also been thinking about the future when he bought it.That it would be nice to have someone to sleep beside him.
But between working at Water Zone, classes, TA work during the year, and hammering away at his thesis, there hadn’t been any time to find someone.Dates were few and far between and Blake felt like he was aging out of dating around for fun.He wanted a partner.
“These four days you have to prove your heart,” the vase had read.
What did that even mean?Had his kiss somehow infused Marin with love for him and now Blake had to prove himself to earn it?Did it mean he had to get Marin to fall in love with him in only four days if he wanted to save his life?Or was “prove your heart” achieved through fulfilling the other requirements?There were all sorts of ethical quandaries about the situation that Blake didn’t evenwantto think of.
Without warning, there was a gentle touch on Blake’s calf.He looked down to find Marin rubbing it, smiling up at him.
“You’re thinking too hard about it,” he said.“Lie down.”
Blake was tired.He’d been up for hours, messed around at Water Zone all night, somehow managed to get an enchanted fiberglass merman to come to life, and now said merman’s life was at stake.What was more was that they had to be up in a few hours to visit the art gallery.
And what was he supposed to say to that imploring tone?
“As long as you’re comfortable with it,” Blake checked.Marin smiled and nodded his consent.
