“Oh, stop with that,” I said, waving him off. I lifted the sheets. “Scooch.”
I arranged myself behind him, my legs cradling his body so he could lean back into me. “Take your shirt off.”
“I’m freezing,” he protested.
“It’ll help with your fever. Just trust me. I used to do it with my little siblings when they were sick. And it feels good.” He paused.“Just lift your arms, bub. I’ll get it off you.”
He lifted and I tugged his sweatshirt and t-shirt off. I helped him take a sip of tea while he was sitting up. He cried out as he swallowed.
“It’s like eating glass!” he squeaked.
“That’s weird. Tea usually helps a sore throat.” I put the mug back on the nightstand. “Lean back, baby.”
Nick leaned into me, resting his head on my boobs. “I don’t get sick, Annie.”
I idly stroked my hands over his chest. It wasn’t clean-shaven, but it looked like he trimmed his chest hair. It was endearing to think of him caring about that for some reason. “You were around little kids, Nick. They’re little germ factories.”
“I’m gonna die, Annie. This isn’t normal.”
I kissed the top of his head. “You’re not gonna die, babe. I’m here. I wouldn’t let you die.”
“What if I have some mutant flu? I’m gonna die without having sex with a woman.”
A bunch of things clicked in my head. “I thought you said you weren’t a virgin. You could have just told me.”
He craned his neck to look at me. “I’m not a virgin.”
“But you just said . . .” Was he hallucinating? Fevers can make you think and say wild things.
“I said I’ve never had sex with a woman.”
“Oh, wow. Shit, I’m sorry. I didn’t pick up on that. Are you bi?”
“I usually consider it pan,” he whispered. “But yeah.”
“Hey.” I reached for his hand and held it across his chest. “Thanks for trusting me.”
“Don’t tell anyone,” he said miserably.
“I wouldn’t out you, Nick.”
“Yeah, well, I thought you wouldn’t tell people that I’m bad at eating pussy either, and here we are.”
I put a hand to my forehead. “I’m really sorry about that. And for what it’s worth, I’m bi. I get it.”
He squeezed my hand in his and tipped his head back to meet my eyes. “Really?”
“Yes. But you were not my first man.”
He gave a hoarse chuckle. “Yeah, I figured. You were too good at everything. And the whole affair with a married man thing.”
“That had nothing to do with me being bi, by the way. There’s that stereotype of bi people not being able to be monogamous, but that’s not me.”
His eyes met mine. “I know. You just fell in love.”
For being twenty-one, I was impressed with how wise he could be. “Thanks for understanding, Nick.”
“You too, angel.”
