Bowen was beautiful when he smiled.
I was excited to show him what I’d made. Whenever he was reading, I’d work on it, so he had no idea I’d been makingsomething for him because he got so focused on his books that I was pretty sure the world around him faded away.
“Bowen.”
He looked up from his book, his furrowed brows evening out as those beautiful mismatched eyes found mine and he smiled.
“Come here. I made something for you.”
He tilted his head and narrowed his eyes at me, then looked all around me for what it was I’d made.
When he couldn’t find it, he carefully placed his bookmark in the book to save his spot like I’d taught him, set the book down, and hopped off the couch. He stepped in between my legs, and I took his hand, rubbing my thumb over his knuckles.
“I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’m a lot bigger than you.”
He started to scowl, like he thought I really thought he hadn’t noticed our difference in size, but then understanding dawned and his lips twitched.
“And my bow is a little too big for you, too.”
He blinked. “So? I can still try to use it.”
I bit back a laugh. “Yes, you can, but not very well. I thought you might like having your own bow. It’ll be a lot easier to hold and you’ll get much better range.” I reached beneath the table and pulled out the hunting bow I’d crafted for him, and the reverent expression on his face would live in my mind for eternity.
My heart pounded as I held it up for him. His lips parted in awe, his eyes darting over every inch of it. When those eyes landed on mine, wide and hesitant, I wanted to give him the world ten times over.
“This is for me? This is mine? Only for me?”
I nodded and said softly, “Yeah, only for you.”
He ran his fingers down the wood, gazing at it adoringly. And when he found what I’d carved in the side, he stilled.
“It’s my name,” he whispered, staring at it. He stroked his fingers over it again and again as the widest smile stretched across his face. “It’smyname.”
“Yeah, Bow.It’s your name.” I couldn’t help but smile back, and when he flung himself at me and wrapped his arms around my neck, I pulled him against me and tucked my face into his neck.
“Thank you, Cain. Thank you.”
Another week passedand the weather began turning colder. It still hadn’t rained since that first night; I think we were both waiting for it. Him with a lot of trepidation and anxiety, and me with a determination to make him as comfortable as possible.
Bowen didn’t seem to mind the colder weather, but I didn’t want to chance him getting sick—ever—so I only let him go out if he was properly bundled up. He glared at me and refused to dress himself but was more than happy to let me dress him.
I thought he really liked being pampered. Loved it, even, and I was glad to do it if it made him happy.
The water in the river had gotten colder, too. Too cold to enjoy anymore. We still went down there, but mostly sat on the bank beneath the trees and read, keeping each other warm.
On one of those days, Bowen saw a rabbit.
He smiled as he watched it nibble on grass.
I loved that goddamn smile.
He told me he wanted to go hunt it, but not to kill it. Just to watch it.
“Alright, Bow. Go ahead.” I kissed the corner of his mouth, right over the scars, and he turned his head and pressed a hard, close-mouthed kiss to my lips.
He was still smiling when he drew away.
“I’ll be right back,” he said, turning to follow the rabbit.
