Jared nodded. “It might be slightly mortifying for you to hold me up while I pee.” Having nurses help him to do that had been bad enough.
Kyrone kissed his forehead. “Call if you need me. I’ll be out here getting food ready.” He paused. “Would something plain be best?”
“Please.”
It took Jared longer than it should have done to pee, using the walls to steady himself. By the time he’d washed his hands, brushed his teeth, and got back to the living space, Kyrone was plating up boiled eggs and toast soldiers. Jared couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of the childish food.
“You wanted plain,” Kyrone said, flashing him a grin. “And I know how much you love eggs.”
He put the plates down and then hurried over to support Jared during the short walk to the table.
“You’ll feel better after food,” Kyrone said gently.
He’d got them both glasses of water. Jared lifted his cup with a shaking hand and almost downed the water in one go, earning himself an impressed stare from Kyrone.
“I was thirsty.”
“Apparently. You’re going to inhale the eggs and toast, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
The food made Jared feel better and a lot less wobbly. After Kyrone had cleared up, he fetched Jared the oversized jumper he’d worn the first night he’d stayed over. Then they moved to the sofa together. Kyrone put something on the TV, and they cuddled. Jared was glad Kyrone’s Adonis tattoo was healed enough for him to snuggle against his chest.
He’d almost fallen asleep when the buzzer to Kyrone’s flat went off. He grumbled a complaint as Kyrone gently dislodged him so he could go and talk to whoever was outside via the intercom.
“I’ll be back in a minute. I’ve got a parcel delivery.”
Jared nodded and curled up on the sofa. He was looking at the TV but wasn’t focussing on it. He needed a shower, and he knew he owed Faye an apology, even though Kyrone had called in sick for him.Again. Despite how understanding Faye had been about his brain injury, he worried that she’d decide he wasn’t fit enough to work for her. If he kept having to miss work, it was probably an inevitability. He sighed. If it happened, it happened, and he would deal with it like he’d dealt with everything else since the accident.
He looked up, smiling, as Kyrone let himself back into the flat. He was holding a cardboard package, which he balanced on his knees as he sat on the sofa beside Jared.
“I ordered you a couple of things,” Kyrone said. “Well… one of them is forus, but I was definitely thinking ofyou.” He winked.
“Now you’ve got me curious.”
“That’s the idea.” Kyrone opened the package and pulled out the first item.
Jared burst out laughing as he realised it was a copy of the sensual massage book they’d looked at in the book shop on their crazy date.
“With three DVDs,” Kyrone reminded him. He stroked his hand over Jared’s knee. “When you’re feeling better, maybe we can go through the book and watch the DVDs together?”
“That sounds fun.”
Kyrone put the book down on the coffee table and then pulled out the second item in the package, handing it to Jared. It was a small, thin blue book, with a seagull on the front. Jared frowned as he focused on the words and slowly read them. He had to sound out each syllable in his mind and then put the words back together again.
“Jonathan Livingston Seagull?” he asked. “I’m confused.”
“Have you read it?”
Jared pursed his lips. He had no memory of reading it. “No.”
“A friend at the club had a copy. The seagull on the front reminded me of your tattoo.”
Almost subconsciously, Jared touched his shoulder with his fingertips.
“I know you said you were too drunk to remember why you got the tattoo, so I thought you might like to give it new meaning.”
Jared stared at the flimsy book in his hand. “I… don’t understand.”
