Jeremy shrugged. “Too late, I’ve already seen you.”
“But there’s no need for you to have to deal with it.” He rubbed at his forehead with one hand. “I can take care of myself.”
“I know. But there’s no law saying you have to be alone to do that.” Jeremy folded up his reusable shopping bags and put them aside. “I have books in my bag. I have music on my phone.” He paused for a moment before adding, “And I have nowhere else I’d rather been than here… with you.”
Harrison stared at him from across the room, still and silent as the grave. Which, given his history, was suddenly a creepier expression than it used to be.
“Look,” Jeremy said as he walked over to stand in front of Harrison, “I don’t want to get in the way of you doing whatever it is you need to do. All I want is to be here for you while you’re doing it. Let me learn how to do that.”
Harrison’s eyes slid closed and his shoulders dropped from where they’d been crowding around his ears. “Fine. But don’t utter the five most annoying words in the universe—ever.”
Lifting his eyebrows, Jeremy asked, “What would they be?”
Holding up one hand, Harrison counted the words out with his fingers. “Are. You. Feeling. Better.” His thumb popped out to join the rest. “Yet.”
Jeremy released a breathy laugh. “I promise.”
“Good.” Harrison turned to make his way back down the hallway. “Make yourself at home,” he muttered over his shoulder. “I’m going back to bed.”
Taking a deep breath, Jeremy looked down at the frame near his feet.Minute by minute.He could do that.
Crossing the room, he opened the curtains to reveal the glass doors that led to a small balcony. Now the dawn would shine through when it arrived. He pulled a Neil Gaiman novel out of his backpack and sat down on the couch. Taking off his shoes, he propped his feet up on the ottoman and opened the cover of the book.
He was halfway through the second chapter when Harrison shuffled back into the room. “Hey,” he said quietly.
Harrison didn’t reply. But he did climb onto the couch and lie down with his head in Jeremy’s lap. Jeremy didn’t move as Harrison pulled a blanket off the back of the couch to cover himself, despite the warmth of the spring evening. Then, he just lay there, staring at the ceiling.
Jeremy reached out to stroke Harrison’s hair, hoping he didn’t mind the contact. When Harrison gave a soft exhale, his eyes closing, Jeremy figured it was safe to continue. The dark blond strands were a little longer than they’d been when Jeremy met him, and they curled around his fingers, soft and a little oily. Jeremy smiled. The man needed a shower. His clothes were grungy as hell and his odour was a little on the ripe side, but none of it mattered. As far as Jeremy was concerned, Harrison Winters was still the most beautiful man he’d ever known. I guess this really is love, he mused. With a contented sigh, he went back to reading his book.
