I sit up slowly, the sheets falling from my shoulders. I’m wearing a polo shirt—his. Long, soft, and smelling faintly like him. My cheeks flushed just at the memory of how he tugged it gently over my head, then carried me as if I weighed nothing, settled me onto the bed, pulled me into his chest, and stroked my hair in slow silence until I fell asleep against his heartbeat.
I glance at the nightstand. My hearing aids are there, resting beside a small, folded piece of paper. I pick it up, unfolding it slowly.
I stepped out to take care of something. Call me when you wake up.
It’s his handwriting. Neat but rushed.
I reach for my phone and slide the hearing aids in. The world starts to fill in again. There are missed calls and messages from Tyler, and I curse myself. Making sure to remind myself that I will call him as soon as I’m off the phone with Alex.
Alex picks up after one ring.
“Hey,” his voice is rough, low. Making me remember the filthy words he said to me while taking us both in his hands
“…You left,” I say quietly, because I honestly don’t know what to say to him.
“I didn’t want to wake you,” he replies, “and I didn’t leave, just went to take care of something. I’ll be back in about an hour.”
There’s a small silence. Then I mumble,
“I am… hungry.”
“I know you are, krasivy,” he replies, voice dropping an octave.
That word again. Krasivy. He’s said it before, but I still don’t know what it means. It curls around my chest like something warm and heavy.
“The staff will knock on the door in about ten minutes. They’ll bring breakfast to you.”
“Okay,” I whisper, “Are you coming back?”
Jesus, Lucas, he already said he’ll be back,I want to scold myself.
“I will. Soon,” he says. “There’s a toothbrush in the bathroom. Clothes in the wardrobe, too. Take your time.”
“Alright.”
“I have to go now,” he says gently. “I’ll be back soon.”
“…Okay.”
The call ends.
I sit there for a moment, holding the phone in my lap. Then I get up on unsteady legs, tugging the oversized polo down as far as it’ll go. I head to the bathroom.
There’s a toothbrush in a glass cup by the sink. Still sealed. I unwrap it, brush, and splash water on my face. Then I shower—fast, because even though I’m alone, I feel a little shy. I dress in my silk shirt and pants from yesterday. Skip the jacket. In the wardrobe, there’s a pair of black slides. I blink in surprise, and when I try them on, they fit perfectly.
I inhale deeply. Then call Tyler.
The call connects, and his face fills my phone. The first thing he does is scowl.
“You little shit. You’re lucky Alexander called me last night and said you weren’t coming home.” His fake anger doesn’t land; I can already see the relief beneath it.
My lips tug into a smile I can’t stop. His narrowed eyes catch on my expression, and then he freezes. His voice softens into mock accusation.
“Oh my God… you’re blushing. Lucas. What the hell? Did you guys fuck?” He leans closer, squinting at the screen. “Is that… is that a hickey on your neck?”
My eyes widen so fast I nearly choke on air. Heat spreads across my face, traitorous and impossible to hide. I wave my hands quickly.
“Jesus, of course not.”I sign with shaky hands.
