Over on the nightstand, my phone chimes quietly. I hesitate, not wanting to wake him, but he must not have been sleeping too deeply anyway, because he groans and burrows into my chest, mumbling something about it being too early to get up.
I laugh lightly. “It’s eight thirty.”
“Too early for a Sunday.”
“I don’t disagree with you.”
“Then why are you still awake?” He slides his leg between mine as though he just needs to be even closer to me. The phone chimes again. “Are you going to check it?”
I sigh. “Well, that depends.”
“On what?”
“On whether me moving is going to hurt you...” I say softly.
He tilts his head back to look up at me. His expression is hard to read, but his eyes are dark with shame, and he doesn’t hold my gaze long.
“It won’t,” he says, his voice flat. He rests his head back on my chest and sets his left hand low on my stomach.
I swallow hard, and even though I want to, just to be sure,I manage to keep myself from asking him again. Instead, I bend down, kiss the top of his head, and then reach over him, as carefully as I can, to get my phone. When I settle back down, he just snuggles back into his place and closes his eyes.
I kiss his forehead and then unlock my phone to check my messages. Jenna’s is first, and I grimace as I read it.
Jenna (8:32 a.m.):It’s been two days. Should I be worrying? Everything ok? Plz let me know
“What is it?” Nico asks quietly.
I turn the phone to show him, explaining, “I was worried about you on Friday night. Jenna was, too, when I told her you weren’t answering my texts.”
“Oh.”
I tilt my head to rest against the top of his. “Can I tell her that, um, everything’s fine?”
He nods, and so I type a quick response, apologizing for not replying earlier and telling her Nico’s okay. Then I click back to the other text, which is from my mom.
Mom (8:34 a.m.):Are you free to pick up a few things for me later today?
That one’s easy.
Alex (8:40 a.m.):yep!
Her response pops up immediately, like she already had it typed and was waiting for me to respond so she could send it.
Mom (8:40 a.m.):Thanks! I’m going to be working all morning, but I’ll write a list and leave it on the table. I need a new apron and a tarp for the floor. Both things are available at the art supply place in Omaha. No rush, but they close at 3 today.
Alex (8:41 a.m.):got it!
“You up for a shopping trip with me today?” I ask Nico as I shut off my phone and toss it on the bed behind me.
“Where to?”
“Omaha, for my mom.”
He doesn’t answer right away, and I’m about to tell him he doesn’t have to come when he tilts his head back again and mumbles, “Can we stop at the T-Mobile store also? And then maybe, um, if there’s a secondhand clothing place? Or something. I, um...” He drops his chin and settles his cheek on my chest. “I need to get my phone working and buy some new clothes for work since I, um, have money now.”
“Of course, yeah,” I answer quickly. I lift my hand to his cheek and brush along his jaw with the back of my knuckles. “Actually, I know just the place. My mom took me a few weeks ago to get clothes for graduation. They have a bunch of nice clothes, and everything’s pretty cheap.”
“Cool. Thanks.” He seems to shudder a little, and then his shoulders tense. “I... I should tell you what happened on Friday.”
