Asking if he’s alright is stupid. I know he isn’t.“I killed two people tonight.”
Oh… Keo.
Minutes feel like seconds before he’s back. He’s in sweats and a fresh shirt, carrying the thick blanket from our bed.
Dropping to his knees, he pulls out a towel I hadn’t noticed after he set down the comforter. He drags it gently across my face, then runs it through the top of my hair.
I can’t miss how badly he’s shaking.
“Baby…”
He doesn’t stop taking care of me, and once he’s satisfied with drying me, he’s pulling down my boxers I’d thought were shorts. Along with the towel I missed, he has bottoms for me that he slides up my legs.
When he grabs my hips, it isn’t to steady me, but himself. His shaking has only increased.
“Keo, stop. Look at me.”
He chokes on a breath and meets my gaze. His eyes are dilated, unfocused, darting as if trying to find the right place to settle.
“I… I’m so sorry.”
I sit forward with considerable effort, my hand brushing his jaw.
“Shh, it’s alright.”
I reach to pull him in, but he bends forward, pressing his forehead to my chest. “I’m so fucking sorry…”
Leaning forward, I press my cheek against his damp hair.
“Forgive me. I should’ve never run out on you like that.”
I encircle his head, holding him just as he wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me so damn tight I fear even some higher power couldn’t take me from him.
“There’s nothing to forgive. Not for this… not for our parents… not for anything,” I whisper. “None of this should’ve happened. The only person at fault is…was, Michael.”
“I swear I won’t walk out again.” He leans back, cupping my face and meeting my gaze. “I’ll get more help. Whatever it takes. I’ll be better for you.”
I shake my head. “You’re everything I need, Keo. We all haveproblems. I choose yours to work through… as you’ve shown time and time again you choose mine.”
He nods, tears streaming down his face. “I love you so fucking much. When I thought I lost you, Ayden… my world stopped spinning. Feeling your heart not beating? I’ve never felt so empty, so gone. Nothing mattered but bringing you back. And if you hadn’t?—”
“You die. I die,” I murmur.
“It’s dramatic.” He laughs, and I follow soon after. It feels… good. “But my world doesn’t exist without you.”
My smile feels almost misplaced after everything that just happened, but I can’t help it. “I love you, Keo. I’ve been in love with you since I knew you existed in the same world I did. Don’t ever think otherwise… You hear me?”
He matches my smile and whispers, “I hear you, sunshine,” before leaning forward and pressing his mouth to mine.
We fall into comfortable silence as we rest on our sides, me wrapped in his arms. The fire, plus our body heat and the extra blankets, warming us. It’s only after what feels like half the night has passed when Keo speaks again.
“I should put ice on your eye—it’s swollen… and do a full body exam.” He gently kisses across my face, toward it, careful not to cause any discomfort. “You’re going to feel like shit in the morning…”
“In a bit.” I don’t want him to let me go. “You also need looking at. I saw your back…” I tilt my gaze to meet his. “Do you…” I curl tighter against him as his arms hold me close. “…want to tell me what happened?”
Using one of his legs, he hooks mine between his thighs. He sighs and nods. “I fell asleep in my truck. I wasn’t planning on staying out all night, I swear. On my way back, police pulled me over, tased me, and threw me in their car.”
“Holy shit.”
