The urge to vomit rose again, but he clenched his stomach and called Everett.
Keyboard clacks filled the speaker. Everett looked at the screen and frowned. “Jesus, you look like shit.”
“I feel like shit.”
“What’s going on? You sick?”
“I need a therapist. I need you to call one of the ones from that list for me. Please. Set up some appointments for as soon as you can.”
Everett blinked like he hadn’t heard Micah correctly. “Uh, yeah. Of course.” He laughed uncertainly. “You’re sure? I mean, you are, right? You’re really going to go?”
“Yes, I’ll go.”
“Okay. I’ll do it right now. Call you back when it’s set up. Hang in there.”
Micah drew in a deep breath, wiped off his smeared glasses, and left the bathroom. Cosmo drifted through a hallway, and despite his queasiness, Micah’s stomach fluttered in a good way. He took a few steadying breaths, enchanted by the cut of Cosmo’s silhouette against a huge Bauhaus-inspired painting on the wall behind him.
Cosmo stopped to inspect a shoe scuff on the baseboard. He rubbed at it, frowning.
Stopping beside him, Micah said, “Do they have you spit-shining this–”
Cosmo shrieked and fell into the wall, a hand clutched to his heart. He stared at Micah, his chest heaving, then threw his arms around him. “Oh, you scared my soul straight out of my body.”
It was tempting to make a joke, but Micah’s queasy stomach coupled with Cosmo’s tremble pushed the urge away. He rubbed Cosmo’s goose-bumped arms. “Did something happen?”
“No.” Cosmo pulled away, brushing hair from his eyes. “Just a little on edge.”
“Why?”
“Good god, you look atrocious. Simone didn’t reject your portfolio, did she?”
“No. I signed the contract and agreed to the event. I’m just very nervous.”
“Oh.”
The concern didn’t leave Cosmo’s face, so Micah added, “But I’m excited. I’m part of a gallery again! Thank you so much for your help. You didn’t need to put yourself on the line like that.”
“Simone was the one who brought you up. I didn’t even know you’d submitted your portfolio here. But the idea to have you draw her was mine.” He smiled and leaned in for a kiss.
Micah wasnotabout to kiss Cosmo with puke on his breath. He dodged Cosmo’s lips, pressed his hand against the small of Cosmo’s back, and pecked at his neck.
Cosmo let out a small gasp. “You are positively naughty today. After work, do you want to help me pick out something fun with the gift you got me?”
The only thing that sounded fun right now was lying on the floor. “I wouldn’t know where to begin.”
“You mean you don’t own anything even for your own… mm, personal aid?”
“I have a vibrator with dead batteries.”
Cosmo laughed. “Poor baby. I’ll find something.”
“I bought that certificate for you to use, not me. Are you sure you’re okay? Nothing’s wrong?”
“You know how jumpy I get sometimes.” He waved his hand like Micah’s concern was obstructing his vision, then gave him a light peck on the lips before Micah could stop him. “You should go celebrate. I’m so happy for you.”
“I’d hope that my art speaks for itself, but I appreciate any arm-twisting you did on my behalf. Thank you.” His phone vibrated, and he pulled it out. “My brother. I should take this.”
Cosmo nodded, but continued to stare at Micah. “Of course. Talk to you soon?”
