“No robots. Just a lot of sophisticated machinery. It might not be as exciting as—I don’t know…playing professional football, but it can be interesting. In aJeopardycategory about trees, I’d kick your ass.”
Silas’s laughter was a tad hoarse, but his eyes sparked with real amusement. “Dude. You’d kick my ass at any c-category ofJeopardy. I’m no g-good at trivia.”
“I’m not either. I know what I know.”
“Trees.”
“Mmhmm.” I handed him the thermos. “Try the tea now. It’ll be good for you.”
He obeyed. “Same. I know what I know…or knew.”
“Football.”
Silas made a noise that I thought might be a mumbled agreement but could have been mistaken for a whimper. “Yeah.”
“Must feel strange to be retired before forty,” I ventured after a long silence.
He narrowed his eyes. “Forty? I’m thirty-six. Do I look forty?”
“I saidbeforeforty.”
Silas was on a roll. “Shit…don’t tell me. I don’t want to know that I’m a fossil.”
I chuckled. “Hey, I’m forty-one.”
“You look forty-one. A good forty-one. You know…well-preserved.” His lips twitched. “Can I say that?”
“No, you can fuck yourself.”
“As soon as the sh-shivers stop, I will.” Silas flashed a naughty half smile.
“Okay…TMI.”
“Dude. We’re practically besties now. You almost had to hold my dick in the bathroom.”
“Jesus,” I grumbled, gathering our dishes as I stood. “Can I get you anything else? More soup? Water?”
“No, thanks. I feel like I just peed and I have to go again. I’m feeling better, so I might as well g-go back to my place.”
I huffed in dismay. “You’re still shaking like a leaf, man. You can’t be on your own yet. Just—here. I’ll show you to the bathroom and put your wet clothes in the dryer. And do some more googling about your condition.”
He nodded, seeming too zapped of energy to argue as I helped him up and led him to the powder room.
“I got it from here,” he mumbled, bracing a hand on the door.
“Don’t worry. I wasn’t going to offer to hold your dick.”
“Again,” Silas teased, his gaze slipping south to my crotch. Not just a lingering glance, either.
That made no sense whatsoever. In fact, it was undoubtedly a classic case of wishful thinking on my part.
Actually…scratch that. I wasn’t interested in Silas. Not that way.
I tossed his jeans, socks, and underwear into the dryer and while I waited for him to finish up, I reread the passage about hypothermia.
Things to watch for: Shivering, pale skin, slurred speech, clumsiness, exhaustion.
Remedy: Remove wet clothing, warm the core, hydrate, skin-to-skin contact.
