***
By ten p.m., I decide we’re done.
I stand and slide my hand into his.
“We’re going upstairs,” I tell him quietly.
He looks at me.
“Okay,” he says immediately.
We slip out before my father can stop us.
The elevator ride up is quiet.
Jake leans slightly into me, his shoulder brushing mine like he needs the contact.
“You did good,” he murmurs.
My throat tightens.
“So did you,” I lie.
He smiles.
Back in the room, I close the door behind us and exhale deeply.
We survived.
Barely.
Jake kicks off his shoes immediately, wobbling slightly.
I catch his arm.
“Easy.”
He laughs softly.
“You’re very competent,” he tells me.
I roll my eyes, but my chest feels warm.
“Sit,” I say.
He obeys.
That alone tells me how far gone he is.
I kneel in front of him, undoing his tie, then his buttons. His hands rest loosely on my shoulders like he’s trying to stay connected.
He studies my face like he’s memorizing it.
“I really like you,” he says.
My heart stops.
“I like you too,” I whisper.
