“Telling her I’ve got a headache and to bring meds to your room.”
“Won’t she think it’s weird you’re here?”
He smiled, easy and reassuring. “Nah. I came to check on you after your first night on the bus. Headache just happened while I was here.”
I snorted. “Tragic. Shame I don’t have medicine for you.”
He laughed. “You make me laugh. Best medicine there is.”
I shoved his shoulder. “That was appallingly cheesy.”
He opened his mouth to fire back, but a knock interrupted him. I moved to stand, and he placed a warm, steady hand on my thigh.
“You’re hurting,” he said quietly. “Stay.”
He crossed the room and opened the door to Clara, who held a red box of what I guessed was Tylenol.
“You’ve got a headache?” she asked.
“Just a mild one,” Bodhi replied, rubbing his forehead. “Too little sleep. Too much gym.”
She stepped inside, smiling at me. “How was your first night on the bus?”
“I don’t remember it,” I said.
She laughed, popping open the box. “Yeah, you were out cold. You’ll adjust to the long days.”
She turned back to Bodhi. “Want me to pop out two?”
He nodded, and she placed the pills in his palm.
“I should probably watch you take them,” she added.
“Clara, I?—”
“I’ll make sure he does,” I cut in quickly. “Might feel less awkward since I don’t know him as well.”
She hesitated, eyes flicking between us. For a heartbeat, I wondered if she could see through us. If she’d worry I was a risk to Bodhi’s sobriety.
What she didn’t know was that this entire dance was for me.
After a moment, she nodded and let it go. I didn’t let myself breathe properly until the door clicked shut behind her. And only then did I realise my hands were shaking.
Bodhi crossed the room to the minibar and grabbed a bottle of water. Neither of us commented on the conspicuous lack of alcohol, and I didn’t mention that I’d waited until the lobby was empty before asking reception to clear it out.
After I took the pills, I shuffled higher up the bed and sank back into the pillows with a contented sigh. It was probably psychosomatic, but I could’ve sworn the tight grip around my hip was already beginning to ease. My eyes drifted closed, and when I opened them again, Bodhi was watching me with something soft and unreadable in his expression.
“What are your plans for the rest of the day?” I asked. The clock on the wall read just after four, and I had no idea what the rest of Noctis were up to.
Bodhi crossed his arms and shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “I thought maybe...” He ducked his head, though I didn’t miss the faint pink creeping into his cheeks. “We could hang out. If you want.”
My mouth split into a grin. I flung my arms wide and shifted to the right side of the bed, patting the empty space. “I’m all yours, Just Bodhi. Saddle up, partner.”
He laughed, dropping the towel from his neck onto the dresser beneath the wall-mounted TV. “I’ll get your bed all sweaty.”
“I love it when a bed gets all sweaty,” I shot back, squealing when he jabbed me in the ribs.
“You’re terrible, Iggy Pop.”
