He looked alotbetter now. If I had my way, he’d leave here with those dark circles gone and the knots in his shoulders worked out.
But Ireallycouldn’t wait for those books to arrive now.
* * *
By the timeI was done helping with the washing up—making up for my earlier pacing instead of setting the table—I couldn’t do much more than collapse next to Felix on the couch.
Aiden and Carter were sharing an armchair, Aiden sprawled over Carter’s lap like a huge cat and whispering in his ear, and Devin and Morgan were sitting on the floor in front of the TV, nudging each other’s shoulders as they raced around aMario Karttrack.
Devin was going to win. Not because he was a better player than Morgan, but because helikedwinning, and Morgan liked making him happy.
If they didn’t figure their shit out soon, I was going to bang their heads together myself.
Felix shuffled closer to me so he was leaning against my chest, tucked under the crook of my arm like we were fourteen again. He fit a lot better these days than he had then.
“Thank you so much for inviting me over,” he said, sighing and letting me take some more of his weight, comfortable against me.
I loved this. I’dmissedthis.
Physical contact was my kryptonite. I loved to touch and be touched, but I didn’t really have anyone to cuddle on the couch with these days. Maybe I should’ve been thinking about getting a dog.
“Welcome,” I shifted so we were both a little more comfortable, stroking the top of Felix’s arm idly with my thumb. “My home is your home.”
Felix made a happy little sound and closed his eyes, letting his head fall back against my shoulder.
This was nice.
This wasnice. Nicer than it had any right to be.
I glanced around the room, finding everyone else absorbed in their own little worlds. Aiden was kissing his way up Carter’s jawline, which was more than I really wanted to see.
Devin won his race, and Morgan convinced him to go best of three before declaring a winner.
Everyone was full, and happy, and I couldfeelthe peace settling over us. Sunday afternoons always went like this when we were all together, and I wouldn’t have traded it for the world.
I was glad Felix got to be a part of it again.
“How’s the book going?” I asked.
Felix grunted.
“That good, huh?”
“I’ve written exactly zero words since I got here,” he said.
“Ouch,” I winced.
“It’s fine,” Felix said unconvincingly. “I’ll… figure it out.”
“It’s about Alex, isn’t it?” I asked.
Felix sighed, snuggling closer to me and turning a little way toward me, big sleepy doe eyes looking up, lips slightly parted.
Kiss him, my brain said, stomach swooping as the image of doing it played through my mind. The soft, warm touch of his lips, the little gasp I expected him to make, his fingers curling into my shirt as he steadied himself against me.
What thefuck?
“It is,” Felix said, like I wasn’t thinking about how close his lips were, how I could smell his aftershave.
