I take a chance, lifting my hand between us. Theo’s eyes fall to it, and after what feels like a lifetime, he presses his fingertips to mine. We’re not holding hands, not really, but after a second, he presses it closer until his palm is resting against mine and our fingers are lined up.
“When I was young,” I say, inhaling a deep breath at his proximity and the feel of his skin against mine. “My dad used to talk about holding two truths. You want Luca to be healed, and you’re upset he seems further along than you.”
“You can hold both,” I say softly. “One doesn’t take away from the other.”
His brows draw together. “It just feels like admitting the second part cheapens the first.”
“It doesn’t.”
He snorts a humorless laugh. “Grief really just infects everything, huh?”
My heart stutters. “I’m finding that it can.”
Everything goes still and quiet, and Theo shifts his pointer finger. For a minute, I think he’s gonna move his hand, but hedoesn’t. He just brushes it against mine absently. I’m not even sure if he realizes he’s doing it.
“I’m really glad I came here,” he says.
“Me too.”
He gets comfortable, lying down fully on the bed, and his eyes fall shut. I stare at his face. It’s probably not polite, but I can’t help it. I watch his long lashes flutter against his cheeks, watch his lips twitch, and watch as his brow relaxes and his mouth goes slack. I watch him until his finger stops moving and his breathing evens out.
I watch him far longer than I should, and when I can’t keep my eyes open any longer, I fall asleep right alongside him.
Chapter 10
Hunter
Myalarmgoesoffentirely too early. I’ll be glad when Lila doesn’t need to be fed through the night anymore. It won’t be long at this point. Maybe another week or two, and I absolutely can’t wait. Given the way she was yelling at me last night, she’s not ready yet. But soon. Real soon.
Time to wean the bottle baby.
Slapping at my phone, I manage to shut off the alarm. There’s another set in five minutes from now. It’s fine. Just five more minutes. I flop over, rolling onto my other side, and hitsomething with my arm—something that grunts at the contact—and my eyes fly open.
Right. Theo. Fuck. I’m so exhausted. I don’t know how I forgot he was in my bed. Pulling my arm back to my body, I close my eyes, trying to catch the last few minutes of sleep I can get.
I’ve just barely dozed off when the alarm blares again. “Ugh.” I sit up, reaching over to grab my phone, and shut the alarms off entirely.
Theo is still asleep, seemingly unfazed by the ringing of the alarm, and I take a second to stare at him. I almost don’t want to even try to wake him up. Not when he looks so peaceful, his lips slightly parted, and a strand of his dark hair resting on his forehead.
Without even meaning to, I find myself reaching out, brushing the hair off. He shifts, his eyes slowly opening, and I pull my hand back like it’s been burned.
“Hey,” I whisper. “It’s time to feed Lila. Do you wanna join me?”
Cocking his head like he’s confused, Theo stares at me. He’s sort of adorable right now. “What?”
I can’t help but smile. “I’m going to feed Lila. Do you wanna come?”
He sits up abruptly, almost slamming his head into mine. I jerk back, and his eyes blow wide. “I’m sorry.”
I shake my head. “No, you’re fine.” I want him to join me, of course I do, but some part of me also wants him to stay right where he is. If I leave him in my bed, then he’ll still be here when I get back. Who knows if he’ll go to his own when we come inside.
“Do I have to?”
“What? Come with me? Of course not.”
He nods, eyes falling shut. I hate that he can’t seem to have a good day without depression stealing it from him. It’s so not myfucking place to ask, but I wonder if he’s tried medication and if it has any effect on him. He doesn’t deserve to live this way. Maybe one day, if our friendship continues to grow, I’ll ask him about it.
“Are you okay, though?” I ask softly.
