“They’re totally going to think I coerced you into this somehow.”
I hadn’t realized that Stone’s relationship with our parents was so strained. I can’t help but wonder iftheyknow he feels this way.
“I highly doubt that. I was gay before you were. If anything, they’ll thinkIcoercedyou,” I tease, bending forward to swipe a shirt off the floor. “Ow, fuck.” The expletive leaves my lips before I can stop it, and Stone is at my side in an instant, his hands on my torso, trying to figure out where I’m hurt.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m just sore. Apparently, I’m going to have to loosen my back up before bending over,” I say, annoyed with the fact that I have to move like an eighty-year-old despite only being twenty-two and in the best shape of my life.
“You basically went eight rounds in a cage fight with how tight your muscles were, Han. There’s no shame in how your body feels today,” Stone says, somehow knowing exactly what I need to hear. “I have a heating pad already plugged in next to the couch. Finish getting dressed; I’ll go turn it on for you.”
Stone leaves the room in a pair of black sweatpants and a band hoodie.
Great. I’m going to be thinking about how there’s nothing but creamy, flawless skin underneath.
He returns a second later—while I’m still maneuvering into my own sweatpants—and holds out a cup of coffee.
“Thought this might help, too.”
“Thanks. I’m really fine, though. You don’t have to wait on me hand and foot,” I tell him, not wanting him to feel pressured or obligated to take care of me.
His brows pinch together in a look of hurt for the briefest of seconds before he schools his features.
“I don’t feel that way. I just like doing things for you.” Looking down at the floor, he mumbles, “I like making you smile.”
I fist his hoodie and pull him close. “You really made me smile last night,” I whisper the words into his ear, aware that I haven’t yet brushed my teeth. His back is to the open door, and he wraps his arms around my neck, planting a kiss on my cheek.
“I wouldn’t be opposed to doing it ag?—”
“Are you boys coming or—” My mom suddenly appears in the doorway, and Stone jumps away from me.
Way to not be obvious.
“Yeah, Mom. Stone was just ripping the tag out of this hoodie because it was driving me crazy. We’re coming.”
Her eyes go from suspicious to loving in a single second, and I wonder what she thought was going on. After hearing more of Stone’s side of things, perhaps she thought he was threatening me instead of kissing me.
I honestly don’t know which one would be better.
“That was quick thinking, but God, I’m not going to survive this week,” Stone laments, his forehead hitting my chest.
“Just stick with me, baby. I’ve got you.” I repeat his words from last night as I cup the back of his head, holding him against me.
It’s nice to know he’s in my corner, and I’m in his.
The four ofus pass the day mostly just chatting. I pulled up the weather forecast because, even though it’s technically school and work, I enjoy it so much. I’m not naïve enoughto think I can change the course of what nature has decided it will do, but I love to dance with her.
We’re already seeing the effects of the abundant snowfall we’ve received this season, and since I’ve quickly claimed Ricochet Ridge as my own, I feel a sense of pride and genuine desire to keep her safe.
Eventually, my mom not-so-subtly hints that she wants me to put work away in favor of family time, but that means interacting with Stone and trying to play it cool in front of our parents. We make it through a few rounds of UNO, but Stone and I get so obsessed with trying to sink each other withDraw 4s andReverse Draw 4s that our parents quit playing.
“Let’s watch a movie,” my mom suggests, clutching a cup of hot tea to her chest as she looks out the window in Stone’s living room. “It’s just so cold out there, and with Hanny still recovering from yesterday, I’d rather be cozy today.”
James wraps his arms around my mom from behind and kisses her cheek. “What a lovely idea. I’ll make the popcorn. I believe there was some in the groceries we brought, wasn’t there?” he asks, already moving toward the kitchen.
I don’t love that my mom is usingmeas an excuse for choosing to stay in, but I have to admit, I really don’t have it in me to go out in this crap today.
Stone takes a seat on the large couch and pulls up his one streaming service in an effort to find something to watch—most likely a Bond movie. We’re all fans, and they never disappoint. I make my way to the opposite end of his couch when my mom pats the open spot next to her on the loveseat.
