Page 32 of Flash

Would I have liked to have sex with Lewis again? Hell yes. But talking over pizza and watching his favorite TV show was a hell of a lot better. I can practically see the knowing looks from my friends dancing in my mind, but that doesn’t stop me carefully pushing the hair off Lewis’s forehead and brushing a soft kiss there. My heart flutters and I sigh.

It’s been hours since I had that drink, and half a pizza certainly did the trick of soaking up any lingering buzz. As tempting as it is to torture myself by sleeping in Lewis’s bed tonight, I’d better not.

I turn off the TV and ease off the couch quietly. Lewis flops down with a sleepy grumble, wiggling around until he seems to be comfortable before starting to snore again. I grab a throw blanket off the back of the couch and drape it over him, then I pull my phone out of my pocket and type a message to send to him, so he won’t think I just ducked out on him without explanation.

ARROW: I had fun tonight. Thanks for the pizza. See you soon, beautiful.

I linger over the too-sweet pet name for a minute before saying fuck it and sending it anyway. His phone lights up on the coffee table with the received text, and I bend over to give him one more quick kiss before slipping out.

It’s dead quiet outside as I mount my bike, the roar of the engine cutting through the middle-of-the-night silence. I glance up at Lewis’s window on the second floor, unhelpful fantasies filling my mind of Lewis asking me to stay the night and pulling me into his bed, the two of us having a whispered conversation about life and love and all the shit you can’t just talk about with people until the sun starts to come up. My chest aches at the thought and I force a laugh to ease the tension. Jesus, I need to start daydreaming about fucking him again before I go and do something stupid like break my own heart.

I tear my gaze away from his window and pull out of the parking lot. The ride back to my place doesn’t take long, but it’s enough to help me clear my head a bit. There’s a car in my driveway when I pull in. I roll my bike into the garage and then go in through the attached door. The skitter of Gregory’s nails on the wood floor greets me seconds before he comes sprinting around the corner, his whole body wiggling with excitement.

“There’s my little man.” I bend down and scoop him up, chuckling at the thorough face bath he gives me.

I carry him down the short hall, stopping in the living room and shaking my head. There’s a big lump fast asleep on my couch and a documentary about ancient Rome playing on the TV. I stride over and drop Gregory right on top of him like I’m releasing a bomb. The little fluff monster goes crazy licking his face, even wiggling his little pink tongue up into a nostril for good measure. He grunts and then startles awake.

“Your boyfriend finally get tired of you and kick you out?” I tease, nudging my brother’s legs so he’ll make some space for me on the couch.

He rubs his hands over his eyes and yawns.

“No, asshole. I came by to see you because I was worrying about you. I must have fallen asleep. What time is it?”

I shrug. “Two maybe. Why the hell are you worried about me? I’m fine.”

I’m always fine.

Henry’s eyes land on my swollen hand. I flex my fingers.

“It’s not broken.”

“You would know,” he says wryly, and I snort. “Is that why you were out so late? Getting into bar fights like the good old days?”

I roll my eyes. “No. I was with someone.”

“Really?” That perks him up. “Who? Why didn’t you tell me you had a new boyfriend?”

“I don’t. It’s a casual thing, that’s all. There’s nothing to tell.”

“Is it the guy you fucked during the rainstorm last month?” he asks.

I sputter out a disgruntled sound. “How the hell—”

“Riggs,” Henry says smugly.

“Of course.” I sigh. I thought I’d gotten away without him noticing me, but I guess I was wrong. “Like I said, it’s no big deal.”

“Not the first time you’ve used that lie,” he points out.

“You get all loved up and suddenly you think you’re the relationship expert around here?” I raise an eyebrow at him.

He chuckles and shakes his head, seeming to take my point.

“Hey, give me a break, I was a terrible, absent brother for years. I have to make up for some of that neglect.”

“Well, maybe start by letting me give you a couple of tattoos instead of prying into my sex life.” I bump my shoulder against his affectionately.

“I’m definitely not going to agree to that.” He laughs. “Seriously though, I’ll drop it if you just tell me that you’re good.”

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