Page 5 of Until We Fall

I glance back to where he’s waiting in line then turn around again, my t-shirt sticking to my shoulders, a hint of perspiration on the back of my neck, my jeans feeling like they’re strangling my thighs.

His reader’s still sitting there.

Just right there. It probably is justApplications of Electromagnetic Waves.

I fidget and then shove the safety card back in the pocket.

I don’t need to look at his reader.

I don’t need to.

Don’t need to.

I extend a hand.

I’m just stretching.

That’s all.

Nothing more.

My fingers graze the case.

Ohh fuck. It’s just sittingrightthere. And… I’m going to do this, aren’t I?

I think… Iam.

I’m going to look.

Is this the wrong choice?

Yep, it is.

But, somehow, his reader’s already in my hand. It just leaped into my palm. I swear, it wasn’t me.

I flip open the cover, and the screen lights. Words appear, right where he’d left off. And… oh… holy…fuck.

2

Words swim.Fragments, confusion—which is how it goes with my word recognition deficit. Basically, shit gets confusing. And it’s worse when I try to read fast.

Use your strategies,D. Don’t panic.

Okay, I can do this. I’m already in this far. And… wow.

There arecocks.

Cocks.

Two of them.

And at least one of them is leaking pre-cum.

I swallow hard. I did not expect this.

Okay, I need to orient myself in the text. And I need to do it fast, before Rory comes back and sees that I’m totally invading his privacy.

I search for names.Oliver. And down the page,Leo. It’s Leo who’s telling the story. The setting is Oliver’s room—a college dorm, I think—Leo’s heart is pounding as Oliver…

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