Page 23 of Boys Like You

“Yeah, well go have a good hard look in the mirror, Mother, before you judge me.”

Her hands fly up in the air like she doesn’t understand why I’m so disrespectful. She starts ranting about something and her male friend consoles her. When the microwave beeps, I grab my plate of food and load it on a tray from under the bench, walking away without so much as a second glance.

I had another nightmare. Still the same one, leaving me with a horrible feeling in my gut. I try not to let it show, though. Mumma B has enough on her plate without me to worry about too, so I just keep to myself.

It’s still early, and the others aren’t up yet, so the kitchen is nice and peaceful.

“Hey,” Rory says from behind me. “Nice Pjs.”

“Hey. I’ve taken to stealing the shirts you guys leave here; they smell like you. It helps with my anxiety after a nightmare.”

He takes a seat across the table and looks at me as if he has something to say. I see his cogs ticking over, something washes over him, and he snaps out of it. “Are you okay?”

I nod, but he doesn’t look convinced. He reaches out to touch my hand and I pull away. I don’t know why, I’m just jumpy today.

“Was the nightmare really bad again?” he asks.

“I don’t remember. It’s really just darkness and an empty feeling. Then when I wake up, the feelings are all still there and I need to puke.” He moves around the table and makes me stand, pulling me into his body. It’s like a floodgate is opened and I start to cry, wrapping my arms around his mid-section, holding the back of his shirt between clenched fists. I don’t move, and for those few moments, everything feels like it will be okay. When I pull away, he places both his hands lightly on either side of my face. His hazel eyes full of empathy look down into my tear-filled eyes as he wipes the tears from my cheeks with his thumbs. I don’t know why, but I get the feeling he wants to kiss me.

My heart races. He drops his hands and takes a step back, I do the same.

Five guys trying to be friends with a girl, this is going to end badly. I shake the sound of Levi from my head. He always seems to be the voice of reason.

“I set up a phone for you.” The moment we had quickly over, he hands me the phone, and I thank him. An awkward silence falls between us, and I know it’s because of the connection we both felt. Perhaps if I leave the room, we can pretend it didn’t happen.

“I’m, ah, going to take a shower. Be right back.”

He nods, pulling his phone from his pocket as I disappear down the hall. I’m showered in record time. Despite my ribs still being tender, I manage to squeeze into a pair of jeans without crying out in pain. I match it with a white singlet top and a black off-the-shoulder jumper and my low-cut converse, since I only have one pair of shoes.

When I slip back into the kitchen, I can see Rory is back to his old self. He shows me how to use the new phone before we leave the house.

Rory helps me up into his car and pulls out of the driveway. He keeps looking over at me but every time I look his way, he turns his full attention back to the road.

A song comes on the radio and he turns the speaker up a little, singing along to the words I take out the new phone he gave me, go into the camera app and record him singing and laughing. He looks so free.

Leaning in close, I snap our first picture together, making sure to save it and make it my screen saver. I then send it to a group chat Rory set up with the others.

Mercer:So pretty. Not sure about the dude in the background

Rocky:Hey!!! Ror is a good looking dude.

Levi:: )

Maximus:Nice, you look amazing today by the way.

Me:OMG I can talk to you, Maximus

Rocky:Oh no, now he will never shut up. You had it good, JD

Maximus:Screw you

Me:It’s a bit soon

Me:Oh, you were talking to Rocky ; )

Levi:Damn, the girl makes a sex joke

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