Page 107 of Splintered Hearts

“Hey, stop.” He freezes with his arms up and I take the cloth, wetting it and wiping the cleanser off his face.

“Thanks.”

“What were you doing today, anyhow?”

“Nothing.”

What am I going to do with him? “You’re lucky I’m too tired to argue.”

Once in my room I wonder whether this is a good idea. “I’m sleeping in here with you.” Jamie’s defiance makes me laugh. His words are a little slurred, so hopefully the painkillers are doing their job.

“I may accidentally hit you while you sleep, or knee your back or something. We like to sleep smushed, and I’m afraid to take that chance.”

“Smushed?”

“We smush while we sleep.” That makes him laugh. “I like smushing your ass. It’s okay.” Sleeping with Jamie is like sleeping with a giant body pillow. I love it. It’s too risky, though.

“I’ll be fine.”

“Jamie—”

“Everything hurts. It’s like this never-ending, annoying pain. Everything is tense and terrible.” His eyes grow heavier and I motion for him to lie down. Changing out of my work clothes, I slip into a pair of boxers.

Carefully getting into bed, I take up my position spooning this large man. His back is alarmingly hot, so I turn and crank the fan up one more. Taking my blanket, I pull it up around us before combing my fingers through his hair. It’s getting longer on the top and feels silky soft.

“Get some sleep.”

“Thank you.”

“Are you going to let me be your nurse?”

“Not my nurse. My friend.”

“I kind of like the idea of being your nurse, though,” I say with a smile, as my palm slides up his chest and I place my hand over his scar. “I could wear one of those cheap Halloween costumes with the plastic telescope...”

“Stethoscope.”

“That doesn’t sound right.” I rest my head against his back. “The hem of the dress falling just below my ass cheeks...”

“Fuck—” He groans sleepily. “Going to have a boner now, thanks.” Laughing, I reach down and pat his dick. “I can’t feel it. I can’t feel anything.”

“Medicine is doing it’s job.” I kiss his shoulder. “Get some sleep.” That makes him soften, falling under, and it’s not long after with the warmth of Jamie’s body against mine, I do the same.

Twenty Six

Noah

I walk slowly through the living room and open the door, then freeze.

“Fuck,” I whisper.

Well, that’s not where I left him.

Clutching the strawberry plushie, Jamie sleeps soundly in my bed. Quietly setting my bag down, I go to my dresser, desperate to remove these jeans. Slowly peeling off my clothes, I throw on shorts and a baby tee that says,I’m not gay but twenty dollars is twenty dollars.

“Noah?” Jamie’s eyes flutter open.

“Hey.” The deep bruising under his eyes makes me uneasy. Jamie has good days and bad days, and today’s been a bad day—I’d practically had to force-feed him his meds this morning. Mark and I had made plans to go to lunch, but I hadn’t felt good about going. Jamie insisted, claiming he would sleep. “How are you feeling?”

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