Page 84 of Trigger

Hechuckled.

“Imissed you too, asshole. So, we’re good?”

“Yeah.”

“That’sgreat,” he said, sounding relieved. “That’s fucking great. Can I… can I hugyou, man? For a moment there, I thought I fucked it all up.”

Irolled my eyes. “Of course you can hug me, you idiot. Just don’t tell anyone inthe station. They would think I have gone soft, and it would ruin myreputation.”

Hesmiled and moved toward me, only to freeze on the spot.

“Okay,not to make this more awkward, but I have morning wood,” he said, lookinguncomfortable. “I don’t want to…”

I lookeddown at his crotch, only to see the obvious tent in his pants. Simultaneously,his eyes lowered to my crotch, where I had a similar situation going on sinceit was the fucking morning. When the anxious blue eyes found mine, I realizedit was the time for me to prove that I wasn’t a close-minded, delusionalasshole.

“Ihave it too,” I said with a sigh. “It doesn’t matter.”

Toprove my point, I moved toward him and pulled him into a hug. He hugged me backbut kept his hips further away from me to avoid any embarrassing contact. Heeven pulled away before I wanted him to.

My gazefound the bruise on his cheek that was purple yesterday, but now it lookedgreen.

“Howis your cheek?”

Heshrugged. “Meh. Fine. What about you? Any gangrene setting there that I shouldknow about?”

Whenhe pointed his chin at the wound on my forehead, I chuckled.

“It’sfine, I guess. It itches like the devil, so it must be healing.”

“Letme see.”

I layon my back as he propped himself on his elbow and removed the Band-Aid, hummingin approval. “It looks better. The stitches are almost gone.”

Iraised my hand to scratch my forehead, but he stopped me, taking my hand inhis.

“You’llonly make it worse.”

Whenhe leaned in and blew on the itchy wound, I couldn’t help but laugh.

“What?”he asked me, chuckling.

“Idon’t know. The mint in your breath makes it feel funny.”

“Yeah,I went through a pack of gum while waiting for you to wake up. I was nervous.Do you want me to stop?”

Ishook my head. “Mm-mm.”

Whenhe blew on the wound again, I closed my eyes, relaxing when I felt his thumbmoving in circles over my palm.

“Mhm,”I hummed in approval. “I like this.”

“Ilike this too,” he said, intertwining his fingers with mine. I pressed my palmagainst his, realizing that I never enjoyed a human touch more. I always kept mydistance from other people, both physical and emotional, but with Tye wasdifferent. I was less cautious with him. More trusting, and it felt nice for achange.

Aftera few moments, he put the Band-Aid back on and lay down next to me. He stillheld my hand, but I didn’t mind.

“Is itbetter now?”

“Mm-hmm,”I murmured with my eyes closed. “Thank you.”

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