Page 17 of The Roommate Situation

“You okay?” I say.

He swallows and sets his phone down, wrapping his arms around himself. “Yeah, I,” he takes a deep breath in and lets itout. “I just got an email from my doctor, my gastroenterologist actually, and they want me to get some blood work done before my next procedure.” He shivers and I open my mouth to ask what’s the matter with that when I remember.

“And you don’t like needles.” He looks at me and shakes his head. “Damn, I’m sorry, freckles. That sucks.”

“Yeah.” He bites his lip and glances at me, but then looks away again, like he was about to ask me something and then changed his mind.

“You wouldn’t want some company, would you?” I ask, and he turns to me, his eyes filled with hope. “I mean, I wouldn’t mind if-”

“Yes,” he squeaks, then flushes and covers his mouth, with his hand still covered by his sweater sleeve, and I can’t help laughing.

“No problem,” I say, nudging his arm. Apparently the nudge was more like a shove because he yelps and flails as he slides off the bar stool, and I reach out to grab him when he starts to tip over, gripping the edge of the counter with one hand and my arm with the other. Oops. “Sorry.”

“All good,” he says, steadying himself and letting out a breath. He shoves his glasses back up on his nose. “I’m scheduling the appointment for the day after tomorrow, if that works. Early morning, because I have to be fasting and I can’t eat until I get it done.”

“Yeah, that’s fine,” I say. “Just let me know when we need to be there and I can drive.”

“Thank you,” he says, giving me one of those adorable as hell smiles.

I fix us dinner while Rory sits at the counter working on a drawing for one of his classes, and then we eat together.

Afterwards, I sit on the sofa while he cleans, and I smile when I hear him hummingYou Need to Calm Downby Taylor Swiftas he works. I look up to see him swaying his hips and moving his head back and forth, and I’m brought back to the night I met him once again, seeing him on that dance floor and being so completely captivated by him.

My chest squeezes at the same time that my dick twitches, and of course that’s the same time he chooses to look up and smile at me. Fucking fudge cake, he’s making me all gooey inside and I don’t know what to do about it. I’ve never felt so drawn to someone before, never felt so protective over them. But that smile and the way he’s dancing also tells me he’s doing a little bit better than he was a couple of weeks ago. He’s gotten more confident and comfortable in the time that he’s been living here, and that makes me happy.

He goes back to his project at the bar after that, and I pop my headphones on so I can listen to music without disturbing him while he works. It’s about an hour later when I finally finish my homework for myPhysical Education for Childrenclass. I stand and stretch and then head to the bathroom. When I get back out, Rory is gone.

I’m kinda bummed because I was hoping to actually hang out with him a little bit tonight before bed, but oh well. I sit on the couch and turn on the tv, and a minute later I hear his padded feet coming down the hall and around the corner. I can’t help smiling when I see him in polka dot pajama bottoms and an oversized T-shirt. On his nose is one of his nasal strips. I’ve gotten used to them by now and don’t bat an eyelash when he wears them.

“Hey, little dude, thought you went to bed.”

“Not tired yet,” he says, and then to my surprise, settles in right next to me on the sofa instead of taking his usual place on the chair, his knees bent and his feet tucked up underneath him. We’re close enough that we’re almost touching, and I don’t knowif that’s good or bad because now I just want to reach over and put my arm around him, or hold his hand.

“Another documentary?” I ask and he nods with a grin.

“If that’s okay?”

“Of course.” I hand him the remote so he can choose. I really don’t care what we watch as long as I get to be close to him. I notice that as we’re watching the nature documentary he’s inching closer and closer to me. Eventually he sighs and rests his head on my shoulder, and a shiver runs down my spine.

“This okay?” he asks, and it’s so timid and hopeful my chest squeezes even as my heart is racing.

“Yeah,” I croak out. He smiles and turns back to the screen, and I have to will my dick not to react to his proximity. Damn, he smells good, too. Like pumpkin spice and nutmeg. It makes me want to bake something with pumpkin in it. Later though. I’m not moving as long as he’s here.

About twenty minutes later I hear him snoring softly, and even though I could poke him or shake him awake, I don’t. Instead I scoop him into my arms and carry him down the hall, his head resting against my chest.

I have the hardest time ever setting him down in his own bed, my arms and chest aching with the loss, like Rory is meant to be there, being held by me.

“Night, little rabbit,” I whisper, and turn off the light, closing the door behind me.

EIGHT

PARKER

Two days later, we’re heading out the door to Rory’s appointment. He’s putting on a brave face but I can tell he’s anxious. He’s slightly pale and he keeps biting his nails and taking deep breaths in and out.

“Who went with you before?” I ask him as we make the short drive, me behind the wheel.

“Oh, um, Zach went with me once, but he said it was embarrassing for him so I never asked him to go again.”

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