Page 18 of Shelf-Made Man
Tobias was going to pursue this, but he noticed—belatedly—that Alfie looked a little drawn. “Are you ready to head back?”
“I think so.”
After Tobias paid, he helped Alfie to his feet and provided an arm for support. It was a little selfish of him, how much he liked performing this role for Alfie. It made him feel useful and as if his size was finally a benefit instead of an embarrassment.
And speaking of size, Art and Jerry watched as Tobias helped Alfie toward the exit. Alfie waved good-bye at them and they both waved back. But Alfie and Tobias had taken only a few steps outside when Jerry rushed through the door, moving with unexpected speed for someone his age and size. “Are you sure you don’t want to get in touch with the Bureau? They saved my ass, a long time ago.”
“I’d prefer to have as few people involved as possible.” The way Alfie said it, Tobias found it easy to believe he was a prince.
Jerry shrugged. “Suit yourself.” He squinted down at Tobias. “Are yousureyou’re entirely human? I could’ve sworn…. Well, never mind. Can I give you boys some advice?”
“I’d be honored, sir,” said Alfie.
“When things get rough, nothing beats having a good partner. Keep close to each other, you know? And happy holidays.”
Jerry patted each of them on the shoulder—Alfie gently but Tobias almost hard enough to make him stagger—and then ambled back into Black Bart’s.
“I’ve never truly had a partner, for anything,” Alfie said as he and Tobias shuffled back to the motel. “I’ve had friends, of course. Lovers. But when I was younger I was too wayward to be interested in accomplishments, and when I grew older, I was too proud to enlist help, I suppose. Too shortsighted. Perhaps things would have gone differently if I hadn’t insisted on confronting Kol by myself.” He stopped in his tracks, still clutching Tobias’s arm, shivering a little in the cold.
“What’s wrong?”
“None of this is fair to you. Nobody asked whether you wanted this role. You’ve been put in danger and forced to flee your home. You’ve?—”
“I want this role.”
Tobias stated that with a sureness that surprised even him. Maybe he wasn’t being especially rational, but rationality might not be the best choice when your whole world has turned upside down. Anyway, he felt what he felt, and he wanted to help Alfie. He couldn’t recall wanting anything so desperately, in fact.
Alfie was staring at him as if Tobias—even though not an elf prince—was the remarkable one. “I’m just a data engineer,” Tobias protested.
“You’re not ‘just’ anything.”
It wasa short walk back to their room, but by the end, Tobias was nearly carrying Alfie. Inside, Alfie sank heavily onto the bed and didn’t protest as Tobias removed his borrowed coat, sneakers, and socks. “How’s your leg? And your bruises?”
“Better.”
Alfie must have realized that Tobias didn’t believe him, so he peeled off his flannel shirt and tee, revealing a pale chest still mottled with discolorations. They were less horrifying than they’d been the day before, however, and the tattoos were extra swirly. He managed to wiggleout of the borrowed sweatpants and unwrapped the bandage on his leg. The wound had closed already and there was no sign of infection, although everything was scabby and slightly swollen. “See?”
“You do heal quickly.”
“An advantage of being an elf. I’m going to end up with a scar, of course, but that’s fine. And now I owe you the rest of my tale. Will you join me in bed to hear it?”
Bed. Yes. The one and only bed, which was plenty big enough for the two of them despite Tobias’s size. Alfie was currently climbing under the covers. Naked. Apparently Tobias was trapped in a romance trope after all.
He swallowed, said, “Um, I need a minute,” and rushed off to the bathroom.
It was a tiny space, with both a mirror and a shower that forced him to stoop. He glared at his reflection as he whispered, “You facedtrollstoday. You can manage an overnight with a nude elf.” Unconvinced, he took his time getting ready for bed. Maybe if he dawdled long enough, Alfie would be asleep when Tobias emerged.
Except Tobias really did need to hear the rest of the Kol story, which he already knew wouldn’t end happily.
Alfie was still wide awake and looking amused when Tobias stepped out of the bathroom. “You must be very clean by now.”
Tobias simply stood there, feeling huge and awkward and stupid.
“Is everything all right?” asked Alfie.
There was no way to answer that withoutsoundingawkward and stupid. So instead Tobias stripped as quickly as possible, leaving on his boxer briefs, and dove under the blankets. He stared up at the ceiling rafters as if they might offer suggestions on how not to be a dork.
Alfie switched off the bedside light. “You are a beautiful man,” he said softly.
