Page 190 of There's No Us Without You
And right now, one of them needs me like the air he needs to breathe—I’m going to be there for him no matter what. I know in my heart he would do the same for me.
Tiptoeing inside, I close the door quietly behind me, just in case both the boys are asleep already.
It’s after midnight, but I’m not tired.
Emerson’s bedroom door is open when I reach it, the hallway light allowing me to see into the dark room. Will is on the floor, his legs pulled up to his chest as he hugs them.
“Hey,” he says, giving me a small smile as he rubs his eyes and pats the carpet beside him. “Come sit.”
Dark circles surround his bloodshot eyes, and his hair is sticking out all over the place as though he’s been tugging on it.
Has he had any rest at all?
I sink onto the carpet and curl up next to him, resting my head on his shoulder as I thread an arm through his. His warm scent fills my nostrils, and I instantly relax when he presses his cheek to the top of my head.
It’s been a long couple of days.
We sit like this for a long while, listening to Emerson’s slow breathing. It’s uneven at times, and every now and again he groans as though he’s in pain, his body shaking as the drugs leaving his system try to take him down with them.
My heart breaks every single time, and my need to go to him is so strong I have to fight to keep from racing over at the slightest of noises.
Eventually, my eyes grow heavy, but I’ll sit here on the floor all night if I have to just to know he’s okay.
Will is quiet, his focus remaining on Emerson. I can’t imagine the pain he’s in at seeing his best friend—and now boyfriend, I guess—like this.
The silence isn’t awkward, just necessary.
It feels like only five minutes have passed when Will clears his throat.
I jolt upright and blink rapidly. My arse is numb from sitting on the floor, so I change positions and lean my back against the wall as I rub the sleep from my eyes.
“Sorry,” Will says quietly while scrubbing his hands through his hair.
“It’s fine.” I yawn wide. “I can watch him if you want to get some sleep.”
Will shakes his head. “Not tired.”
My heart is aching. I’ve never seen Will so broken; his one- or two-word answers are so unlike him, as if the weight he’s bearing is crushing his bones.
Even when he pulls his knees up, resting his elbows on them, it’s like he’s mentally checked out.
“Hey,” I say, cupping his cheek so he’ll look at me. “Emerson is a fighter. He’s going to get through this.”
All I get is a nod in return before Will presses the heels of his palms into his eyes and shakes his head. “I should have known. He’s my soul mate and yet I had no idea what he was going through.”
A small sob escapes my throat, and I wrap my arms around Will’s neck, tugging him into my chest. “This isn’t your fault, sugar.” Sniffing, I wipe my nose on my shoulder. “All we can do now is get him through the worst part, okay?”
“Sugar?”
That’s all he got out of what I just said?
“You’re sweet when you want to be.”
A soft grunt is what I get in response and after a few minutes of silence, Will pulls out of my embrace and wipes his face. “Thank you,” he says with a tight smile. “I’m glad you’re still here.”
Me too.
Picking at the skin around my fingernails, I keep my head down. “Do you know who the girl in the picture is?” I say, glancing up quickly.
