Page 44 of The Dramatic Life of Jonah Penrose
“Did you tell the police that?”
God. The police. He hadn’t wanted to talk to them; he wanted to hide himself away in his dressing room, but Colbie insisted. The officer looked at him with trepidation behind her eyes, which did nothing to calm Jonah’s nerves. When she talked to him, he let out a laugh and her brow furrowed, trepidation turning to concern, and he didn’t tell her all that was going through his mind was that his mum’s friend recently spoke to an officer and had to describe a penis. It would bring up too many unnecessary questions.
“Yeah, of course,” Jonah said. “But if Wes thinks there’s something going on, then... maybe that’s why he did it? I don’t know. Either way, I’m so done with being involved with Edward. This just put the final nail in the coffin.”
“You’re trembling,” Dexter said, looking at the glass of water in Jonah’s hand as the water rippled between his shaking fingers. “It’s okay, you know, you’re home now. And you know they won’t allow that guy anywhere near you or the theatre again.”
“I just feel humiliated.” He placed the drink down on the counter. “He did that to me in front of all of those people. And... fuck this wasyournight, and I’ve ruined it.”
“You’ve not ruined anything.” Dexter took Jonah’s hands into his and held them firmly. “This wasn’t your fault.”
Jonah could barely look at him. “Let’s get you those clothes, yeah? Come with me.”
He led the way upstairs to his small bedroom and even smaller bathroom. Dexter peered around the space, taking in each little detail, and Jonah wondered if his home was what Dexter imagined, if he’d even imagined what Jonah’s bedroom might be like and if the reality lived up to his expectations.
“Here,” Jonah said, reaching into his dresser to pull out a T-shirt and shorts. “You can wear these.”
Dexter took the clothes from him and balled them up in his hands. “Jonah. I’m so sorry.”
“Why?” Jonah asked as Dexter looked to the window. “Jesus Christ, him hitting me wasn’t something to do with you, was it?”
“What?” Dexter’s head snapped back to him. “No! I’m just sorry it happened to you. I’m sorry you’ve been hurt. I wish I could make it better.”
“You bringing me home is enough, Dex.”
“It’s not, though, is it? Are you sure you don’t want to go to the hospital?”
Jonah shook his head, then sat on the edge of his bed. “No. It’s fine. I’m sure it looks worse than it actually is.” He fiddled with the duvet as he spoke. “Will you stay in here with me tonight? You don’t have to. I just... I really don’t want to be alone.”
“Of course,” Dexter said without hesitation. “I’ll be honest. I would rather be here so I can keep an eye on you.” He tapped the pamphlet he still held in his hand with the clothes. “Can’t see if you’re unresponsive if I’m downstairs, can I?”
Jonah smiled, the change of expression painful but fleeting. “Can’t see if I’m unresponsive if you’re asleep either.”
“I can stay up.”
“I’m not having you watch me while I sleep.”
Dexter took a seat beside him. “Yeah. I guess that’s bordering on creepy, isn’t it?” He brushed Jonah’s hair away from his face, tucking acurl behind his ear carefully. “Even with a bruised and bloodied face you’re still hot as fuck, did you know that?”
“Oh, shut up.” Jonah smacked a hand against his chest and got up. “I’m going to clean myself up.”
His reflection didn’t shock him as much as he thought it might. Once he washed the dried blood from around his nose and chin, the bruising beneath his eye and across his cheekbone just looked like someone swiped dark colors across his face. Makeup for Halloween. He changed into his pajamas, then went back into the bedroom to see Dexter already in the clothes he gave him, sitting awkwardly on the end of the bed.
“I didn’t know which side was yours,” he said, voice nervous.
“Oh.” Jonah looked to the side that once belonged to Edward. Tonight, it would no longer be his. “I sleep by the window. That way, if someone breaks in, they’ll kill you first because you’re closest to the door.”
“Charming,” Dexter scoffed as he moved to the side Jonah allocated him and pulled back the cover before a look of alarm crept over his face. “Do you mind if I sleep under the covers with you? I can sleep on top, if you like, but I get cold.”
“Bloody hell, Dexter, stop being so polite.” Jonah got himself into bed and watched as Dexter slid in then pulled the cover up to his chin stiffly. “Wow. Dex. You look comfy.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t know how to act.” Dexter laughed. “I’m lying in Jonah Penrose’s bed, and it feels like... fuck.” He groaned, then pressed the heels of his hands into his eyes. “I’ve been thinking about tonight and all the things I want to do to you if we ended up in bed together, and now you’re hurt and this isn’t how I thought our first date would go.”
“Hey.” Jonah reached across and took his hands away from his eyes. “The date hadn’t started, so it doesn’t count. And I amveryinterested in finding out what these things you’ve been thinking of are.”
Dexter turned on his side to face him, and Jonah did the same. Their knees touched beneath the covers, skin on skin, and Jonah wished stupid Wes hadn’t hit him and made his face totally un-kissable and he wished they hadn’t wasted so much time being horrible to each other because they could have been in bed, like this, much sooner.
“Tell me,” he whispered as Dexter trailed his fingers down Jonah’s bare arm. “Tell me everything.”
