Page 41 of Switched At Birth

I could warn him it’s not healthy, and that he should find some sort of balance. But telling a creative person when they should draw from energy, inspiration, and emotion falls on deaf ears. I know this firsthand. Pushing a piece, when something isn’t coming to you, leaves you empty. So, we strike when inspiration strikes.

“I’ve been there,” I admit. “Sometimes I get physically sick, forgetting to eat or drink.”

“Same. Oh, fuck, I’m glad you understand. I was with a guy—not serious, not anything like I feel with you—but he’s one of the few I was with more than once. His mindset was more like my brother’s. Structured, disciplined, and shrewd. He gave me a hard time. I’d wake at two, which is something I’ve done from an early age. The asshole would lay in bed, tossing and turning. It was dramatic, his way of telling me I was interrupting his sleep. I finally told the fucker to pack up. I get it, he needed his sleep, but my mind doesn’t work like his.”

“You’re so right. And because we’re the oddity, we’re the ones in the wrong. Never mind the fact he was in your house.” Righteous anger courses through me for Noah. I want to find this jackass and hurt him.

“Glad to know someone finally understands me. My own twin doesn’t. It was the one thing we fought about growing up. And it’s why we decided sharing a room wasn’t good for our relationship.”

There’s a loud commotion outside of my door, followed by several knocks. “If you’re sexting, wrap it up and get out here. I’m ready to win, for once.” Dave’s voice echoes through our thin- ass doors and walls.

I cover the phone slightly, yelling through the door. “Hold your fucking horses, asshole. I still need to wash this coffee smell off of me. Give me twenty more minutes.”

“It seems as if you’re needed, if only to boost your roommate’s ego. Call me later, Ash?”

“Yeah, I will, but if you don’t answer, don’t ever apologize for it. If anyone gets it, it’s me.”

There’s a lull on the line, like we don’t want to hang up. “Ash, I really like you.”

My heart. He’s doing something to it. We say this a lot but it never loses its effect on me.

“I really like you too, Noah. Have a good night with your brother and his work hubby.”

“And you, try to at least beatsomeonein Call of Duty tonight,” he encourages, with a snicker at the end of the sentence.

We both say goodbye, but I wait until he ends the call before I walk to the shower.

17

Noah

Ash gaveme the address of the bus stop. No reason to make him walk the couple blocks to Kate’s studio in this incessantly cold weather.

My car is parked across the street, and the collar of his coat is turned up, protecting his neck, with a hat on his head.

I let loose a slight honk, getting his attention, and he jogs to my car, his hands in his pockets. He slides into my heated leather seats and sighs in pleasure. “I’m going to break that fucking horn one day.”

“Good luck with that, honey,” I say with a grin, crashing my lips to his. He’s as eager for me as I am for him. He lets me take control, my hand reaching around his neck, holding him in place, bringing him closer to me.

The kiss continues for a couple minutes. It’s the kind of kiss that leads to more things. Dirty things, naughty things. And because I can’t do any of those right now, I pull back, resting my hand on his.

“I fucking missed you, Ash.”

“Ditto,” he replies. We pull back until we can see each other fully, my hand still on his neck. “So, are we still going to the studio?” he asks.

“Yeah. And then I thought I’d take you back to my place and cook you a late breakfast.”

“Islate breakfastcode for sex?”

“Nah, if I want to fuck you, I don’t need a euphemism. I’ll just tell you that’s what we’re doing,” I announce, as if it’s the newest law that was just passed.

“I love your idea, babe. So, the sooner we get back to your place, then…”

“Yes. But, all good things come to those who wait,” I insist.

“Oh, so many mixed signals,” he jests, play-punching me in the arm.

“Okay, studio, my place, late breakfast, and then fucking like rabbits. Are you all right with this agenda?”

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