Page 29 of Unloved

“Text him,” I relay to Lennox. “See if he wants to join us this afternoon.”

We’re on our way to the house Lennox shares with Arlo, Clem, and Remy, to pack a few more of his essentials, because he’s staying with Frankie in his rental until he moves back to Seattle. And with one arm in a sling, what is usually a one-man job, now takes two.

Or three.

It’s a long shot, but something tells me he’s waiting for us to make the first official-like move. He told us about his recovery from the get-go, almost expecting us to be repulsed by his flaws and want nothing to do with him.

It’s naive of me to think that hadn’t happened in the past, but I know it’s the complete opposite to how Lennox and I felt.

A quick glance at Lennox shows him focused on his phone, hopefully texting Rhys. I wait patiently, imagining myself in Lennox’s shoes as he waits for everyone to text or talk into their phone.

I have no doubt he’s struggling to adjust, but like Rhys, he only focuses on the hurdle—he often forgets to acknowledge the positives; it was like that even before his accident.

“Can you pick him up from the gym?” Lennox asks.

I don’t need to be told twice.

The Spot, the gym where Arlo works and Rhys trains, is another fifteen minutes past Lennox’s place, but I would drive hours if I needed to.

When we arrive at the gym, I expect Rhys to meet us in the parking lot, but I’m surprised when Lennox climbs out of the car. Eagerly, I follow him, his feet moving too fast for me to ask him any questions. I reach for my cell to catch up on whatever was said in the group text, but I come up empty, having left it in the car in my haste to follow Lennox.

Walking into the gym, the smell of sweat and disinfectant permeates the air. My eyes work overtime scanning for a familiar face, but I don’t see one. When my gaze finds Lennox, I’m surprised to see he’s frozen.

Standing still, eyes wide.

Putting a hand on his shoulder, I try to get his attention and narrow my eyes at him in question. I can feel him trying to regulate his breathing under my touch, but no words come out to explain what he’s feeling.

I give his shoulder what I hope to be a reassuring squeeze.

He scans our surroundings one more time before his gaze lands back on me.

“I haven’t been anywhere but the hospital, home, and Frankie’s place,” he says. “I didn’t realize how surreal it would be to be in a public place and not be able to hear anything.”

The gym isn’t at its busiest, considering most people are usually at work in the middle of the day, and for that, there couldn’t really be a better time for Lennox to have this revelation. I let my hand drop from his shoulder and then slide my fingers through his. He eyes me curiously, but he doesn’t shy away from my touch or drop his hand from mine.

These last few days have made me bolder in my physical affection toward Lennox. If he’s noticed, he hasn’t said anything.

I try to lead him to the exit, not wanting him to feel unnecessarily overwhelmed by everything around him, but he shakes his head.

“We came here for a reason,” he reminds me.

I don’t want to argue with him any more than I like to see him struggle to adjust, so I have to trust he knows what his limits are and when he’s reached them. Slowly shifting our focus, I follow his lead and look around for Rhys, but he’s nowhere to be found.

But when I look at Lennox again, his expression has changed from panicked to a little bit sheepish. His hand is still in mine, so I squeeze it expectantly.

“Okay, there’s a good chance he’s already left.”

Confused, I raise my free hand, in awhat the fuck are you talking aboutgesture, and Lennox laughs. Loud and unexpectedly. Even though I have no idea what’s so funny, his laughing is contagious and I can’t help but join in.

When he finally manages to catch a breath, he sighs, a smile still lingering on his face. “One minute I’m panicking, and the next you’re talking to me in facial expressions and shrugs, and I understood every one,” he explains, his voice holding a little bit of incredulity. “I didn’t expect that. Just caught me off guard, that’s all.”

His cheeks are flushed as he tries to explain himself, his eyes, even just a little brighter than they have been in days. Like he just realized that maybe everything is going to be okay.

Thatheis going to be okay.

I want to kiss him.

I want to cradle his face in my hands and finally press my lips to his. I want to finally tell him how I feel about him, without saying anything at all.

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