He planted a hand against the wall and pushed himself up faster than his balance could handle. The hallway tilted hard, and Evan went with it, and for a split second, he was weightless as he tipped forward toward the opposite wall. Then CJ’s hand shot out and caught Evan’s elbow mid-fall, fingers biting into his arm tight enough to bruise as he yanked Evan back upright. The force of it pulled them together, momentum carrying Evan forward until his palms hit the solid warmth of CJ’s chest.
Cotton bunched under his hands and his fingers flexed against the muscle beneath it. CJ’s breath stuttered, and Evan froze. Their bodies were locked in place with CJ still firmly gripping Evan’s arm and Evan’s fingers splayed wide against his pecs.
“Don’t touch me,” Evan whispered.
Evan knew he should pull out of CJ’s grasp or, at the least, push him away. Instead, he shifted forward, and his hands slid to CJ’s waist as he closed the small space between them until there wasn’t any left. He closed his eyes as CJ’s hand skimmed down his side and around to the small of his back.
Evan’s forehead dipped toward CJ’s shoulder, following a path it had memorized a lifetime ago. He stayed there, exhaling uneven breaths into the space between CJ’s neck and collarbone. CJ didn’t say anything, but beneath Evan’s cheek, he could feel the echo of CJ’s heartbeat speeding up, and he waited for CJ to push him away.
But CJ didn’t, and he didn’t loosen his hold either. Without speaking, CJ’s hand splayed wider against Evan’s back, fingers pressing through the fabric of his hoodie to hold him upright. Evan’s grip tightened, his knuckles white in the fabric at CJ’s waist, and the part of him that had warned CJ not to touch him disappeared as he let himself melt forward another inch.The hallway was quiet except for the faint hum of the building’s ventilation system and the dull sound of his pulse pounding in his ears.
“I hate this,” he muttered, the words muffled against CJ’s skin.
“I know,” CJ said softly. “I hate it too.”
His thumb moved once along the line of his spine, and Evan shivered. Another moment passed, then CJ moved his hand from where it rested, but he didn’t step back.
“You need to get inside.” CJ’s voice was low.
“Worried someone’s going to see me?” Evan snorted softly.
CJ’s mouth flattened into a line. “Yes,” he said, too quickly.
His honesty hit harder than Evan had expected and his eyes narrowed as he retreated. “Because that would look bad for you.” He didn’t feel any satisfaction when CJ flinched.
“That’s not what I meant,” CJ said.
“Sure.” Evan leaned his shoulder against the wall to steady himself, then he let himself really look at CJ. “You smell like beer.”
CJ snorted. “You should smell yourself, bud.”
Evan’s jaw tightened. “Who were you out with?”
“I was out with guys from the team.” CJ reached for Evan’s arm. “Come on, let’s get you back to your place.”
Evan jerked away, but he still wasn’t sober enough to be steady. CJ caught him again before he stumbled into the wall.
“I can walk by myself,” Evan said sourly.
“I’m sure you think that.”
Evan didn’t fight it when CJ slid an arm around his waist and guided him to his own apartment three doors down. He fumbled his keys out of his pocket and then dropped them with a curse. CJ bent to pick them up without comment, and he unlocked the door and guided Evan inside.
CJ steered him to the couch, letting him go when he dropped into the corner of the sectional.
“Stay,” he said as he moved toward the kitchen.
Evan let his head tip back against the cushion and stared at the ceiling. He could hear CJ rummaging around, cabinet doors opening, water running. Normal sounds that were too loud, and Evan closed his eyes. The sound of footsteps alerted him to CJ’s return, and he lifted his head to watch him approach.
CJ pressed a cold glass into his hand. “Drink.”
Evan glared at him but obeyed, swallowing a large gulp of water.
“More.” Evan drank again, and CJ held out two pills in his palm. “Take them. You’re going to hate tomorrow anyway. Maybe this will help a little.”
Evan swallowed them dry and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
“You should go,” Evan said finally. It was the last thing he wanted.
