“Shh,” I cut him off calmly, wrapping my arms around myself, holding him back. “It doesn’t matter. We’ll navigate it together. No matter what.”
He presses his lips into the back of my head. “What if he doesn’t ever remember me again?”
My heart cracks into two at his question. A horrifying thought that I hate he even had to think of. I can’t imagine being in his shoes tonight.
“He will,” I assure him, knowing it’s not a promise I can make. “Dementia comes in waves. It was getting late in the day; that’s the worst time of day for the disease—you know that. I bet he’ll know your name tomorrow. He loves you—don’t forget that.”
He sniffles, and I’m wondering if that’s why he approached me like this—so I didn’t have to see him cry again. Although he knows I would never judge him for that.
“You’re right. There are good days and bad ones. This one just hit really fucking hard.” His words fall away to a whisper.
“I know.” Leaning back against his chest, I let him hold me, snuggle me, kiss my head as much as he needs to get his fill.
Eventually, he turns his affections to Kyle, who is happy to be bathed in love, as I turn on a movie. We wait for our pizza to arrive, only to devour the whole thing. By the time Matt cleans the box and the small mess, I’m utterly exhausted as we walk into my bedroom.
“I’d give you a pair of my pajamas, but I don’t think they’d fit you well.” I laugh, digging into my sleep clothes drawer and retrieving a pink set of a button-up shirt and frilly shorts.
“Rude. You’re just scared I might rock them.” he teases me as he strips his slacks off, the button-up to follow until he stands there in only his black boxers and chain.
My God, what a view.
We climb into bed, and Kyle profusely protects the new addition to our sleeping arrangement, side-eyeing Matt every chance he gets as he struggles to nest in between our legs.
Matt’s breathing fills my ears as I stare at the ceiling, the only light in the room cast from the exposed window. “I’m reallyglad you’re here tonight,” I tell him, turning my head to find him already looking my way.
He smiles, rolling on his side to fully face me, his arm snaking beneath my head. “Me too.”
His stare consumes me, admiring me like I’m truly the only thing in the entire world. I swear my body drifts toward him of its own accord, until I feel his other arm snake around my waist, and my head lies flush against his chest. My body fits perfectly in his, like I was made to lay right here and he was made to hold me.
My eyes drift closed, and his breathing slows, his chin resting at the top of my head. I slide my arm around his waist, the other tucked up between us. Nothing in the world can touch us right now. Not the emotions of today, not the fear of tomorrow. Right now, it’s just us and Kyle in our own perfect little bubble, and that’s exactly how we stay as Matt’s breathing evens out and he falls asleep, with me only mere seconds behind him.
Music fills the room, and I blink away the remnants of my dream, the light hitting my face damn near blinding as my eyes flutter open. God, I slept so hard.
I stretch my shoulders, feeling heat flutter against my back, and reality slams into me as I remember that the warmth at my back isn’t Kyle. It’s Matt.
His voice is a raspy tease in my ear, and I think I might combust into flames from the sexy hoarseness as he clears his throat and says, “Good morning, Rooney.”
“Good morning,” I murmur, my voice raspy and soft for other reasons than it being early in the morning. “Sleep okay?”
He stretches, groaning into my ear, and I fist the blanket in my hands.
“Honestly? The best I’ve ever slept. I might have to stay here forever.”
“Okay,” I exhale, willing to agree to pretty much anything he says right now. “Sounds good to me.”
His hand shifts from my waist to my hip, and I suck in a breath as he chuckles deeply.
“You seem pretty excited for someone who just woke up. Having good dreams?”
Wiggling my hips, I press back into him, feeling his own excitement grind against me. “Better now actually.”
“Oh, really?” He chuckles breathily. “You are going to drive meinsane. Especially if you keep doing that.”
Biting on my bottom lip, I swivel my hips, tipping my head back into his chest. “Oops.”
His fingers dig into my hip. “Fuck, Shay.”
My phone rings, and I jump from the sharp interruption. “Jesus.”
