Page 107 of Summer Holiday Lifeline

“I’m sorry. I’ll what, now?”

“You stay down here, I get the big bed.” He went back to holding Shelly with both arms. “Besides, Wyatt’s not so bad. He doesn’t even care I’m straight.”

Myles snorted.

Shelly whined into Jet’s shoulder.

“Okay, Shells. Bedtime.” He kissed her hair. “Say good night to Uncle My-my.”

“Night, My-my.”

Myles ruffled her hair. “Night, Shell-shell.”

Tiffany also said good night and followed Jet upstairs to her own room.

When Jet came back down shortly after he’d left, they sent the younger adults off to watch their show. The four remaining finished cleaning up. Then Kreed and Lucky said their good nights as well.

“So.” Myles turned to Steven. “Are we watching Heart Stopper too? Or do you have to get back?” He yawned again before Steven could even answer.

“I think that answers the first question,” he teased. “As to the second, no. I don’t have to get back. Sounds like Steph and Bob are pulling an all-night Hobbit marathon.”

“Not a fan?”

“More a fan of you, actually. Mr. Armitage can suck it up.” He snuggled in close, both arms around Myles’s waist. “If that’s okay with you.”

“You staying the night?” Myles sighed. “I hope you’re not expecting gymnastics. I’m not at my most limber at the moment.”

“Nope. Just company.”

“Company, I can do.”

Safely back behind the bedroom door, it was only minutes before Myles was splayed out on the bed in sleep shorts and a ratty tank top.

Steven stripped to his boxer briefs and crawled onto the bed behind him, winding an arm around his waist and planting a kiss on the back of his neck.

“You don’t have to stay and keep me company,” Myles said. Something abraded the words to a rough growl.

“I want to stay. Is that okay?”

Myles clamped his hand over Steven’s and intertwined their fingers but said nothing.

Steven expected him to fall asleep quickly, but his breathing, instead of evening out, got more and more unsteady until it was hitching and jerking his chest in an uneven rhythm.

“Hey.” Steven lurched up on one elbow. “Myles?”

“Don’t.” Myles cleared his throat, but that didn’t seem to help.

Leaning over him, Steven kissed his bare shoulder, nuzzled at his neck, breathing him in. “You don’t have to hide from me,” he whispered.

Myles pulled in a harsh breath.

“And I don’t need you to be the tough guy here. You know that.” He squeezed Myles to his chest.

“I’m fine,” Myles grated, though his rough voice and the sweat breaking out along his arms and chest and down his back clearly showed he was not fine at all.

Steven closed his eyes, breathed in deep, the scent of Myles’s skin permeating him. “You don’t have to be fine.” He nuzzled deeper. “Not here, with me. Not tonight.”

“If I start—” Another hitched breath stopped him speaking.