Page 37 of The Liar in Room 5

“Okay.”

I put both hands on his shoulders, turned him around, and gently steered him toward the bathroom.

“Get ready for bed, and I’ll meet you back here in a little bit.”

I turned and left the room, even though every part of me wanted to stay. I’d happily volunteer to wash that man’s back if he’d let me, but I knew that if I did, my promise about nothing happening would probably go by the wayside.

Rather than standing there contemplating taking back my earlier words, I headed to the other bathroom. I rushed through my own shower and brushing my teeth, hoping to get back to my bedroom before Drew was finished.

Lucky for me, as I walked through the bedroom door, I heard the shower turn off.

A few minutes later, he stood in the bathroom doorway.

“It’s not too late to change your mind,” he said with a slight smile.

“I could say the same to you,” I answered, “but I have zero desire to change my mind.”

“Why is that?”

“Because I’m kind of hoping you’re a cuddler. Are you?”

“I’ve been told I’m less of a cuddler and more like a barnacle,” Drew said with a slightly wider smile.

“Perfect.”

Drew pushed himself away from the doorframe and moved farther into the bedroom. My law school logo was emblazoned on his chest in my threadbare T-shirt. I’d spent the summer before I passed the bar studying in the shirt, and I’d always thought it was lucky since I passed on my first attempt. His borrowed sleep pants hung low on his hips and were a little big. He’d mentioned he wasn’t eating, and I wondered how much weight he’d lost in the last six months. I’d happily remind him to eat and drink some water if he’d let me.

I pulled back the blankets, climbed into bed, and held them open so he could slide in beside me. There was a little hesitation in his step, but eventually, he climbed in and snuggled right against me.

I pulled the blankets over us, wrapped my arms around his shoulders, and held him close.

His soft sigh settled any lingering doubt I might have had that this wasn’t a good idea.

His breathing was slow and even, and I knew he wasn’t asleep. But if he didn’t want to talk, I certainly wasn’t going to interrupt the quiet.

“Tell me about your family,” he said. “Please.”

“You’ve met my brother Marc. We’re fraternal twins, but I’m older by thirteen minutes. And, of course, Ben, his kid, is four. We don’t have any other siblings. Our parents live in San Pedro. My mom worked for the county, and my dad taught math at an adult education center. They are currently in an RV somewhere in Montana."

“Really? I would’ve thought he was a lawyer too.”

“Nope. I think I have a cousin who’s a lawyer, but no one in my immediate family. Marc’s an accountant, so I guess he followed a little more in our dad’s footsteps.”

“Is Marc married?”

“Divorced. They’d already started the adoption process, and she decided it wasn’t for her. Marc was already in love with Ben, so they split, and he adopted Ben on his own,” I said quietly.

It had been a long time since I’d thought about Eliza. She and Marc hadn’t had the greatest marriage, but they’d loved each other, even if they had been a hot mess.

While I answered his questions, Drew absentmindedly scratched my chest. My cock stirred, but I did my best to keep it hidden. I didn't want him to think my body’s reaction to having him so close was any kind of pressure. It took more effort than I expected to keep my breathing slow and steady while he was tucked against me.

“What about yours?”

“My dad works at the VA in the supply office, and my mom works there too as a secretary in the maintenance department.” Drew paused, then added, “Only child, but they tried several times to have more kids. It just didn’t work out for them.”

“What are they like?”

Drew let out a small laugh.