Page 131 of The Forever Vault

“Maybe Luke-?”

“What?”

“Maybe Luke stole it!”

“Good point. I’ve never asked him! Get your ass in here, yelling is annoying!”

Noah complied and took a seat, leaning against the opposite wall. Instead of awkwardly staring at Noah, I focused on wetting every part of my body that really needed soap. Despite my need to take a long relaxing shower, my need to get to Luke was stronger.

“Is it weird that I feel like I should be heading to the hospital with everyone else?”

“You’re a caring person, Cam. It would be weird if you didn’t feel that way. Until we know everything, it’s more important to keep everyone safe.”

“And you and I being alone in a huge gym while one of us is naked is considered safe? No offense, Noah, but you’re not exactly Zeph-sized, if you know what I mean.”

“Under normal circumstances, I’d defend my dick’s honor, but I know that’s not what you mean. Surprisingly. If it makes you feel any better, I have mace on me.”

“Mace? Really?” I scrubbed the body wash in between my legs and up my intergluteal cleft. For whatever reason, that gem from my anatomy textbook came to me.

“Small-town boy in a big city, Cam. Old habits die hard.”

“You ever use it?”

“Nope.”

“Well, let’s hope you don’t have to.”

“Remind me what Debbie looked like again.”

“Shut up, Noah.” He had finally managed a smile out of me and I silently thanked him for making the supervised shower both not awkward and comforting in a way.

After I turned the water off, he stood up to hand me a towel. I walked out of the shower, towel draped down my front as I dried off my hair. I glanced over my shoulder at him. “You gonna watch me get dressed?”

“Only if you do a little dance, you know, tease me a little.”

I scoffed, then joined the game. “As long as I can call you Daddy.”

“Yup. Nope. I’m good,” he said, changing direction and walking away from me. “And I’m only five years older than you!”

* * *

Luke wanted to rush out of the village and go to O as soon as we told him what happened, but luckily Noah was there to help me hold him back, giving us the time to reason with him. Until we heard from Shane, we needed to stay put.

“I’ve already texted him, Luke. He’ll let me know everything when he can,” Noah explained.

“I’m sure they’re only letting so many people in anyway.”

“Do you think that means that guy’s been, like, watching us hang out?” Ezra asked.

I looked over to the chair he was curled up in, legs drawn up to his chest. He still looked pale, but said he was feeling better.

“No use thinking about that now,” Noah said, moving over to sit on the arm of Ezra’s chair. We were in our dorm’s lounge, a big comfy space with couches, TVs, and a pool table. “He’s in custody and you’re safe now.”

Ezra shivered.

“Let’s go up to our room. You can lie down,” I suggested. “Noah, can you and Luke get some snacks and drinks and bring them back with you?”

Luke kissed me goodbye, and once they had left, I helped Ezra to his feet. “You okay?”