Page 27 of The Key Holder

"Accidents happen," I said, continuing to stare at his body completely without shame. “Give me your hand. I’ll pull you up."

“I don’t know if I’m strong enough to pull myself up with just one arm,” he said.

“I can close my eyes.”

He mumbled, "Thanks.”

“Here,” I said, grabbing his free hand with mine. When I saw him start to move his other hand, I closed my eyes. My flexed arm took his weight while I balanced the curtain rod in the other. In retrospect, I should’ve put that down and just picked him up.

When his grip softened, I asked, “You good?”

“I’m standing,” he said. “For now.”

"I’ll just…hold this up then." I positioned myself close to the side of the tub, holding the rod up, but not high enough that the bottom went above the lip. "Take your time."

The silence was awkward at first, broken only by the sound of the running water. I started counting the number of tiles on the wall instead of focusing on the fact that I was a few feet away from his naked body, or wondering if his cock still looked the same.

That was easier said than done.

"Ford?" Dylan asked after a few minutes.

"Yeah?"

"You really don’t have to do this."

"It’s fine."

"Isn’t your arm tired?"

"I’ll live."

He chuckled softly, and I couldn’t help but smile. The tension I had been feeling seemed to lessen a bit. “Can you see again? You rinse out your eyes yet?”

“Oh yeah, ages ago. Now I’m just standing here to see how long before your arm gives out.”

“What?!”

As I dropped the rod, Dylan yelped and pulled it towards him to cover up. “I’m kidding, I’m kidding! I’m almost done.”

After lifting the rod back up, he turned the water off less than a minute later. I grabbed his towel off the bar and held it behind the curtain for him to take. “Thanks.”

“Do you need me to stay, or can you get out of the tub on your own?” I asked.

“I think I can manage.”

“Well, without a shower curtain to break your fall, I need to be sure.”

Dylan laughed. “I’ll be fine.”

A minute later, he announced, “All done.”

I lowered the shower rod, feeling a mix of relief and…something else. It felt good to be needed.

Holding onto the wall, he gingerly stepped out of the shower with the towel wrapped around his waist. He still looked slightly dazed, and his hair was plastered to his forehead.

"Thanks again," he said, meeting my eyes for the first time since the curtain disaster. "I really appreciate it."

“My pleasure.”