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That takes some of the edge off. At least he’s not denying that he disliked me. At least he’s not trying to rewrite our history.
“I always wanted you to like me.”
He laughs. “I like you now. And I thought you were absurdly hot back then. Can that be enough?”
I want to say no. I want him to tell me that it was all a secret—that he was madly in love with me the whole time and was treating me like shit, like some playground bully, because he didn’t understand his feelings.
But that isn’t fair.
“Yeah. It can be enough. Now, let me comb your hair, and then we can get to sleep.”
He gives a jaw-cracking yawn, then nods, and we make our way into the bedroom, where he spies the clothes at the edge of the bed. He turns, his gaze first on the towel knotted at my waist, and then they travel upward.
“For me?”
“Mm. I’m just going to sleep in boxers.”
His cheeks go faintly pink, but he nods and takes the clothes, and I turn to the dresser to give him privacy. Of course, I didn’t think about the whole mirror situation, so when I stand back up after shimmying my feet into my boxers, I catch a glimpse of him fully naked, stretching his arms up before he takes the sweats and pulls them over his bare ass.
Commando.
My dick threatens to get hard on me, so I give it a stern glare. Not tonight, bud. Tonight is for cuddles.
For a moment, it feels like the damn thing is pouting, but then I look up again and see Rune’s hair in disarray from pulling the shirt over his head, and I go soft all over. Sweeping past him, I slide onto the bed and press my back to the headboard before patting the spot between my legs.
“Here. I have been dying to get my hands on your hair.”
He gives me a funny look but does as I ask, and he sighs when I tip his head back and begin to untangle his knots with my wide-toothed comb.
“You’re very good at this,” he says, his voice heavy with sleep.
“Leo always told me I should be a dad. He used to have long hair when he was little—it wasn’t as curly as mine, so it was easier to play with. He’d let me practice braiding on him.”
Rune laughs softly. “I rarely braid mine, but if you ever get the itch, let me know. I fucking love this.”
I can tell he means it, so I take my time, and just as I give the comb one last pass, he starts to slide sideways before jolting upright.
“Shit, sorry. Didn’t realize how tired I was.”
I set the comb to the side and click off the lamp, then kick the covers back so he can get in beside me. He takes the space by the door, and I understand why. If Elio needs something, he needs to be quick on his feet.
I don’t mind it though. Turning on my side, I inch closer until he gives a huff, then tugs me into his arms and wraps around me like a giant squid. His nose dips into my hair, and he takes a long, slow, deep breath.
“I’m sorry about tonight,” I tell him, breaking the careful silence.
He hums, and one hand ghosts a touch up and down my spine. “Me too. I wanted this to go very differently.”
“We have time for that.”
He goes stiff, then pulls back just a little. I can see his eyes glinting from the moonlight coming in through the window. “Do we?”
“I mean, is there some kind of deadline on this?”
I can see his mouth moving, the way he does when he’s unsure or uncomfortable. Then he licks his lips. “You’re in love with someone else.”
I blink at him. “Uh…what?”
“You’re in love with someone else,” he repeats, like somehow, I’m going to magically understand what the fuck he’s talking about.
