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Chase pauses and then reaches for my hand. His fingers intertwine with mine. “I’d like to stay. If that’s alright.”
“I won’t be very much fun,” I reply. “I’m just going to be lying here.”
He shakes his head. “That’s fine. I want to… I want to be here with you. For you, I mean.”
The pain melts into the background as I stare up at Chase. His expression is rapt with concern, lips sealed tightly together under the ridge of his mustache, brow tightened just the slightest bit right at the center, eyes locked on me as if I might disappear if he looked away.
“You don’t have to worry so much, Chase. I’m used to this. I’ve dealt with it for a long time.”
“I know, but I want to help if I can because you don’t – you don’t deserve to –”
I laugh softly. “No one deserves a chronic illness.”
“Well, yeah, but –”
“You’re doing great right now. I promise. This is more than I usually get, so...”
Chase is quiet for a moment.
And I just can’t help it. He’s so handsome. So everything I’ve always wanted.
“Lay down with me,” I say.
“Are you sure?”
I nod and pull him down into the bed with me, making room for him beside me. I curl onto my side, and look at our hands locked between our faces. Chase’s eyes are still watchful. Still intense.
“I’ll be okay,” I say. “Just takes time.”
The time passes. I dip in and out of sleep as the flare grabs and releases me over and over. In that time, Chase maneuvers me onto his chest. A big, warm expanse that feels like a safe place of respite. His hand traces comforting circles along my back and his legs intertwine with mine.
The day passes and night begins to seep through the windows. I don’t know how much time has gone by laying here. I don’t care if it’s a few hours or a few centuries.
I’ve never felt more at home with a person. And it terrifies me.
“Are you awake?” Chase asks, his words sliding through the curls of my hair.
“Yeah, I am.” I take a moment, hug him a little tighter, and then start to push myself up to sitting. “It’s getting late, you must be –”
I feel Chase pull on my arm, guiding my chest onto his. I end up nose to nose with him, unable to speak.
“I did it first,” he murmurs.
I frown. “What?”
“First kiss. That was me. Now it’s your turn.”
Caught like a deer in headlights, I trade my breath back and forth with Chase. Silence falls around us. Trembling silence.
He wants me to kiss him.
And even if I know I should refuse, I just can’t.
I shift my head a slight degree and let my lips land on his. A closed-lipped kiss, yet not less deep than a tongue-lashing one.
Chase’s hands slide up my back. He holds me intensely to his chest. Almost like he is unwilling to let me go.
The joke’s on him, though. I’m not trying to get away.
