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“C’rabs a towel froets out of the tub, wrapping ainst his wide chest as he tucks a towel around his waist With a small half-smile—the shy, sweet one that seems to wreck my heart a little more each tiether

I push h his wet hair and Barrett, curled aroundmy shoulder with his warm palm when I feel his body twitch For once, he’s out before I am I pull him closer to me, joyous at the ether

When, after a little while, ently disentangle from him and slip off the bed

FIVE

Barrett

I’ for my toothbrush when I see—

Is that a ring?

I lift it off the toothbrush handle, set it in my palm, and hold it up near my face My eyes are still blurry, but it looks like… I chuckle, despite : just like hers, but a thick band

I grin down at it All the tightness in — That shit dissolves as I look at the ring in my palm I set it down and wash my hands and try it on before I brush my teeth

It’s too tight on er, but it fits the one beside ht hand I watch areen, before I brush reen when I’m finished I take it off so I can clean the sink up, put away the cloth I stuffed into my mouth, and use a spare hand towel to soap off my neck and chest I don’t think they’re really dirty, but I want to be sure before I get back into bed with her

I put the ring back on and smirk at myself in the mirror Pretty princess Breck used to call me that when I called him our special snowflake Breck would like her, I think, as I run a hand back throughHe always liked the quiet, sweet ones Gwen’s not quiet—she’s ood foil to me—but she’s sweet as hell

I give the ring one ht and step quietly into her rooood in here Like fruit and sex and…vanilla I look up at the ceiling, at the twinkle lights, then I let aze find Gwen Her narrow shoulders, her small body curled into a little “c” She isn’t skinny, but compared to me, she’s tiny So small and soft—and warm

I cli s so her pretty face is tucked againstmy knees up below hers It takes allher, but based on her breathing, I don’t think she seems soundly asleep, and I don’t want to wake her up

It feels so good to be here with her, but I don’t want her knowing how fucked up my head is It would be best if she could think it’s better when I’m near her One, because it really is But also because I don’t want to be trouble to her She said she could tell htmares, but that’s not what I want She doesn’t deserve to have to deal with that It’s mine I deserve it

I inhale right by her hair, trying to find a label for the sweet, unique scent