Chapter 19
822 Words
Then I finally took in what was actually happening.
My brain had been too overwhelmed by everything else to process it properly, but now it caught up all at once.
Titus was sitting beside me in his underwear.
His arm was around me.
He was leaning close.
I immediately tried to move away, forgetting that my leg was locked inside the brace. Pain pulled through my knee, and I winced.
“What’s wrong?” Titus asked.
“An extremely attractive man is touching me.”
He stared.
“He’s basically naked,” I continued. “He’s basically a god. And, as we’ve established, he’s someone I’ve been crushing on forever.”
Titus’s mouth started to curve.
“I’m still a guy,” I said. “Despite all the emotions and everything happening tonight, my brain has finally realized there’s a beautiful man sitting close to me and touching me. So, before my body does something embarrassing, I’m creating distance.”
Titus laughed.
“Am I giving you a b***r?”
I looked at him.
“Well, I am a guy.”
He laughed harder and finally moved back to the other cot.
“And I’m deprived,” I added before I could stop myself. “Because Bryson and I haven’t—never mind.”
“It’s been a while,” Titus said.
“Yeah.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It isn’t your problem.”
I forced myself to behave.
This man was willing to be my friend. I didn’t need to flirt with him or say something that opened a door neither of us could close.
Apparently, Titus didn’t share that concern.
“So you think I’m hot?”
“We already established that.”
“I’m still stuck on how hot.”
“I’m not answering that.”
“Go on.”
I sighed. “A twelve. Maybe a thirteen.”
He grinned.
“Titus, you have to realize that everyone and their mother thinks you’re attractive.”
“I’m really not that great.”
“Yes, you are. During the summer, I used to walk around Lakeview hoping I’d catch you playing volleyball shirtless. Or running.”
“So you’re one of those gays.”
I laughed. “Maybe. Like you’ve never done the same thing with girls.”
“Fair.”
He leaned back on the cot, still amused.
“So this is insane for you right now.”
“Yes.”
“I’m literally in your room almost completely naked.”
“Yes, Titus.”
“And I’m one of your biggest crushes.”
“Yes.”
“Have you fantasized about me?”
“Conversation over.”
I turned away too quickly and immediately winced again.
“Hey. Be careful with your leg.”
Titus was beside me before I could argue.
“You need to move it like this.”
His hands settled against me as he helped reposition my body and straighten the brace. Every touch only made the situation worse.
“This isn’t a good idea, Titus.”
“It’s fine.”
“For you, maybe.”
He adjusted the pillows beneath my leg until it rested more comfortably.
“There.”
“Crap.”
“What?”
“I have to pee.”
“Okay.”
I looked toward the bathroom and then at the brace.
The nurse had warned me this might be difficult. The brace reached high enough that getting my shorts down properly without bending my leg was nearly impossible.
Titus followed my gaze.
“If I need to help—”
“No.”
“Fine. I’ll look away and stand nearby.”
“No. I’ll hold it.”
“All night?”
“Yes.”
“For the next several days?”
I glared at him.
“No.”
A few minutes later, I was in the bathroom living through the most humiliating experience of my life.
Titus had to help because of the brace.
There was no graceful way around it. He helped with my clothing and steadied me while I used the bathroom, doing his best to act as though it were completely ordinary.
It was not ordinary.
Titus saw everything.
All I could think about was how unimpressive I must have looked, especially compared to whatever he had going on beneath those briefs.
Once we managed to get my shorts back into place, he helped me return to the bed.
“I can die now,” I said. “Someone can kill me.”
“Why?”
“It would be embarrassing enough for any guy to see me like that. Why did it have to be you?”
Titus laughed.
“Fine,” he said. “We’ll make it even.”
I looked at him. “What does that mean?”
Before I understood what he intended, his hands went to his waistband.
He pulled his underwear down.
“f**k,” I blurted.
- Writer
