With the late morning came loud voices and a giggling baby. Alex groaned, rolling until he was all but on top of Roman. He slowly lifted his head only to meet two caramel eyes twinkling with amusement. He blushed furiously as he pulled himself back.
"Sorry."
"It's alright. How do you feel?" Roman asked, propping himself up on his elbows and trying not to wince at the stiffness.
"I'm okay. Are you okay? Do you need something?" Alex asked with slight panic.
"I'm alright, Alex. I just get stiff when I lay for a while." Alex nodded in understanding. The staring that ensued wasn't awkward. It was natural between the two. Both knew they were looking for answers that they wouldn't find, but it didn't stop them from trying.
A knock on the door broke their locked gazes and prompted Alex to get up. Ashley smiled happily before shoving his way in and closing the door behind him. His cheeks swelled as he blew out a long breath.
"It's going to be a long fucking day," he mumbled just as a mousy voice echoed through the door followed by more unadulterated laughter.
"Is that my mom?" Alex groaned.
"And your dad and Mandy."
"Tell them I'm sick." Ashley gave him a pointed look that said it would never work. If anything, it would make his day worse. His parents would be fawning over him until he snapped if they thought something was wrong. Alex sighed, dragging his fingers through his hair. "Let me take a shower and I'll be out."
Ashley put on his best smile before he turned and walked out. Alex almost laughed at the sound of his mother getting Alex Junior riled up. Tori never had the heart to tell her no, which meant Ashley and she got to deal with the baby screaming when it was nap time.
"She really likes that kid, huh?" Alex jumped, having forgotten Roman was even in the room.
"She adores him. Uh, do you want the shower first? I mean, it's a tub and a shower.. I don't know if-"
"It's fine. I manage," Roman mumbled.
"Do you need help? I mean, is there something I can do?"
Roman shook his head. "Go ahead."
Alex shifted on his feet, wanting desperately to say something, to do something to help. He was loaded with questions that he needed answered, but he wasn't ready to ask them just yet. He wanted to just savor this for as long as he could.
He took a fast shower, not taking the time to enjoy the hot water massaging his skin. He felt a jolt of panic when he realized he had forgotten to bring clothes into the bathroom with him. His fingers gripped the sink edge as the room spun. Alex sat on the edge of the tub, water dripping off as he tried to head off what he knew would be an anxiety attack.
He was unsure how long he sat before his breaths were steady and his vision didn't threaten to funnel. This was Roman. He had bathed with Roman as a child and skinny dipped with him as teenagers. All he had to do was walk across the room, and it was just Roman. Just Roman, he told himself as he opened the door.
Roman was still on the edge of the bed when he came out. He kept his eyes diverted as Alex tried to cross the room with confident strides and steady breaths. His heart strummed a fast beat and the feeling of Roman's eyes on his back made him want to drop his towel and submit. That very notion made his stomach ache. He was disgusting. Roman wasn't looking at him because he wanted him, Roman was probably trying not to vomit at the sight.
He was almost grateful when he heard the bathroom door close. He waited a few minutes after he heard the sink turn on and the sounds of shifting. He put on fresh clothing and ran his fingers through his wild hair before heading for the living room.
