Page 166 of Corpse Roads
“A friend?” he echoes.
“Well, I don’t think strangers donate their entire library to random people or stay until the sun rises to discuss crazy book theories. That’s what friends do.”
His smile is a gentle evening breeze that warms the shell of my heart. Despite his awkward nature, Theo is a soothing presence. Quiet, reserved, observant. But beneath it all, fearsome in his own way.
“Are you friends with the others too?”
“What else would I be?” I answer softly.
For once, he doesn’t hesitate or doubt himself.
“I’ve seen the way they all look at you.”
His hand is still wrapped around mine, trembling slightly with each word. Anxiety runs over him like a static charge.
“I don’t know what you want me to say.”
“I… I… hell, me neither,” he falters.
There’s something in the loaded air that’s sealing us in this room, letting everything else fall away. An emotion. I don’t know what it is. The others don’t look at me like Theo does.
“Can I just hug you?”
His request catches me off guard.
“You don’t need to ask.” I smile shyly. “But yeah, that’d be nice.”
Offering his own tiny smile, he releases my hand and steps closer until his green flannel shirt is pressed up against my nose. His arms are surprisingly strong beneath the loose clothing he wears, wiry and muscular.
I breathe in his peppermint scent, spiked with the familiarity of parchment and antique books. It’s like stepping into a library and being welcomed home into its warm, comfortable arms.
Where Leighton makes me laugh until I want to cry, Enzo treats me like I’m a precious artefact to be loved and protected. Hunter excites me, makes me feel beautiful and powerful.
But Theo… with him, I feel at home. Secure. Wrapped in soft blankets and soothing firelight, the pages of a book spread out on my lap. He’s the welcoming arms of the family I always wanted.
His breath stirs my hair. “You feel good.”
I tighten my arms around his narrow waist. “Do you live in a library or something? You always smell like books.”
“Is that a bad thing?” He chuckles.
“Definitely not.”
“My office is a bit of a lair.” I feel his fingers stroke down the length of my spine. “I like books more than I like people.”
“Seems fair.”
Lapsing into silence, we hold each other tight. There’s no pressure to separate or speak. I focus on the feel of Theo stroking my back, his breathing evening out as his anxiety fades.
When he releases me, it feels like an eternity has passed. The world has ended around us, succumbed to the ravages of time, and we’re the last two humans left in this existence.
He looks at me… like I’m his whole world. That terrifies and excites me so much. I want to dive into his blue-eyed gaze and let myself be consumed by the oceanic waves.
“I haven’t done that for a long time,” he admits with an adorable blush. “Thank you for not being weirded out.”
I can’t help but laugh.
“Have you met me? I’m not sure weird is a strong enough label for the stuff going on up here.” I gesture to my head. “If you need more hugs, you know where I am.”