Page 84 of Cream & Sugar

“Y-yeah,” he stammers, teeth chattering. “I’m fine, I…”

He lifts one foot, teeters for a moment, then his eyelids flicker and he falls.

“Freddie!” I leap forward, catching him a split-second before his head hits the floor. His skin is like ice. “Shit, you’re freezing!”

“Justalilbit.” His words come out garbled.

The first aid course I took before opening the café comes hurtling back to me.

“We have to warm you up. Can you walk?”

He stirs feebly in an attempt to stand. Clearly, it’s not happening.

“Okay,” I place one hand under his legs while the other supports his back. Gritting my teeth, I get to my feet, scooping him up in my arms.

“My hero,” he mumbles as I carry him inside.

“Oh shut up,” I say, kicking the door closed behind me. Now the initial shock has passed, I’m furious at him. As always, he’s wearing practically nothing and it’s Baltic outside. But I can lecture him later. Right now, I need to make sure he doesn’t freeze to death.

Setting him down on the sofa, I run around the flat like a madman doing everything I can to warm him up. I whack up the thermostat to a tropical twenty-five and grab a handful of blankets from the airing cupboard, tossing them on top of him before dashing to the kitchen to make him a hot drink.

He’s still shivering violently when I return with a slapdash mug of hot chocolate.

“Freddie?” I sit beside him as he trembles. “Can you take a sip of this for me?”

“A-ah,” He’s shaking so much, he can’t get the words out. “I… mmf…”

There’s a tang of alcohol on his breath and the unmistakable scent of cannabis wafting off him. He probably didn’t even feel how cold he was.

I put the mug to his lips but most of the liquid ends up on his T-shirt. His eyes roll in and out of focus.Shit. I need him warm, now, but it’ll be a while before the flat heats up. I chew my lip. Only one thing for it.

Lifting the blankets, I roll Freddie over to make space and lay alongside him, pressing my body into his. It’s like spooning an ice sculpture. His paper-thin jacket is soaking wet, so I peel it off, manipulating his limp arms like a marionette, and toss it on the floor.

Freddie whimpers, his whole frame convulsing. I throw the blankets over the two of us and use my body to sandwich him against the back of the sofa, making a cocoon of warmth. Hypothermia is no joke. If he doesn’t stop shivering soon, I’ll have to call an ambulance.

I wrap my arms around him and pull him in closer, creating as much contact between our bodies as possible, willing myself to radiate more heat.

For minutes, we lay entwined, Freddie shaking, his teeth chattering next to my ear. Behind his back, my fingers pick furiously at one of the blankets, stimming away the stress.

Why is he out in the cold so late? He collapsed seconds after entering the building. What would have happened if he hadn’t made it here? If he’d been just a minute later?

I squeeze him tighter.

“Can’t…breathe,” Freddie gasps, and I loosen my grip.

“Sorry!” I pull away slightly and find myself nose-to-nose with him. His lips are still quivering, but they’ve turned a grey sort of pink. That has to be better than blue. He manages a weak smile.

“Hi there, you.”

“Hi!” I say. “Don’t try to move yet, okay?”

“Not even if you p-paid me,” Freddie curls up tighter, pressing his cheek against my chest. “Your heart. I can feel it beating through your shirt.”

“You scared me. You were freezing.”

“And you found the best way to warm me up.” Freddie drapes his arm around my back and squeezes with a reassuring strength. “Good thing you’re so hot!”

“That’s not funny,” I say, sternly. “I thought I’d have to call 999!”