Page 145 of Should the Sky Fall

Dawson is leaning against the counter and sipping what seems to be a glass of ice water, the space between his brows pinched in pain. Olivia’s nowhere to be seen.

“Just a headache,” Dawson says miserably, pressing the cool glass against his forehead.

Cal moves towards him, cupping his face with both hands. “How bad?”

“Not too bad. Annoying, mostly.” Which in Dawson’s language means:I’m dying but I’m not about to admit that.

Cal takes Dawson’s hand and tugs him across the living room. “Let’s get you in bed.”

Dawson doesn’t argue, adjusting his grip so their fingers thread together. Cal squeezes his hand, stroking his thumb over Dawson’s. When Dawson is crawling into bed, Cal goes to roll down the blinds. The sun will set soon, but the sooner he gets Dawson in a dark room the better. Once that’s done, Cal climbs onto the bed next to him and strokes his hair. Dawson hums, eyes closed and the faintest smile on his lips.

“Would you like a massage? It helped last time.”

“Okay,” Dawson whispers, blinking one eye open and smiling up at Cal. “How do you want me?”

In my arms, ideally forever.“Here,” he rasps out and moves to sit up against the headboard, Dawson’s head in his lap. “Like last time. This good?”

Dawson hums, eyes closed.

With a kiss to Dawson’s forehead, Cal begins rubbing small circles into his temples, then moves across the scalp slowly, taking his time.

After several minutes, Dawson is so relaxed Cal thinks he’s fallen asleep, but then Dawson says, “I’m sorry about Olivia ambushing you like that. She’s a force of nature. Was she mean to you?”

Cal presses his lips together, not wanting to upset Dawson. “She wasn’t happy you weren’t here and that she couldn’t reach you,” he says evasively. “But I think we bonded a little over my dick.”

Dawson laughs so hard he chokes a little, then grimaces like he just bit into a lemon. “Please, stop. I find the thought of your dick and my sister very disturbing.”

“Me too.”

They both laugh.

“I’m sorry if she was mean. She’s protective,” Dawson says, making Cal sigh. He had hoped he’d distracted Dawson with the silly joke.

“I know. Don’t worry about it, Dawson.”

“But I—”

“Shh, rest. Don’t stress over silly stuff.”

“S’not silly,” Dawson pouts. “I want you to get along. You’re both so important to me.”

Cal smiles, his heart overflowing with all the love he has for this man. He bends down to brush his lips against Dawson. “Don’t worry. I’ll win her over. I promise.”

“Oh, yeah? What, you’ll paint her a picture?”

Cal smirks. “Maybe. Or I can cook for her.”

“Cal, please, don’t poison my sister. That would be a hard one to explain to the police. I’m not sure even Ellis could help.”

“That was uncalled for.”

“Hmm.”

“What were you about to say? When you got home. You mentioned running into Gabe and Ash.”

“Hm? Oh, yeah.” Dawson giggles. “We got the seats next to them, can you believe it? Kieran was being a smartass and kept making jabs at Ash when he found out he’s my therapist.”

“What did Ash say?”