Page 176 of Should the Sky Fall

Cal sets the e-reader aside. “Nothing yet. I was about to start,” he lies. “How was the appointment?”

“Good, good. Wanted to punch Ash by the end, but that’s how it usually goes.” He chuckles. “Does Donut need to go out?”

Cal bites his lip. He was so jittery about setting everything up that he forgot. “Yes. I’ll take him in a minute. Can I show you something first?”

Dawson’s eyebrow quirks up, and he grins. “Show me something. Another sex position you want to try?”

Cal feels his face getting warm. “No.” He doesn’t watchthatmuch porn.

Dawson laughs. “Shame. What is it?”

“It’s in the office.”

Luckily, Dawson follows him without question, stopping in the doorway when his gaze falls on the set-up.

“What…”

Cal jumps in to hurry and explain, before Dawson gets upset. “I know I took some liberties. I know I should’ve asked, but I wanted it to be a surprise. If you don’t like it, I’ll get rid of it. Donate it or something. But I’d like you to consider it.

“You said you don’t do this anymore, but I saw you the other day. I saw how you got lost in the process even though you were painting something so simple that they teach it to complete beginners. You deserve to experience it again. As often or as little as you want. I just want you to have the option if you ever feel like picking up a brush again. And you don’t have to. You never have to if you don’t—”

Dawson strides over with purpose, cups the back of Cal’s neck and draws him into a kiss. His lips tremble against Cal’s, but he doesn’t stop kissing him, clinging onto the kiss like it’s his only source of air.

His eyelashes are wet when he pulls away. “Thank you. I don’t even know what to say. Just…thank you.”

Cal wipes a stray tear from Dawson’s cheek. “You don’t have to say anything.” He hesitates. “Does that mean you like it?”

Dawson gives a watery laugh. “Yeah, Cal, I do. I love it.” He throws his arms around Cal’s shoulders. “I love you.”

He’s never going to get tired of hearing that. “I love you too.”

Cal wakes with a jolt. It’s another of those nights when the horrible memories haunt his dreams. They’ve been getting worse since he found out the truth, though he hasn’t mentioned it to Dawson. He’s not planning on it either. It’s just something he’ll need to get used to. Maybe he should ask for Ash’s number. He seems to be helping Dawson, no matter how much Dawson complains about him.

It's already morning, the other side of the bed empty. Cal rests for a few minutes, waiting until his racing heart slows down. It takes longer than usual, his chest tight and aching, as though someone is pressing on it. He forces himself to take slow, deep breaths. It helps only marginally, the tightness persevering. Figuring he’ll have to walk it off or something, he throws the covers back and stands up, a bout of dizziness making him sit back down. He tries again a minute later, and it’s better this time.

He makes his way to the kitchen, desperately craving a glass of water. He finds that Dawson is already home, leaning against the island, still in his running gear and smiling at his phone as he types. His eyes flick up when he hears Cal approach.

“Morning, sleepyhead.”

“Morning.” Cal looks around. “Where’s Donut?”

Dawson points at the sofa where Donut it spread out, belly up and legs in the air, tongue lolled out. “I tired him out.”

Cal chuckles. “I see. Who are you talking to?”

“Olivia. She’s asking when we’re going to visit.”

Cal pulls out a glass from the cupboard, putting it under the tap. His hand shakes, a strange pain traveling from his shoulder down his arm. He raises the glass to his lips and takes a long, grateful sip. His skin flushes hot and cold, sweat beading on his forehead. Is he coming down with something? He hopes he won’t pass it onto Dawson.

“As far as I’m concerned, we can go whenever. It all depends on your shifts at the shelter.”

“Well, Christmas holidays start in a couple of weeks. Maybe we could go then.”

“Sounds good.”

Cal throws back the rest of the water, then braces himself against the counter when his vision swims. It clears up quickly. He turns around to tell Dawson he’ll have to go lie back down for a bit, and freezes.

Seeing Dawson like this, in this position, bent at the hips as he leans his forearms on the island…