Page 93 of Something Like Hail

He knew married couples who refused to sharebut wasn’t surprised at this point. Felix didn’t have a lot ofboundaries. Or maybe he was just really generous. Noah went to therestroom for the usual business and ended up using the toothbrush.When he returned to the room, the sheets were turned down and Felixwas standing there in pajamas themed with some other show Noahhadn’t heard of. All he knew was that Felix looked cute.

“I’m beat,” he said,yawning as he casually stripped off his shirt. He pretended not tonotice Felix staring and waited until he was alone in the roombefore he undressed down to his boxer briefs. Then he slid beneaththe sheets.

Noah was used to sleeping in unfamiliarsurroundings and had almost dozed off by the time Felix returnedfrom the restroom. The lights were switched off and a body joinedhis.

“Good night,” Noahmurmured.

“Good night,” Felixreplied.

Noah closed his eyes. A few minutes later,he opened them again, just in time to see another pair quicklyshut. A nightlight made of three glowing triangles had beenswitched on. The golden light revealed that Felix was facing him,his eyelashes fluttering gently, implying he was either peeking ortrying not to. Noah felt amused, endeared, enchanted…

“Come here,” hesaid, pulling on Felix’s hip. “Roll over.”

“Bark bark,” Felixanswered, complying and scooting closer. “I’m a cat, not adog.”

“I don’t mean it like that.And we’re just spooning. Don’t be getting any ideas.”

“Too late.”

“I bet,” Noah said, lipsbrushing against the back of his neck. “Get some sleep.”

“Sweet dreams,” Felix said,a sigh in his voice.

“You too,” Noah replied,and while it took some time to settle down, he enjoyed everyrestless minute spent holding on to the warm body next tohis.

Chapter Thirteen

Noah woke three hours later, annoyed thathis internal alarm lacked a snooze button he could hit. Hedisentangled himself from Felix as carefully as possible. Sometimein the middle of the night—or morning—he had rolled over onto hisback. Felix had an arm and a leg draped over him, a boner pressingagainst Noah’s hip. It felt good to be loved, he supposed.Resisting the urge to wake Felix by grabbing hold of it, he slippedout of bed, got dressed, and opened the bedroom door a crack. Theapartment was silent.

He looked back, wanting to leave a note orsomething, but he didn’t see pen and paper handy. He did, however,spot a stuffed animal—a white cat with a crescent moon on itsforehead. Noah took this and carefully placed it in the crook ofFelix’s arm. That way he wouldn’t wake up alone. Cats likedsleeping together, didn’t they? He took a photo with his phone,wanting something he could look at during the day. Then he slippedoutside the room and down the hall.

The couch was occupied. Noah couldn’t seemuch of the person beneath the quilt. Just the outline of a bodyand the back of long hair. Meeting the mother sounded charminglyquaint, but not like this. Noah held his breath, praying to getoutside undetected because he could already imagine an awkwardconversation with a half-awake stranger. Luck was on his side foronce because he closed the apartment door behind him without wakinganyone.

Noah drove home, took a shower, and gotdressed. He could try to get more sleep, but he was used to longnights. Some clients liked to take their time. Especially theedgers. If he gave in to sleep now, most of his day would beruined, not that he had plans. What he wanted was to see Felixagain. Having a normal connection with another human being, and notjust an exchange of services, had felt good. He checked his phonein case Felix had risen and texted. Nothing. Then he browsed theother recent messages. A bunch from Marcello that were workrelated, and a series of polite but increasingly worried texts fromEdith. Why not?

Noah checked the clock. The shelter wasn’ttoo busy at this time of day, so he drove over, wanting to see her.Not just to assure her that he was okay, but also to spend timewith someone who had looked out for him when he’d had nothing.

After finding a parking spot and walking therest of the way to Jerusalem, he discovered the front desk wasoccupied, just like he imagined. Except it wasn’t the right person.Pete the bouncer was still glowering after all this time.

“How’s it going, Pete?”Noah said cheerfully. “Remember me?”

Pete nodded. Talkative as always!

“Hey, is Edith around?She’s been calling a lot lately.”

Pete studied him, remaining eerily still.Then he leaned forward, grabbed something from the desk, and set iton the counter. A bundle of envelopes held together by a rubberband. “These are for you.”

Noah ignored them. “He speaks!”

“When I feel like it,” Petesaid, nodding at the envelopes. “There you go.”

“Thanks,” Noah said, takinga step forward. He examined the first in the stack, stomach sinkingat the return address. The prison in Gatesville. Of course. Ryanhad been busy writing him. He flipped through the corners of theenvelopes to make sure all came from the same sender. Theydid.

“Mail forwarding,” Petegrunted. “Go to the post office and give them your newaddress.”

“But then I wouldn’t havethe pleasure of seeing your cheerful face,” Noah said, notsurprised when the joke fell flat. “Listen, did I do something tooffend you? Or does everyone get the five-startreatment?”

Pete took his time answering. “You remind meof bad times.”