Page 77 of All In

If he doesn’t start feeling better tomorrow, I’m gonna make him go to the doctor. Or maybe the ER. Not that I’m super thrilled with the idea of rushing him off to Josh just because he doesn’t feel good.

I’m good with them being friends; I really am. But I also can’t deny that I like having Harlow all to myself. I don’t worry so much now about him running off to be with Josh. In fact, I don’t worry about that at all.

Wrapping an arm around Harlow, I stand, cradling him to me before carrying him back into our bedroom. He doesn’t fight me at all, his body slumping into mine as I make the short walk.

I press a kiss to his forehead and lay him down on the bed. “I’m gonna grab some meds and water, and while you’re taking them, I’m gonna run you a bath. Sound good?”

“Okay,” he mumbles, burrowing under the blankets and making himself a little cocoon.

After giving him two fever reducers and a glass of water, I make my way into the bathroom, opening the new bubble bath I bought and filling the tub. It smells amazing, and before it’s even done filling up, Harlow is ambling his way into the bathroom on shaky legs.

“Should have waited for me, baby.”

He sighs, sinking to the floor next to me. “I like that. Baby. I don’t know what I’m gonna do when we’re not married anymore and you’re not calling me baby and pretty boy. Be sad, I guess.”

Oh Jesus, my fucking heart. I have to bite my tongue; otherwise, I might do something stupid like tell him that we don’t have to get divorced. Or that I’m in love with him. Or that he can be my baby forever if he wants.

Instead, I clear my throat, then run my fingers through his hair. “Time to get in, okay?”

I help him strip down, then he uses my arm as leverage as he steps into the tub. He sinks into the water with a heavy sigh, his eyes falling closed.

“Wait, stay,” he says when I stand up, so I sit right back down.

I don’t know why he thought he was gonna make it in the guest room for the night if he doesn’t even want me to leave the bathroom while he’s in the tub.

“How’s the water?” I ask.

“Warm,” Harlow says with a sigh. “Would be better if you got in too,” he adds, squinting one eye open and looking at me.

The fact that I can never say no to him continues to be true, and I stand, stripping quickly out of my clothes before climbing in behind him. The water is warm, almost bordering on hot, and it honestly feels amazing.

I sit down behind Harlow, and as soon as I’m settled, he presses his back against my chest, his head falling backward to my shoulder. His hair tickles my skin, and I wrap my arm around his stomach, holding him to me.

The bath is more to help him relax than anything, and after a few minutes of me toying gently with his hair and running a hand softly up and down his side, his body grows heavier as he dozes off.

I hate that he’s sick, but I really love this. I love Harlow’s weight pressing into me. The way he trusts me. The way he clings to me.

“I love you,” I whisper. It feels safe in here with him half dozing. I’ve said the words a thousand times over the years, but they’ve never felt quite like this coming out of my mouth.

I’ve also never said them with Harlow naked in my arms, vulnerable and turning to me for comfort.

He doesn’t answer. That was the whole point, though. To be able to say them in the way I mean them without him hearing me.

The water is starting to get cold, though, and either the bath or the meds are breaking his fever. His skin is cool and clammy in a way it wasn’t earlier, so I gently shake him awake.

“Hey, baby,” I whisper when he groans. “The water is getting cold. Let’s get out and get you back into bed.”

“Soup?” Harlow rasps.

“Are you hungry?”

He nods against me. “Yeah, but my throat hurts.”

Well, if anything, the soup will help with that.

After pulling the plug, I get him situated into a sitting position, then stand, grabbing two towels. I step out of the tub, wrapping one around my waist before reaching down to help him to his feet.

When he’s standing on the rug in front of the tub, I make quick work of drying him off. He’s shivering, and I need to get him back under the blankets.