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“For being like this, for freezing at every little noise.”
“It’ll be okay,” Vic said.
“I don’t want you to have to hide what you’re feeling.”
Vic took a breath.
“I don’t want to either, but I also don’t want to pile on with everything that’s happening.”
That was the core of the problem. Adam’s night job brought more than just bruises and cracked ribs for him. It affected Vic. He had to deal with the aftermath and spend money they should have been saving.
“It can’t be easy to live with.”
“I’m dating a superhero.” Vic shrugged. “It comes with the territory.”
“Still, it’s been months, and I’m not better.”
Vic laughed.
“I’m sorry.” He held up his hands. “But you were tortured, baby. Literally tortured, and you can’t see it because you’re in it, but you are better. You’re getting better. It’s going to take time.”
“But what if . . .” Adam trailed off.
He felt warm, like his skin was too tight. This was one of the hardest things for him, admitting his fears, especially about them, and so often waiting for the other shoe to drop.
“Can I?” Vic stepped to the couch and offered his hands.
Adam nodded and let Vic pull him to his feet. Vic paused, just to make sure, before he pulled Adam into a hug.
He smelled like the kitchen and the long day he’d had. He’d worked two shifts back-to-back. Adam winced that he was about to ask a favor.
“Yes, I miss how easy it was between us, and yes, I worry about piling on when you’re already at your limit, but I’m not going anywhere.”
Adam let himself be held and he held Vic back until he had to break away, until that annoying pressure in his skin said he couldn’t handle any more. He wanted to stay, ride it to the very edge, but he didn’t know what would happen. It was like holding a stack of his mom’s wedding china. If he took one wrong step, they’d fall, and he didn’t know what that would mean. Probably a crying meltdown, like he’d had as a teen. Possibly, he’d go into a fugue and just lie on the floor until the buzzing in his brain quieted.
Vic felt Adam freeze and let him go. He turned toward the bedroom.
“So, um, TV and chill?” he asked.
“Actually, I was hoping to talk you into a séance.”
Adam explained what had happened at Emily’s house and at the hospital.
Vic smiled.
“You figured out how to help them?”
“All of them but Cole.”
“And where is this soul of his?”
“It’s on the kitchen table.”
Vic walked over and leaned in to look at it.
“Is it safe to touch?”
“Yeah, you know, just don’t break it.”
