FAKE

twenty four

Once I'm showered, I change into a fresh pair of pajamas and crawl into my bed.

For a while, I toss and turn, not being able to get comfortable.

Maybe it's just my thoughts being too loud tonight, so I sit up and turn on the lamp beside my bed.

A concept strikes me and I look around my room as I consider it.

I get up and silently make my way down the hall to the guest room.

The door is half-open, so I knock on the door frame before taking a step inside.

"Ross?" I ask to see if he's still awake. I can just barely see him in the dark lying under all the blankets.

"Hm?" He shifts around then props himself up on his elbows.

"Do you remember, before you left, when I had a bad night-"

"I'd hold you for a while?" He finishes for me, because he catches on to what I'm thinking of right away.

"Would it be okay if I-"

"If you stayed for a while? Of course." His smile is laced with a hint of nostalgia.

I crawl into the bed, feeling like my 18-year-old self again, and he wraps his arms around me.

I slowly relax as he holds me.

His arms are inviting and familiar, just like they were the first time I needed them.

"You're warm," I note and he chuckles softly.

"I missed this," He murmurs and leaves a lingering kiss on my forehead.

"Me too," I admit.

We lie there, soaking in each other's presence until I finally speak up.

"Rydel invited me to a family gathering scheduled for tomorrow..." I look up at him. "I think you should go." His smile falters.

"Are you sure? I don't think  randomly showing up is going to be a nonchalant thing."

"It won't be," I agree. "But you're back, and they need to know. Better to tell them now than later."

"How does this work though?"

"I don't know. I guess I could say you showed up on my doorstep today. However you want to excuse the reason for leaving is up to you." He nods, concentrating on how to explain.

"Just think about it, okay? We'll figure it out." I lightly kiss his cheek, then settle into his arms to sleep.

I hear him sigh as he pulls me closer to his chest.

Just like magic, I start to grow tired, and soon drift into sleep.

***

I wake up to warm covers and an empty bed.

When I realize I'm alone, I become fully conscious and sit up.

He's gone.

He's gone.

Panic lurches in my stomach as it hits me. I throw back the blankets and go out to the hallway.

That's when I hear soft singing from the living room.

I creep down the hall to see the room.

He's sitting on the couch with his old guitar, quietly singing to himself.

I recognize the song before I even need to listen to any more of it.

"Hey There Delilah" by the Plain White T's. We'd danced to this at our senior prom roughly four years ago.