Chapter 1 #2
He poked out his bottom lip, like he was in thought. “I guess you could say that. I’m really more of a… wanderer. I can take care of myself. Really,” he added at my doubtful look.
“Well, can you call someone? Someone you can stay with? Just for tonight.”
He shook his head. “I don’t have a phone.”
“You don’t have a phone?” I echoed in shock. Weren’t there programs that provided free phones to everyone now? At least for emergencies.
“I don’t want one,” he said quickly. “Look, I think you might have the wrong idea here, guy. I’m—”
“Let me call somebody for you, then. You have to have someone around here, right? A family member, at least?”
“My family is why I left.”
“So you have no one.”
He gave a single nod, seeming oddly satisfied with the fact that I finally got it.
He didn’t have anywhere to go. My stomach clenched with stress as the reality of the situation sank in.
I couldn’t actually leave him there, could I?
Forget about the fact that he was ridiculously good looking, it was more that he seemed totally and completely unaware that any dangers existed in the world at all.
Hypothermia, frostbite, muggers, serial killers.
It was obvious he hadn’t considered any of that.
“You should stay with me! Just for tonight,” I added in a softer voice so he wouldn’t think that I was one of those possible dangers. “We can figure out somewhere for you to go after that.”
Where the hell had that come from? I wasn’t an impulsive guy. But I knew part of me would die in shame and guilt if I left this beautiful, vulnerable person out here to freeze.
He let out a tiny, almost imperceptibly quiet groan, like I was an annoying kid that wouldn’t stop asking inane questions over and over, before sighing and glancing back up into the darkening sky.
He sounded resigned, like he knew if he said no, I’d keep bugging him for the rest of his life until he agreed. And he was right about that.
“How do I know you won’t take advantage of me?” he asked, but there wasn’t any fear in his voice. If anything, it sounded more like he was suppressing a laugh at my expense. But that was fine, as long as he actually came home with me.
“I would never do that,” I swore, trying to sound as serious as I possibly could.
“How do you know I won’t take advantage of you?”
Clearing my throat, I tried to imagine any scenario where that would be even remotely possible. I’d have been willing to take a punch if there was a chance he’d give me a pity kiss on the forehead.
“Well, I uh…”
Shaking his head, he let out the prettiest and most enchanting laugh I’d ever heard in my life.
“I’m just kidding. Are you sure you want to do this, uh…” He trailed off the end of the sentence, indicating that he didn’t know what to call me.
“Miles!” I quickly filled in the blank. “I’m Miles Hunter. What’s your name?” I couldn’t believe I’d been too distracted to ask up to that point.
He opened his mouth to answer, then closed it, then let out another strange laugh, shaking his head. A gust of wind roared through the park, stirring up his pink bangs. I tried not to shiver at the feeling of it on my bare arms. At least he was warm in my coat.
“What?” I asked, confused. “Did I say something wrong?”
“No,” he assured me gently. “It’s just that I’ve been using a fake name for so long. And for the first time in a long time, I felt like I wanted to use my real one.”
“Are you… hiding from something?” I wondered, frowning. Maybe he was a fugitive on the run or something. But it wasn’t like I could rescind my sleepover offer now.
“Just my parents,” he said. “You don’t need to worry. But I’ll give you my real name since you’ve been so kind. I’m Meadow.”
“Meadow,” I repeated. It was a weird name, but he was a weird guy, so it kind of worked. Maybe his parents were hippies or something. “That’s your real name?”
“Yes.”
“It’s pretty,” I said before nearly cringing in embarrassment. I hadn’t meant to say that part out loud. And most guys probably wouldn’t like being referred to as pretty, even just their name. Even if he actually was really ridiculously pretty. “Ah, sorry, I…”
“Thank you,” he cut in to spare me from rambling even more. “Are you sure you want to do this, Miles? I could be a dangerous person, you know.”
“I don’t think so,” I answered honestly. It was true I didn’t know a single thing about him, but… I just couldn’t imagine someone like him as a threat. “If I leave you out here, I’ll just worry all night.”
“We should go then,” he suggested. “I can see your teeth are starting to chatter.”
“I hope you like Chinese food,” I joked as I lifted my bag of takeout off the bench. He fell perfectly into step next to me as we made our way out of the little park and back onto the sidewalk, like we’d walked together a million times.
“I liked it better in China,” he answered, but his words had a tinge of teasing in them. “But yes, I do.”
“You’ve been to China?” I asked in surprise.
“As I said, I’m a wanderer.”
As we covered the last few blocks to my apartment, Meadow talked about the places he’d gone to, sharing interesting anecdotes about some of his favorites. I was shocked. I couldn’t imagine being so well-traveled and cultured at our age, unless he was from a family of billionaires or something.
“When did you start traveling?” I wondered, digging my keys out of my pocket to unlock my door when we reached it. “It’s just that you look so young.”
That amused look crossed his face again before he replied. “I’m not nearly as young as I look.”
I wasn’t exactly sure what to say to that, and it seemed like he didn’t want me to press about it.
I sighed in relief as the warmth of my apartment rushed over me, and I made quick work of closing the door behind us to seal up our safe, cozy bubble.
Well, my safe, cozy bubble that he was temporarily inhabiting.
But seeing him in my living space, even if he was just standing there, was weirdly exciting.
Okay, so I was getting attached to the guy way too quickly.
But I’d basically never even had anyone over to my place other than Allan and Jeremy.
And Meadow was… different. Really different.
But I wasn’t some brainless moron, despite the fact that I’d invited a complete stranger into my home.
It wasn’t like I had developed some spontaneous, pathetic crush or anything. I mean, I barely knew the guy.
After slipping out of the coat I’d lent him, Meadow carefully folded it and set it on the arm of my couch.
“You can keep that,” I said. He raised his gaze up to mine, his eyes beautiful and sparkling with serene gratitude.
“Really?”
“Y-yeah.” I thought if he’d keep looking at me like that, I might have given him all the money in my wallet too.
It wasn’t even a particularly nice or expensive coat.
It was beige, plain, and functional. Still, it looked really good on him.
Then again, what article of clothing wouldn’t look good on him? “I have another one, so…”
“Thank you, Miles. You’re very kind.”
He took a step over to me, closing the gap between us, and planted a very brief and innocent kiss on my cheek. My stomach did a flip in my guts, my heart smacking up into my ribs.
“No problem,” I managed to croak out, my throat drier than a desert.
Okay, I was a complete and total goner.