Wood (A True Lover's Story #2) - A.E. Via Page 0,55
see the honey-brown swirls in Wood’s irises through his dilated pupils. “I’m gonna stay right here, all right? All day if you want. I called my boss and she said she got me for as long as I need.” Trent propped himself on his elbow, trying to find a more comfortable position on the hardwood floor. He wished he could get Wood in the bed, but he knew he’d already pushed his back too far as it was. The room was hot enough to cook popcorn, so he turned the heater down some and unwrapped one of Wood’s blankets from around him to check if he’d warmed enough. “Well, I can’t check your core temperature unless I had a rectal thermometer… and yeah, that’s not happening.” Trent smirked, but his smile quickly fell away when Wood continued to stare through him. “I think you’re warm enough.”
Trent talked to Wood about any and everything so he’d know he hadn’t left his side. He talked about the time he’d spent in prison and the way he’d behaved so all the other inmates thought he was psycho and no one would fuck with him. And about how lonely and despondent he became after Bishop was transferred. He wanted Wood to know that Trent understood him more than he thought. “The motherfuckin’ justice system. They lock us up in cages like animals for years and then release us back into society, armed with nothing but defensiveness and hostility, and then expect us to act like model citizens. What the fuck, y’know?”
He told Wood how much he hated the winter because not only did he love the beach, but he missed landscaping in the summer with Bishop and his crew. He craved the long sunny days of digging in the earth, inhaling freshly mowed grass, and cutting up with the fellas at lunch. “But the construction gig pays well and keeps me from having to dig into my savings during the off-season. I’m no electrician or anything, but I was promoted to equipment operator this year, so… I been pretty happy about that. The hotel we’re building downtown is fancy as shit too. It’s twenty-one stories, and it takes up half the block on Main Street.” He even told Wood about the potential job offer he had to stay on full-time in a salaried position.
Trent had to eventually stop talking and eat. It didn’t take him long to finish his two ham sandwiches, then drink some more water. He attempted to get Wood to sip some again but failed. Periodically, Wood’s eyes would slowly drift closed but not for long. After Trent was done rambling about prison, work, and his shitty family life, he started to talk about some of the crazy things he and Bishop did after they first met in juvie.
Trent had repositioned Wood onto his other side and made sure the covers were tucked around him tightly. He ran the pad of his thumb across Wood’s forehead and fingered a few strands of hair that’d fallen across his temple. “I wasn’t with some woman last night. Summer is my boss, and also my best friend. Like a big sis. I’ve never done anything with her, ever. And I was over there so late because… cuz I was being silly. And I’m so sorry, Wood. I’m sorry I didn’t answer your call.”
He thought he saw a reaction, a flicker in Wood’s expression. “I know you can hear me. Come back, Wood. You’re stronger than this. You’re way fuckin’ stronger than me, and I made it through… you can too.” Trent got closer, his lips only inches from Wood’s. “But you gotta look at me. Look at me, Wood. Damnit. You gotta see what’s right in front of you, man.”
Trent continued to talk until Wood dozed off. It was almost four o’clock, and he was so tired he could barely think straight. He picked up his phone to check his messages and saw Bishop had texted fifteen minutes ago to say he was on his way over. “Fuck.” Trent hurried to call him back.
“Dude!” Bishop barked. “I’ve been calling all day. What do you mean Wood has the flu? How?”
Trent pressed his thumb and middle finger into his temples. He really didn’t want to lie to Bishop, but he’d do it this once for Wood. “Calm down, B. When I got home last night, he wasn’t feeling good. I told him to go to bed, and he’s been there ever since.”