Page 134 of Bend

“You look knackered.”

“Feel fucking fantastic.”

“Liar.”

“The sponsors, showed me diagrams.”

Thorne winces. “Christ.”

“Actual fucking diagrams.”

“Thoughts and prayers, mate.”

“Appreciated.”

He turns and starts down the hall, but his hand slides from my hoodie into mine as he goes.

Easy and automatic.

I look down at our joined hands.

Thorne catches me doing it.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“That face says otherwise.”

“I like this version of you.”

He glances over. “What version?”

“The one who holds my hand without acting like it’s going to trigger the apocalypse.”

“Don’t ruin it.”

I laugh.

He squeezes my fingers once.

We reach the far end of the hall where two doors face each other.

Thorne nods left.

“Yours.”

I push it open.

My bag is already sitting on the bed.

“You brought my shit up?”

“Yeah.”

“And put me opposite you.”

“Convenient, innit?”