Chapter 10: Chapter 10

My head didn’t land on a pillow as I’d expected, and I groaned again. What had I done with them?

I rolled over and peered over the far side of the bed. Ah, there they were! I fumbled for them, propped them at the head of the bed, and reached for my lover with eager anticipation. Cradling Barbara after we had both achieved satisfaction had been one of the things I’d enjoyed and missed the most since she’d left.

I found myself holding an armful of nothing. Jeremy was sitting on the edge of the bed, cleaning himself with a corner of the sheet.

“Going somewhere, Jeremy?”

He stiffened, but kept his face turned away from me. “I…” He cleared his throat. “I expect you’ll want me to leave now.”

“I will? Why?”

“Why?”

“Is there an echo in here?”

“Beg pardon?” He sounded confused and utterly miserable.

I leaned up on my elbow and studied the lines of his back, the way his vertebrae were so evident. He did need to eat more. Or better. I’d see to that.