Marcus was on the couch, snoring away. He had his head tilted at an awkward angle and the joystick was still resting on his lap. She couldn’t help but admire how peaceful he looked at that moment. He had been by Billy’s side through the entire ordeal. While she was sitting by Yoshi’s bedside, he was the one on the streets doing what needed to be done. Whether it was going to the pharmacy, or making dinner runs, he held Billy down. The past few days she had spent with Marcus had given her a chance to see what he was really about.

Marcus must’ve felt her standing over him because his eyes immediately popped open. He glared at her for a minute as if he didn’t know who she was, but his eyes softened when recognition set in. “Hey,” he said groggily.

“How ya doing?” she said, sitting down beside him.

“A little stiff,” he said, leaning his head from side to side. “How long have I been sleeping?”

“A couple of hours.”

“Shit, I din’t mean to fall out. I’m ’bout to get out of here.” He started getting up.

“It’s already late,” she said and touched his arm. “It’s cool if you crash here tonight and go home in the morning. Your ass is sleeping on the couch, though.” She hit him playfully with one of the pillows.

“Girl, don’t you know I was the pillow-fighting champ in ’89,” he said and hit her with the other pillow. Before long they were giggling like schoolkids and hopping around swinging pillows.

Billy tripped on the coffee table, sending her into an awkward spiral. Marcus caught her midfall, but the momentum sent them both crashing to the floor, with Billy on top. When the two of them locked eyes, time seemed to slow. The sound of their separate heartbeats melded together to make a strange symphony. Marcus started to say something, but she placed a finger over his lips. The moment was so perfect that words would’ve ruined it. Her insides felt as if God had laid a warm hand on her heart and melted the ice away. In a sense, it was as if he was telling her it was okay to love again.

Marcus was pleasantly surprised at Billy’s aggressiveness. Initially, he had tried to put some distance between them, but she pressed her body closer to his. Billy kissed Marcus so deeply that his breath felt short when it was broken. Her pleading eyes said what her mouth would not and Marcus honored her request.