“Come in, come in,” Truman said, instantly regretting his choice of garb when the cold blasted through him.

“You were in the shower? Sorry,” Ash mumbled.

“The bath. I was just reading and soaking. No problem. I’m glad to see you.”

“Yeah?”

“Of course yeah.”

Ash nodded, arms wrapped around himself, but stood just a step inside the door, making no move to come farther inside.

“I’m gonna just put some clothes on. Sit down, okay?”

Truman dashed into the bedroom and pulled on sweats and his heavy sweater, scrubbed the towel through his cold, wet hair, and went back into the living room to find Ash in the same spot he’d left him.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” Truman led him to the couch by the arm.

Ash looked at him, eyes miserable. He seemed to start to speak several times, but each time, he said nothing.

“Is it your mom?” Truman tried. “Is she okay?”

“She’s the same as usual,” Ash said.

“Did she end up having those people over for coffee?”

“Yeah.”

Truman was at a loss.

“Can I…do something?”

Ash seemed to deflate. He blew out a breath and sank deep into the couch.

“Do you think maybe I could hang out here for a little bit?” Ash finally said.

Truman’s heart flooded with relief.

“Yes! Oh my god, of course. Please, hang out.”

“You were reading,” Ash said.

“That’s okay.”

“I mean…um…would you want to read it to me too?”

Ash couldn’t know this, but reading to someone and being read to were two of Truman’s favorite things. “Yeah, I’d love it. Do you wanna lie in bed? It’s more comfortable.”

Ash nodded and shambled to the bedroom, zombielike.

But clearly whatever was bothering him, he didn’t want to discuss it right now, so Truman settled next to him on the bed instead and picked up his book. “I really think we should start at the beginning,” he said, showing Ash the cover of book one.

“You can just read to me starting from wherever you were.”

Truman waved him away. “I’ve read these a million times. I can start anywhere. And if you’re giving me an opportunity to introduce you to the series, we are one hundred percent starting at the beginning. You need to understand the character arcs and emotional stakes!”

That got a small smile out of Ash, who acquiesced. Then he nestled into Truman’s side and listened as Truman read the first sentence of the first book of the Dead of Zagørjič series.

An hour later, Truman’s voice was threatening to give out, and he could sense Ash starting to drift off. He put the book aside and slid down beside Ash.

“Can I stay?” Ash murmured.

“Please.”

And Truman was asleep within minutes, drifting off in the peace of Ash’s strong arms and steady heartbeat.

***