Mason gives me a look that I wave off. “You know what I mean. Now go check on Jeremy, Mother Hen.”

His steps halt as he tenses, and I realize what I just said.

Fuck.

“Mase—”

“It’s okay,” he rushes out, voice raspy. Tight. “It’s fine.”

“I...”

“Come on,” Shawn says, shooting me a look over Mason’s head. There’s nothing accusatory in it, but I feel the shame nonetheless.

“Don’t fret, Mama Bear, we can take care of ourselves.”

Shawn must see something in my expression and shakes his head. Mouths, “Stop.”

Pursing my lips, I nod. Shutting away the memories of days long gone before they can consume me.

The two leave my room, closing my door with a soft click. My heart thunders almost painfully and, without a second thought, I turn back toward my bathroom.

Will’s right where I left him and I focus on the gentle rise and fall of his chest as I try to get my own breathing in check.

“I always make everything worse,” I tell him, half hoping he hears me and pushes me to talk. Tells me I’m wrong.

His breath hitches, but otherwise nothing.

Sighing, I grab the blanket balled up on the floor and spread it over him before sitting down on the floor next to him. My knee bumps his back, but he doesn’t wake up.

His dark blond hair curls over his eyes, and I just...I can’t resist. Not anymore. Not now, when he looks so damn peaceful. Quiet. The guy’s rarely ever fucking quiet.

I card my fingers through the pieces, brushing them away. I tell myself I’ll just stay here for a minute.

Just a minute...

I’m not sure when I cave and gather his head in my lap, but here we are. My fingers play idly with his hair as I stare blankly at the wall.

It’s not long before he groans again, this time deeper and rougher than any of the other noises he’s made. His soft snore cuts out abruptly as his whole body tenses, and I quickly help him into a sitting position in front of the toilet.

Stroking his back, I think about earlier. If they didn’t get so drunk, would Will and Jeremy have gone home together? Was tonight the start of something more?

The thought alone makes me want to punch something.

Will mumbles something into the side of the toilet and I grab the water I had enough forethought to set in reaching distance.

“Here,” I murmur as I unscrew the cap and slide it into his trembling hand. I let my hand hover as he lifts it to his mouth.

He mutters a thanks in between his gulps.

Trusting him not to fall over, I get up and run my toothbrush under the water before lining the bristles with toothpaste.