Unknown Number

by Victoria Hyder

  “Yes. You should have.”

  Cavan sighed. He’d really miscalculated this one. “I can get an uber home if you like?”

  “Don’t be an idiot, brat, it’s gone two in the morning!” Lucas snapped. “You can sleep on the sofa … Deal with you in the morning.”

  “Lucas, wait!” he hurried down the hall and stopped as Lucas turned to glare up at him. “I uh … I came because I wanted to make sure you were okay? To … look after you, I guess?”

  Lucas pinched the bridge of his nose. “Fine. Two pints of water and painkillers.” He eyed Cavan up and down. “I suppose you can sleep in my bed … Since it’s your birthday.”

  Cavan did as he was told and, after leaving his shoes and jacket in the hallway, went to the kitchen in search of glasses and painkillers. It took him about fifteen minutes to find what he needed, after opened and closing almost all the drawers and cupboards twice. It was only when he was walking back down the hallway that he realised the significance of what was happening.

  Lucas was letting him sleep in his bed.

  Lucas was letting him sleep in his BED.

  Lucas. Was LETTING HIM. Sleep in his BED!

  His skin exploded with sweat and nerves as he came to a stop outside the dark panelled doors. Cavan swallowed thickly, as he nudged the door open. Lucas was sitting in his bed, propped up against a mountain of pillows. His usually razor sharp black hair was sticking up in all directions, his skin looked sallow and the dark rings under his eyes looked as dark as his hair. Cavan’s heart clenched as he set a glass of water and the tablets on Lucas’ nightstand. He popped two tablets and downed them with some water before shifting back a bit, putting some space between them. It was only just dawning on him how much he was invading the other man’s personal space right now.

  “Cavan?”

  Shit.

  Lucas frowned up at him. “Are you okay?”

  “I just –I don’t think –we shouldn’t –”

  “Cavan.”

  “Y-yes?”

  “You’re stammering.”

  Cavan clamped his mouth shut. “Sorry,” he finally said. “I just -don’t feel obligated to have me in here with you. I’m happy on the sofa, honest!”

  “Cavan, whatever you’re thinking, the answer is ‘no’. I can barely catch my own breath, let alone do anything else.”

  Cavan blinked at his surroundings, his cheeks heating up; the room was bright white with dark furniture and fresh white bedsheets. There was a thin pale grey comforter folded over at the bottom and the air felt muggy and stifling enough to make him shudder. He rubbed awkwardly at the back of his neck, wanting to look at Lucas but not trusting himself to do so.

  “So … just sleeping?” Cavan hedged.

  Lucas shot him a deadpan look. “Well, you’ll be sleeping, I’ll probably be reading or having a fever-induced nightmare, but yes.”

  Cavan frowned, tugging at the hem of his jumper. “I … I don’t have anything to wear.”

  “Wear your shirt and boxers.”

  Cavan felt his cheeks heat up again. “Are –are you sure?”

  Lucas sighed and bowed his head over his chest. “Tell you what; I’ll go to the bathroom. You sort yourself in here if you feel uncomfortable.” The word left a bitter taste in the older man’s mouth, but he ignored it as Cavan visibly relaxed. Lucas hauled his aching body up and made his way into the bathroom. He had to use the wall for support as soon as Cavan was out of sight. His head was spinning; Cavan was here? In his flat? He’d been drifting prior to the knock on the door and he wasn’t convinced that this wasn’t just another lucid dream.

  He felt tense as he locked the door and tried to calm his buzzing mind as he started to brush his teeth again.

  Cavan waited on wobbling legs as Lucas closed the bathroom door. He heard the lock slide into place and let out a breath he hadn’t known he was holding. Why was he still so tense and nervous? Lucas wasn’t about to screw him about. He was older, more responsible, and to top it all off he was ill, he wasn’t about to take advantage of him. Still a little unsure, Cavan tried to focus all of his attention on shuffling out of his heavy jeans, jumper and socks. The cool air made the hairs on his legs prickle.

  The bedsheets were feverishly hot and felt a little grubby, as though Lucas has been sleeping in them for days whilst sweating and feeling horrid. Cavan made a resolution to change the bedding the following day. He shifted underneath them and pulled the puffy duvet up under his chin and wriggled about until he was comfortable enough. He sighed with relief just as the bathroom door clicked open.

  Lucas tugged the light off and padded into the room dressed in his loose dark grey pyjamas. He raked a hand through his undercut and stumbled awkwardly to his side of the bed, using the edge of the mattress to help keep his balance. He made sure to keep a descent distance between their bodies.

  “Are you comfortable?” Lucas asked in a low voice as he adjusted himself on the pillows.

  “Mhmmm,” he hummed. “Very.”

  “Good.”

  Lucas rested his arms on top of the covers, wriggling as low as he dared on the pillows before his heavy eyelids finally caved under the strain of his illness. The low lamplight was soothing as his aching brain started to calm down from the shock of seeing Cavan. He liked to think he was just about to drift-off again when he heard the covers shift beside him. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Cavan wriggle a little closer.

  “Stop that, brat.”

  Cavan frowned up at him from his marshmallow-soft cocoon. “W-what did I do?”

  “You’re watching me. Stop it.”

  “Sorry it’s just … this is the calmest I’ve seen you.” Cavan debated for a moment before asking, “Can I … sleep near you?”

  Lucas sighed as he shifted more onto his back. “You’re lucky it’s your birthday.”

  Cavan fell asleep in no time at all. Lucas watched the kid drifted off to sleep before he turned the bedside lamp off. Cavan was burrowed down onto the edge of his pillow, his lips parted and breathing deeply. The faint smell of alcohol caught his attention, but he decided to ignore it.

  Hesitantly, Lucas reached out with a heavy hand and brushed a few strays of hair out of Cavan’s closed eyes. ‘So beautiful …’ he thought. He let his hand fall away, hid fingertips itching at the loss of contact. Lying down flat on his back, arms at his sides, he stared up at the ceiling, watching as it slowly lightened up over the course of the next hour.

  Just as he felt exhaustion overwhelm him, Cavan’s body shifted beside him. His long, cool legs brushed up against Lucas’s through his bottoms. Lucas was about to shift away and roll onto his side when Cavan’s arm slid out of nowhere and looped itself over Lucas’s waist, hugging him a little closer. His skin was cool and seemed to sear through the perpetual fug of the sweaty heat that he’d been living in for the last few days.

  Lucas stiffened, breathing hard.

  His mind was struggling to stay conscious and in control. He was aware of how bad the room smelled and grimaced that this was the kid’s first impression of his home. He was a neat freak and didn’t like dirt, illness or bad odours mucking up his life; yet all three were happening as he lie there, slowly over-heating to death. What if Cavan freaked out and having cuddled up against him during the night? There was no way to explain his way out of it. He tried to uncoil himself from Cavan’s loose grip. He didn’t want to disturb the kid and risk embarrassing him and making him lose sleep.

  ‘Damn, this kid is strong!’ he thought.

  He struggled in vain for a few moments before slumping back into the pillows in defeat. He was too weak to even lift himself up for a drink of water. No, this was where he was sleeping now. His eyes could barely focus on the dark shadows of the furniture in the room. Cavan’s weight was cool, solid and comforting. Despite being an alien experience for him –it made his heart soar.

  Finally, he gave-in, letting exhaustion crash down on him like a heavy blanket.

  Chapter 14 />
  Saturday AM

  Cavan surprised himself by waking up first.

  His eyes cracked open, the sound of his eyelashes like gunfire in his ears as he grunted and burrowed deeper into the pillows. His limbs slowly woke up, feeling hot and stiff inside the cotton sheets. His mouth felt dry and sour and he wanted nothing more than to find the energy to get up and brush his teeth. He grunted and dropped down on the covers. He let his arm drop –and winced when it collided with something.

  Frowning, he peered up over the white covers and saw Lucas.

  His heart stopped, eyes widening as he froze in place, barely daring to breathe.

  Lucas's profile was relaxed giving him a soft look on his angular features. His hair was greasy and mussed against the pillows. His eyelids were closed but Cavan was almost sure he could open them at any moment. He tried to breathe quietly as he shifted a little on his side, staring at the man lying next to him. If it wasn't for the faint pink tinge on his skin, Cavan would have assumed he was looking at a black-and-white photo.

  Peering down the length of the bed, he noted how toned the arms and legs of the older man were beneath the thin cotton pyjamas. His hands were limply rest across his abdomen –it was almost as though he hadn't moved the entire night.

  Cavan let himself relax, drinking in the sight of Lucas.

  'Beautiful,' flashed through his mind and he paused, surprised.

  Initially he had thought many things about Lucas; cold, hard as nails and too many barriers around him for just anyone to break through. Yet … Cavan had, somehow. He sighed, relaxing into the pillows. Lucas was beautiful. His hands twitched, almost aching to reach out and touch him. He didn't –he knew that Lucas wasn't the best sort of morning person.

  As if on cue, Lucas's eyes opened.

  He lie there, grey irises staring up at the ceiling for a moment, adjusting to the soft, morning light. Then he breathed-out, turned his head to the side and raised his eyebrows a fraction.

  "Hey," he grunted.

  "Hey …"

  "Why're you up so early?"

  Cavan frowned. "Doesn't feel that early …"

  Lucas glanced over his shoulder at the clock on the bedside table. He clicked the power button and squinted. His lip twitched up on one side. "It's 6:08AM, kid. Go back to sleep."

  "But –it doesn't feel like it …" Cavan trailed off, realising how stupid he sounded. Frowning, he reached over and pressed the back of his hand to Lucas’ forehead, wincing at how hot the older man felt. “Shit, you’re burning up.”

  “Mhmm …”

  “I’ll get you some water.”

  Grabbing the empty glass from the side, Cavan went down the hall and into the kitchen, filled up the glass and gulped it down. His stomach protested at the lack of food, but he ignored it. Refilling the glass, he carried it back into the bedroom. Settling down on the edge of the bed, he nudged Lucas.

  Lucas grimaced before shifting onto his side, facing Cavan. "Cavan for once in my life I am actually tired. Please … let me sleep."

  “I will once you’ve had something to drink,” Cavan said, setting the glass on the table. He popped two tablets and held them out for Lucas. “Come on, this fever won’t break on its own.”

  Lucas furrowed his brow. He winced a little, his body barely moving as he struggled to sit up. Cavan reached down and carefully helped to raise Lucas’ body so that he was upright enough to drink and swallow the pills down.

  “Better?”

  Lucas hummed as he drank several long gulps of water. His body convulsed, water spilling down the side of the mattress and onto the floor. Cavan grimaced but decided to leave it for later on. Lucas had already slumped back into an awkward position on his pillows. It didn’t look entirely comfortable.

  Cavan shifted awkwardly before moving to the bed and gingerly climbing inside. He laid down on the soft mattress, sinking low into it, and exhaling softly. He felt tense.

  "I … er … I don't really know what to do."

  "Relax,” came the muffled grunt. “Try to sleep some more.”

  "I –I can't really relax."

  “Just … lie down with me …”

  “Won’t you be too hot?”

  “Don’t feel hot …”

  Cavan felt blood rush everywhere as Lucas's hands stroked down his arms, the fine hairs prickling up. His hand was red hot and felt like it was searing Cavan’s flesh. He felt his body being turned over, ever-so-gently, until he was lying on his side, his back to the older man. Lucas shifted and soon Cavan felt the brush of the older man's body pressing gently against his back. The heat emanated from the older man. He quaked at the proximity, pressing his face into the pillow to hide the blush creeping over his skin.

  "Cavan …?"

  "Relax … I’m not going anywhere."

  "I … don't know if I c-can."

  "Shh, shh." Cavan turned so that they were facing once another. Lucas’ skin was blotchy, his hair sticking to his face and his eyes had a glassy look to them. He was still caught in the throes of his fever. After a moment, Lucas seemed to refocus on the world, and Cavan’s cool hand that was pressing against his forehead. "Just lie down and breathe deeply."

  Lucas hummed softly, feeling himself unwind in the duvet. His eyes were closed so that all he heard were the movements, the sound of his heart and Cavan’s breathing. He sank deeper and deeper into sleep, letting the blackness consume him.

  The sun had risen about ten minutes ago, struggling in vain to pierce through the black-out curtains and illuminate the room. As he lie there, Cavan found himself almost wishing that every morning could be like this. The thought startled him as the feeble light shone over the curve of Lucas’ hip through the duvet. Lucas deserved better than what he was prepared to settle for. He deserved to be doted on and taken care of.

  Glancing at the clock on the bedside table, Cavan suddenly felt on edge and restless. It was barely 8AM but he couldn’t get back to sleep. Peeling the covers away, he slithered out of the bed, doing is best to make as little noise as possible. Closing the bedroom door behind him, he decided to look around Lucas’ flat. All the walls were various shades of white, the floorboards, doors and doorframes stained dark. The living-come-dining room consisted of a grey plush sofa suite on one side in a U-shape facing the TV, whereas the dining table, its six chairs, and a tall bookcase were tucked away on the other side of the room. There were doors leading out to a balcony, although Cavan didn’t bother going to check-out the view.

  There were four other doors leading off the hallway; one was a second bedroom, although it seemed to be being used as a study or storage room. The door across from that was the bathroom, with a large tub sat proudly beneath the grey marbled tiles. Even the kitchen, which was just to the left of the front door, was monochromatic, with only the bright red kettle as a pop of colour.

  Deciding that he needed to be somewhat productive, Cavan went into the bathroom, searched through the cupboards for some bubble-bath and started to run the taps. A bath would definitely help to get Lucas back on track; cooling him down and cleaning him would go a long way into helping him rest. When the bath was half-full, Cavan shut the taps off, checked the temperature, and then got some clean towels from the cupboard ready. Padding back down the hall to the bedroom he knocked lightly on the door.

  “Hm?” was the reply.

  He poked his head around the door. Lucas hadn’t shifted nor opened his eyes. Had he even heard the knock? Walking over, Cavan sat on the edge of the bed and gently brushed the hair from Lucas’ face. He sighed; he knew he was toying with the fine line between what they were and what they could be, and the thought was daunting. If they ruined the friendship they had –then what if it all fell apart? He loathed the thought of losing Lucas.

  The older man groaned, making Cavan freeze his fingertips still resting against the man's face. He grunted softly and rolled over onto his back, cracking a bleary eye open to stare at Cavan.

  "H-Hey."