Kit chuckles. "But he wasn't your Wonderwall?"
"I never figured out what a 'wonderwall' is."
The tub is nearly full. I lean down to test the water. It's perfect.
I dip a toe. Then my foot. I nearly slip as I shift my weight to my leg. Right away, Kit has his arms around my waist.
He helps me into the bath.
The water sloshes as he gets in behind me.
This really does feel like a hug—warm and safe. Then his body is behind mine, his chest against my back, his arms around my waist, and I feel so good I could die.
I let my eyes close. "When was the last time you cared about someone?"
"You mean someone I was fucking?"
"Yeah."
"Dated a girl for a while sophomore year. Oh, and senior year, I had it bad for this girl in my creative writing class. We hooked up but that was all she wanted. I didn't realize it. I invited her to watch me and Joel play."
"That didn't make her want your heart and your mind?"
"We weren't always upper-mid tier." He chuckles. "I've never had a problem attracting women."
"Well, yeah, you're hot."
"Eloquent."
"Really hot."
He laughs.
"Hotter than the core of the sun?"
"Dangerous." He runs his fingers through my hair. "I've been hot a long time. But back in high school, I wasn't a famous rock star. Wasn't even a particularly talented bassist. She wasn't impressed by me and Joel playing without a vocalist or a guitarist."
I have to laugh. "What happened?"
"She made an excuse to leave. Starting dating some other guy a few months later. By then, I was back to my true love—" He swallows hard. "I wasn't as bad as my mom yet, but using was already my first priority."
He pulls me closer even as his voice drifts further away. I can tell this hurts him. That he hates remembering.
But I want to know this part of Kit, even if it's ugly.
"You're going off again," I whisper.
"Yeah."
"If you don't want to talk—"
"I do." He runs his wet hands over my shoulders. "Come here."
He drags his fingertips over my skin. The touch is different in the water. There's more and less friction at once.
I sink into his touch. I sink all the way under the water. It really is warm and comfortable.
But that doesn't compare to his body against mine.