His hair is dry, unlike mine. Clothes too, but not for long.
Water is dripping down on our heads from above. Rain’s blowing into my back, and again, I can’t help but think,it never rains in LA.Like that fact holds more meaning now.
Will’s cheek is hot and wet against mine, and I hold him tighter to me, knowing the rain hasn’t touched him there.
“I’m sorry,” he chokes out.
His arms come under mine, sliding around my back, gripping me so tightly it should hurt. It doesn’t.
He’s here.
“This wasn’t part of the plan,” I croak. I try to pull back and grab his cheeks to look at him, but he buries his face into my neck, preventing me.
My eyes widen and I look over my shoulder, seeking my two suspiciously quiet best friends out, silently begging them for some sort of guidance here.
My boyfriend is fucking falling apart in my arms right now and I have no idea what to do.
Fuck, did something happen to his parents?
“Will,” I breathe, glancing down at him. But I don’t think he hears me. “Did something happen?”
He just holds me tighter.
Okay then.
I don’t think he’s outright crying. It’s more like he’s trying really, really fucking hard to hold it together. Like he’s imploding into himself, and he’s using me as a shield to keep it all contained.
“Did you know he was coming?” I ask in a hush, looking at Mason first.
He shakes his head, eyes wide like he’s just as shocked as me.
“I texted him this morning.”
My gaze snaps to Shawn. But he’s not looking at me. He’s looking at the guy in my arms, brows pinched in something akin to concern.
Will says something, but it’s too muffled for me to make out.
Turning, I dip my head lower. “Say that again.”
A throat clears, and I feel his swallow against my neck just before he pulls back. He doesn’t look up at me, just stares at some spot on my chest.
“I was already on my way.”
I still.
His shoulders hunch slightly, and I can just make out the muscles of his jaw working. “Got held up in Chicago. Got here as fast as I could. Phone died…”
My eyes burn as what he’s telling me fully registers.
“You didn’t have to do that,” I whisper before I can think better of it.
He flinches.
Shit.
Looking around, I only now realize there are people around. Not a lot, not with it being this late, but a good handful.
Some eyes drift our way, but not in disgust. Just curiosity, maybe. Probably wondering why these two boys are hanging on to each other in the rain for dear life.