Sunshine Kisses

Abby nestled her head into Erik’s shoulder and sighed happily. ‘I never want to leave. The view is so beautiful.’

Erik pressed a kiss into the top of her head, hiding his smile in her curls. ‘Yeah. Beautiful.’

They sat up there for another hour, revelling in the peace, and as they made their way to their room, a sliver of yellow light leaking under their door made Erik’s heart stop. He exchanged a worried look with Abby and swiped his card, opening the door to a bright room and a furious-looking Alex.

‘Where the fuck have you two been?’ his brother spat.

‘You’re not supposed to use that word,’ Abby piped up, sounding full of bravado that Erik didn’t feel. ‘I’ve heard your mum say so.’

‘Well, Squirt, you two aren’t supposed to leave this room after ten, and yet, when I went to the bathroom, I passed two empty beds. So spill.’

Explaining did nothing to help his brother’s mood.

‘You’re hanging out on a rooftop in the middle of the night? What the fuck is wrong with you? Do you want to get yourselves killed? Do you want to get me killed? Because apparently I’m responsible for you two little shits and that’s exactly what’s going to happen if either of our parents find out.’

‘I’m sorry,’ Erik mumbled, face towards the floor. ‘I couldn’t sleep last night. The new bed felt weird.’

Abby’s hand wormed into his, soft, warm, and surprisingly strong, just like her. Even Alex’s face relaxed the tiniest fraction.

‘I was desperate for air and I found the stairs and I just started climbing. If you’re going to tell mum and dad, leave Abby out of it. I went up there first. It was my idea to go up again tonight.’ He felt a squeeze on his hand, and Abby’s eyebrows were furrowed when he looked up at her and shook his head. They didn’t both need to get into trouble for this. ‘It just… The quiet helped last night,’ Erik finished softly.

Alex didn’t know the extent of his issues. At least, Erik had never told him. Hadn’t let on how much he struggled with noises, with patterns, with sensations. But maybe he’d picked up more than Erik realised.

Alex rubbed his knuckles along his jaw, scraping against the golden stubble already sprouting at fifteen. ‘You were safe up there?’

‘We didn’t even go near the edge.’

‘Okay.’ Alex looked tired. Fair, considering it was past two in the morning. ‘Okay, you two can keep going up there. Just…don’t be stupid. And no more wandering off in the middle of the night. You tell me if you’re going exploring. You don’t just disappear.’

‘Deal.’ They spoke together, as a pang of guilt hit Erik square in the chest. He hadn’t fully considered what Alex would think if he woke up to find them gone. He supposed he hadn’t thought his brother would be that bothered. But Erik had seen fear mixed in with the annoyance on his face when they entered the room. And Alex—who was always full of jokes and quips—only got angry when he cared. When he was scared he might lose something important to him.

‘Sleep. Now.’ Alex jutted his chin towards their beds as he turned back to his own.

Before he pulled back the covers to expose the diversionary pillow he had left in his place, Erik threw an arm around his brother. Their height difference made it awkward; Alex had three years and half a foot on him. Still, he returned the hug, if a little stiffly.

‘What was that for?’

‘You’re a really good brother,’ Erik said with a shrug as he stepped away.

Surprise flooded Alex’s face for a second, paired with a crooked grin. ‘Yeah, I know, you weirdo. Now get into bed before you age me another five years.’

Chapter 6

this is me trying – Taylor Swift

A

bby stared.

‘You’re moving to London.’

‘That is what I said.’

‘Permanently?’

‘Yep.’ He leaned back in his chair, lazy satisfaction evident in his sprawl. This was third drink Erik in all his glory. Not drunk, not even close, really, but smooth and loose and radiant in his relaxation.

She let herself imagine more nights spent talking in a bar until the early hours of the morning. Stumbling back to her flat to eat cold pizza and watch dumb movies and sit on the roof until the sun came up.