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Over the past few nights, every time Buck would fall asleep, I’d give him a gentle pat on the shoulder and pull his blankets back up over him, before trading off watching. Every 2 hours for the first few nights we took turns keeping an eye on him.
This night was different. When I got up to go around the bed and check on him before trading off I gave him a kiss on the forehead. It was not something I even thought about doing. I just did it. He felt warm, not like a temperature, just warm on my lips. I shook the thought from my head as I stood back up, pulled up his blankets and left the room quickly.
*
I heard Eddie get up to go trade off. I made sure to keep my eyes shut, cause he never likes to leave when he knows I’m awake. He walked around the bed, like he does every night since everyone started staying over to keep an eye on me, to pull my blanket up before leaving.
There was a pause before the usual blanket readjusting. Then I felt his lips on my forehead, they were soft. I could feel his breath on my head, it was warm. I didn’t want to open my eyes and scare him away, but this was nice.
There was another pause, longer, before he pulled up the blankets and I heard him walk quickly out of the room.
Once I heard the door shut I opened my eyes, didn’t move, but looked towards the door.
Eddie just kissed me. On the forehead but still. He kissed me.
*
I closed the door gentle but fast, not wanting to wake Buck or anyone else in the house but wanting to get out of the room quickly.
Ohmygod. What was that? Why did I just do that?
I was leaning against the wall just down the hallway, staring at the floor in disbelief. My face felt warm from thinking about it.
Maddie came around the corner.
“Hey Eddie, Buck asle-” she paused when she saw my face.
“Umm. Yup he’s asleep.” I said quickly, straightening up and walking past her towards the living room, where we were all set up. Lucky for me everyone else was sleeping.
*
“Umm. Yup he’s asleep.” Eddie said quickly before walking past me to the living room. I could have sworn he looked like something had happened, his face was red and he was leaning against the wall looking a little panicked. I shook the thought from my head. He’d just as worried about Buck as I am if something happened he’d have told me.
I knocked gently on the door, just in case he’s awake. No answer, that’s good Eddie said he’s sleeping. Opening the door slowly I stepped inside, checking on Buck before sitting down at the chair next to his bed
Few Nights Later
I kept up the habit of giving Buck a kiss on the forehead before pulling up his blankets and leaving. It just felt right.
Tonight it was just myself staying over. It had been a little over a week and Buck was doing much better so we decided to cut back having everyone stay over.
Maddie had spent the day and evening with him. By the time I got there he was already asleep.
“He’s already asleep. I had just checked on him.” Maddie smiled at me as she pulled on her coat to leave. “ The guest room has fresh sheets. Oh and there is some left over pizza in the fridge for you, if you’d like. Have a good night Eddie.” She finished before heading out.
“Ya, thanks. Night Maddie.” I said, closing the door behind her as she left.
I figured she just checked on him, and he has been doing good lately, so I’d wait a little before checking myself. I decided I’d grab myself some cold pizza to eat.
*
Tonight it was just Eddie staying over. I couldn’t stop myself from wondering if he’d keep up his habit of kissing me on the forehead, or if he'd do something else. The thought had been rattling around in my head all day.
It had shocked me the first time he did it then he kept doing it. There were no more pauses though. It had been hearing him get up, walk around the bed, kiss my forehead, pull up the blankets then walk out. He wasn’t walking out quickly anymore either.
Last night there was a pause before I heard the door click open and closed again. As if he was waiting for something to happen.
*
I finished my slice of cold pizza, not bothered to heat it up, and decided I should go check on Buck before tucking in for the night myself.
Slowly I made my way down the hall towards his room, trying to avoid those creaking floor boards. Opening the door gently I peaked in. He was laying on his side facing away from the door.
I could see him breathing. Blankets down at his waist. He was wearing a t-shirt but it was rolled up, exposing his back and side. I walked over to the bed side and reached out to pull his shirt down and pull the blankets back up.
Right as I touched his shirt he rolled over.
I froze. He was looking up at me sleepily and smiled.
“Hey Eddie.” He had a rasp to his voice.