Prodigal by Lexi Stone

Author:Lexi Stone
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, journey, contemporary, gay romance, cabin, transformation, wandering, wanderlust, torquere press, lexi stone
Publisher: Torquere Press

Chapter Eight

His eyes closed tight, Jamie was already awake when Shea stirred from his side to cross the room and turn off the alarm before it sounded. Jamie counted the footfalls until they faded and the bathroom door closed with a click. The shower turned on.

With a sigh, he opened his eyes and turned his gaze to the clock on the nightstand -- seven o’clock. Rolling over onto the warmth of the bed where Shea’s body had been, he stared at the wall and listened to the rush of the shower. He was too alert to fall back to sleep, and just as well. Soon it would be time to go.

He no longer questioned whether this was the right decision. In fact, discovering his feelings about Shea made the process easier. So had the intensity of their lovemaking yesterday and last night. Jamie couldn’t pursue a hopeless romantic attachment marked by such passion and desire when Shea’s life was on such a vastly different path than his own. That way lay heartbreak and struggle for both of them. And though he suspected his departure might hurt Shea, he also supposed Shea would forget all about the entire affair one day.

Jamie told himself he would forget about it too.

The water cut off, and myriad morning sounds followed -- the blow dryer, the gurgle of the coffeemaker, the rustles and thumps accompanying Shea’s movements in the morning. At length, Shea’s footsteps approached the bedroom again, and Jamie closed his eyes again. He’d always avoided goodbyes when possible. Now, though, guilt nagged at him. Surely Shea deserved better than this.

He kept his eyes shut anyway.

From nearby, Shea opened the closet door and rifled through it for whatever it was he’d forgotten, then closed it with a gentle click and approached the bed. Jamie kept his breathing deep and even.

“Jamie?” Shea asked in a whisper.

Jamie didn’t respond and, after a moment, Shea shifted closer to drop a kiss on his cheek. “I’ll be back soon,”’ he promised.

Don’t leave. But Jamie bit back the words and, soon enough, the front door closed with an echoing click. After waiting an extra five minutes to make sure Shea didn’t return to retrieve something, Jamie rolled out of bed and rubbed his eyes, then took to the bathroom to brush his teeth and splash some cold water onto his face.

. He wanted to hurry.

His stomach growled, but guilt kept him from the kitchen and Shea’s generous stock of food. He’d get something later. Maybe something a little more extravagant than usual to lighten his mood. Waffles. Pancakes. He talked himself through a list of breakfast items as he picked up his bag from the closet and then turned back to glance around the small, neat apartment. Without Shea’s presence the place felt empty, devoid of character, and a sudden surge of relief propelled Jamie out the door after he tucked his key under the mat.

He half-expected to encounter Shea standing in the hallway, or perhaps waiting in the

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