Twin Effect by Ann Somerville

Author:Ann Somerville
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: mm romance, disabled protagonist, paranormal themes
Publisher: Ann Somerville

Chapter 7

He had no time to mope that week, with semester in full swing and students starting to discover their weaknesses and workload. Being that busy was a good thing, but meant he didn’t do any of the research on multiple personalities and haunting that he thought might help. Rachel had bluntly told him that he was dealing with a mentally ill kid and to follow his sister’s advice, which was well meaning of her but not very helpful.

Dylan did manage to email Toby and ask him how he was doing. Toby had replied, “Busy, exhausted, frustrated.”

Only to be expected. Dylan emailed back and suggested they meet at the university on Friday evening and go back to Dylan’s flat together. Toby sent a quick “Okay” and that was the last Dylan heard from him.

But at six on a bitterly cold and threatening-to-snow Friday evening, Toby turned up in Dylan’s lab, looking a little like the Michelin man in his padded coat. Dylan introduced him to the grad students, all on their way to the pub, but when they had all departed, Dylan took a closer look at his visitor. “You look like crap.”

“I know. I’m tired,” Toby mumbled.

“You look sick. Are you coming down with something?”

“No...don’t want to talk about it here. Can we just go?”

“I was going to suggest a meal at the pub but....” Toby’s expression made it clear that was more than he could cope with. “But I bought some ready meals just in case.”

“Thanks. Sorry. I’m really shattered.”

Despite the cold, Dylan had also been going to suggest walking back to his flat because he wanted some exercise. But his companion looked as if the exertion would kill him. So instead, Dylan quickly locked up, got his coat and briefcase, and led the way to the bus stop.

“Christ, it’s cold,” Toby muttered, huddling into his coat.

“Yeah. I like this kind of weather, though. Better than rain.”

“Me too, usually.”

The silence went on.

“Has, uh, Max been keeping you up?”

“No. I have. I’ve been trying to catch him. I keep...almost...you know when you’re falling asleep and you think you hear something, so you jerk awake? Like that, over and over. All week.”

“Jesus, Toby. You can’t do that to yourself. He wouldn’t want it.”

“It’s not like I can stop myself. I feel so close to hearing him. But then there’s nothing. Nothing except the nightmares.”

Dylan put his hand on Toby’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “Can you stay over this weekend? I think it might help.”

Toby looked up at him. “I’d like that. Better than worrying Mum. She’s beginning to notice something’s wrong.”

Not surprised. “There’s the bus.”

Toby said nothing on the short ride back to the flat, nor as Dylan led the way upstairs. The central heating was welcome though Toby seemed reluctant to shed his heavy coat. “I can get you a blanket or a spare jumper if you like,” Dylan offered.

“Blanket would be good. Sorry. Cold’s really getting to me this year.”

“Go sit on the sofa. I’ll make some tea while the food’s heating.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.