Yev exhaled and gently pushed Radek aside to perform the mundane task that was now such a challenge. The door opened, breathing out stale air. The apartment hadn’t been visited by anyone in two months. Radek now had to open all windows to get rid of the dusty odor, and in turn let in the freezing air, as if the evening hadn’t been disastrous enough.

At least he’d gotten his clothes back, because some kind soul handed them in to the Lost and Found, but he’d waited an hour with his toes freezing off until the club security gave the all clear on the ‘fox situation’. In that time, he’d had to continuously keep a smiley facade and spin the tale of how he and Yev lost his clothes in the darkroom. Which, ha ha, so hilarious. Not.

There was no end to his shame.

He was relieved he’d left his place tidy when he’d been here last, just before Christmas.

The light went on, revealing the modern interior with smooth, gray cabinets in the open plan kitchen and a red brick wall behind the sprawling sofa. The display cabinet full of horror movie figurines needed dusting, but everything was as he’d left it.

The apartment looked as usual, but Radek was not the same person who’d lived here two months back.

Everything had changed.

“And… you live here on your own?” Yev asked, toeing off his shoes before stepping in to peek at the three doors down the hallway.

“Yeah, but sometimes friends would crash in the guest room, or I’d rent it out for the summer if I went on vacation.” Radek headed for the kitchen, wary of every action that used to be so easy. He’d gotten the hang of doing some things without his right hand, but it still frustrated him to no end how many everyday tasks presented a challenge to him now.

“I bet you have one of those bathing salons behind one of the doors,” Yev said with a chuckle and opened a window by the balcony before taking in Radek’s huge flat-screen TV.

Radek snorted. “Not really, but I do have a big bathtub. I have to get you over to my family house when Mom goes away to a medical spa again. We have a heated pool and sauna. Do you like swimming?” He pulled out a metal box of loose leaf tea, and held it against his body with one arm to open the lid with his remaining hand. Yev approached him slowly, his bare feet moving soundlessly over the smooth wooden floor. But Radek could hear them, and each tiny creak made hair bristle on his nape.

“I love swimming.”

Radek looked up with a smile, and his heart skipped a beat when Yev nudged his chin up for a kiss. But he hadn’t been careful enough, and the container slipped from the crook of his elbow. He yelped and tried to grab it, but it was no use. It dropped to the floor, and dry tea spilled all over the tiles like a colony of ants.

“Fuck,” Radek growled and made a dash for the little broom and shovel he kept under the sink, but he stilled the moment he opened the cupboard, helplessly staring at the tools meant for someone with two hands. “Fuck!”

Yev reached above Radek’s shoulder, hand open. “I’ll do it.”

Radek sat on the floor in endless frustration. “I know, but it’s just… I’m so fucking useless now. I know I should be considering getting a prosthesis to make my life easier, but just thinking about it makes me sick.”

“It’s still a new situation for you. Give yourself time,” Yev said and wrapped his arms around Radek, pulling him tightly to his chest. The scent of the forest he seemed to always carry with him offered instant relief.

He had to take a few deep breaths before he could speak, still holding on to Yev’s forearm. “I… can’t believe it’s gone, you know? When I close my eyes, I don’t even feel it’s not there sometimes, and I still have it in my dreams.”

“I know it must be hard. But that’s your new reality. You will learn how to live with only one hand. It’s not a flaw. You know what is a flaw?” he asked, pulling Radek up as he stood.

Radek turned around to press his face to Yev’s meaty shoulder. “Getting really horny during a full moon?”

A low chuckle echoed in Yev’s chest as he led Radek away from the mess. “Leave it. I’ll deal with it later. We need to address your lying first,” he said and sat on the edge of the sofa with a small smile. “Putting me on the spot with that whole marriage thing? I’m not happy,” he said and patted his knee.

Radek smiled and sat in his lap. “Sorry, I wasn’t planning it. My mouth just sometimes produces things before my brain knows how to register them.”

Tags: K.A. Merikan Folk Lore Paranormal
Source: readsnovelonline.net