Page 61 of Bro Code

“Um…hi,” said Riley, still completely immobilized and staring straight back up at him.

“Are you okay?” said Louis.

“I think so. They’re checking the x-rays. How did you get in here?”

“I told them I was the equipment manager. I have your phone and clothes and stuff from the locker room.”

“Jesus, dude, that’s gonna get you fired. Where’s the actual equipment manager?”

“Probably in the locker room looking for your phone and clothes and stuff.” Louis’ eyes anxiously raked his body. “Why are you all, like…strapped down?”

“It’s just a precaution until they know I’m not paralyzed,” said Riley. Louis’ face went ashen and he quickly added, “Which I’m not.”

“Are you sure?”

Riley wiggled his toes under the blanket. “Pretty sure.”

“Does it hurt?”

“Not as much as it did.”

Louis looked unhappy about that, but Riley smiled grimly to show him it was fine. Louis frowned, looking down at him again. “Are you…naked under there?”

“Yup.”

The flicker of a smile. Louis lifted one eyebrow as he met Riley’s gaze.

“Don’t,” said Riley.

“Don’t what?”

“Make me get a boner in here. I will end you.”

Louis choked on a laugh. “I wasn’t even thinking about that. But now that you mention it…”

“Louis, I swear to God.”

“We need to make sure you’re not paralyzed!”

Riley laughed, which was difficult to do strapped down, and made his head throb. He winced and Louis’ face turned anxious again. He put his hand on Riley’s cheek and smoothed it gently with his thumb, and Riley felt a big warm bubble swell inside his chest.

“Someone’s gonna come in,” he said. It came out husky and quieter than he meant it to.

Louis lifted one shoulder, not moving his hand or taking his eyes off Riley’s. “I don’t think I care. Do you?”

Riley thought about it. “I guess not. Except you’re obviously not the equipment manager and you’re definitely gonna get fired.”

“Oh, shit.” Louis sighed. “Right.”

He still didn’t move, stroking Riley’s cheek with his thumb again. Then he bent and quickly kissed him on the lips, and stepped back.

“I left your stuff on a chair in the corner there.” He pointed.

“Thanks,” said Riley. “Oh, can you–” He hesitated, suddenly embarrassed. “I, ah, had them save your note for me. Can you just…put it with my stuff?”

Louis smiled. He held Riley’s gaze a moment longer, then nodded and turned away.

It took forever for them to read the scans, decide he was okay, and clear him for discharge. They let him put his clothes back on, at least, and bandaged his chin, and gave him some proper painkillers. He carefully put Louis’ note in his wallet and called his parents to let them know he was okay. They said they were still flying out. They had to see for themselves and besides, they’d already paid someone to come and watch the dogs.