“Twice before, as much as he’d let me. He’s dreadfully stubborn. Call me Melinda, please, and no need to apologize. It’s impressive that you’re up and about at all, you know, let alone worrying about Christopher, and it’s good for him in any case.”
Kris opened his mouth to protest, conceded that this was fair, and gave up.
Justin eyed the phone. Tugged duvet-folds in closer. “Kris is amazing. Which you know, because you know him, so you wanted to know what I’d say. He’s always—he’s never made me feel like less of a person. And that’s important. I wanted to come here.”
“I do like you,” Mel said. “Do you have a name? Christopher wouldn’t tell me, being rather protective, and of course you needn’t give me your real one, particularly under the circumstances.”
“Oh. Um…” Justin smiled. At Kr
