Todd’s heart nearly broke in two when they reached the slave sanctuary and Nick’s light, playful mood turned to something more akin to depressed and sullen. After glancing up and down the hall, ensuring they were alone, Todd kissed Nick’s forehead and pulled him into a hug. “Do you want me to wait while you change and take you to the dining hall or the school?” He leaned back and ran one hand through Nick’s mostly dried hair a few times.
Nick shifted his gaze between Todd and the door to his dorm room, and Todd saw Nick’s inner battle on his face. Other than the few places Nick went alone on errands near their apartment, he was rarely far from Todd. A quick shake of his head and an unsure smile was what Todd got now. “No, I’ll be okay. It’s just for a few more days. And we have to play ou
