When his alarm clock went off at ten-thirty, Vic groaned and burrowed deeper into the covers on his bed. He felt the shrill buzz like a dozen needles, tattooing the time into his mind. Even his teeth seemed to vibrate with the sound. Clutching the blankets close, he buried his head between his pillow and Matt’s and willed the clock to stop.
To his surprise, it cut off in mid-shriek.
Vic opened one eye and stared into the darkness. He saw the digital numbers on Matt’s clock staring back. An expectant silence pressed down around him, as if the world held its breath, waiting. Behind him, out of sight, his own clock stayed quiet.
A memory bobbed to the surface of his consciousness—himself on his back on the living room floor and Matt lying on his side, crossways to Vic. His ass butted up ag
