Nights had become their quiet ritual.

It wasn’t planned but it just started one night when Jared couldn’t sleep.

Hayden woke to the sound of someone pacing softly near the window.

“Jay?” he whispered, voice still hoarse from the exhaustion of the day's therapy.

Jared stopped, rubbing the back of his neck. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to wake you.”

Hayden smiled faintly. “You've never sleep much anyway.”

A quiet chuckle escaped Jared. “Yeah. Old habit.” He hesitated, then sank into ...