The night was cool, the kind of chill that made Kareem want to stay in. After spending the evening with Santi, he had to admit, he was getting used to the vibe between them. They didn't need to say much. It was just... comfortable.
They hadn't planned on hanging out for so long. At first, they were just chilling at Santi's place, playing a video game, laughing at some random shit on TV, and passing a blunt between them. The conversation flowed easily, like it always did with Santi-casual, no pressure, just two people existing in the same space. Kareem had always preferred his solitude, but Santi made it feel different.
As time passed, though, Kareem found himself zoning out, his eyelids growing heavier with each passing minute. He tried to shake it off, but the exhaustion from working on cars earlier in the day and the weed they'd smoked was taking its toll.
"You good?" Santi asked, his voice a little softer than usual, eyes glancing over at Kareem.
"Yeah," Kareem muttered, rubbing his eyes. "Just... tired as hell."
Santi raised an eyebrow. "You can go lay in my bed if you want. I'm not gonna be mad at you."
Kareem half-smiled, trying to hide the fact that he was actually relieved. His eyes were practically closing on their own, and the idea of laying down sounded better than anything.
"Okay ," he said, standing up and stretching. "I'm just gonna crash for a bit."
"Alright, papi," Santi said with a chuckle, standing up as well. "I'm coming with you then."
Kareem raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything. It wasn't unusual for Santi to just do whatever he felt like doing, but something about this felt different. Maybe it was because, for once, Kareem wasn't completely opposed to it.
They both made their way to Santi's bedroom. It was cozy, simple. A bed, a few clothes scattered around, some sneakers on the floor. Nothing fancy, just homey. Kareem sat down on the edge of the bed, feeling the softness of the sheets under him. He looked up at Santi, who was standing by the door, a little smirk on his face.
"What? You tryna act like you ain't gonna lay down?" Santi teased, walking over to the bed.
"Nah, I'm just thinkin'," Kareem muttered, trying to act like he wasn't already comfortable.
Santi just shrugged and flopped down beside him. "You're welcome to stay in here as long as you want, Papi. You just gotta get comfortable."
Kareem didn't say anything, his mind too tired to think about much else. He leaned back against the pillow, closing his eyes. The room felt warm, cozy, but not suffocating. Santi wasn't pressuring him for conversation, which was a relief. They laid there in silence, Kareem slowly drifting off.
Before he knew it, Santi was on the bed beside him, his body close but not too close. Kareem barely even noticed at first. But as the minutes ticked by, he could feel the warmth of Santi's body next to his, the steady rise and fall of his chest. He could hear the gentle rhythm of Santi's breathing.
And then, without thinking, Kareem found himself inching closer. Not enough to touch Santi, but close enough to feel the heat radiating from him.
Santi seemed to notice, and without any hesitation, his arm slid over Kareem's waist, pulling him in gently. "I know you're tired, Papi," he whispered, his voice hushed, as if trying not to wake him.
Kareem didn't pull away. In fact, he was too tired to even think about it. Santi's hand on his waist felt natural, like it belonged there, like it made sense in a way that Kareem hadn't realized until now.
Before long, they both fell asleep, the sound of their quiet breathing filling the room. Kareem didn't know when exactly he drifted off, but the comfort of Santi being so close was something he didn't want to question. The morning light filtered in through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the room. Kareem's eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, he didn't know where he was. He blinked a few times, his mind still foggy from sleep, but when he turned his head, he felt the warmth of Santi's body against his own.
Santi was lying on top of him, his face buried in Kareem's neck, his arms wrapped around his waist like he was holding on to something precious. Kareem's heart skipped a beat at the closeness, at the feeling of Santi's breath against his skin.
Kareem tried to move, but the moment he shifted, Santi tightened his grip, pulling him even closer, his lips brushing against Kareem's neck.
"Don't move," Santi mumbled sleepily, his voice rough and low.
Kareem froze, his heart pounding in his chest. He hadn't expected this, hadn't expected to wake up with Santi's body pressed so tightly against his. But there was something about the way Santi held him that made it feel... right. Like maybe this wasn't just some random thing.
Santi's fingers traced gentle circles on Kareem's waist, his body moving with the rhythm of Kareem's breathing. Kareem could feel the heat between them, the intensity of the connection they had, even in the quiet of the morning.
"Man, what the fuck," Kareem whispered under his breath, trying to act like he wasn't into it, but there was no denying it now.
Santi didn't respond, just continued to hold him, his grip tightening slightly as if he was afraid Kareem might slip away.
Kareem let out a breath, his mind racing, but he didn't move. For once, he didn't feel the need to pull away. He just let himself be there, in the moment with Santi.
For the first time in a long time, Kareem didn't feel alone. And that realization hit him harder than he wanted to admit.