you were sunbathing when it happened. stretched out by the pool at the hotel. shades on, legs dipped in the water. soft and glowing in that tiny lil bikini you wore just to tease man. you’d kissed his cheek when he left that morning — told him to be careful, told him not to be dumb.

man just laughed, said he’d be back before you even missed him. lied straight to your face.

you were defo gonna kill him.

he didn’t even mean to come off the bike like that. weren’t even a crash — more like a stupid little slide. sharp turn, too much speed, one wheel lifted and that was it. dropped to the side and caught himself wrong. shoulder twisted funny. elbow banged up. pain kicked in slow, but he still got up, still tried to shake it off like it was nothing. but the ting was hanging weird after. and even his bredrins weren’t laughing no more.

clinic said it weren’t broke-broke. just a little fracture. rest and painkillers. sling for a bit. nothing major.

he was back at the hotel by sunset. laid up in bed, pillow behind him, hoodie half off ‘cause it hurt too much to pull it over his head.

half the boys were still out, rest of them bringing snacks and chatting shit around him like he was on bedrest or sum. but all he was thinking about was you.

you hadn’t seen the messages. man tried texting first, but no reply. figured you were still down by the pool, probably sipping something cold, ignoring the world.

so he just facetimed you.

camera flipped quick. your face popped up, bright screen lighting you from the dark hallway. towel wrapped around your chest, hair still wet from the pool, one glossy lip caught between your teeth. you froze when you saw him. when you saw the sling.

— "why do you look like that?" — you asked, all breathless, like your chest was already tight.

he blinked. smirked.

— what d’you mean? man’s good, babe. little bump, that’s all.

you looked like you were about to combust. wide-eyed, glancing at the screen like it was lying to you.

he could tell you were panicking, but you were trying to stay cute. trying not to go soft for him.

he stretched a bit — winced — then relaxed again with one hand behind his head like it was light work.

— don’t get mad, yeah? still got the other arm… can use that for stuff.

he winked — you almost ended the call right then. he just laughed. laid back into the pillows. you’d be up here soon. you always came to him when it really mattered.

and deep down, yeah — he liked that you cared that much. even if he was a little bit of an idiot.