It didn’t help that Brandon’s arms and legs clung to Jude and refused to let go, forcing Jude to twist and pry himself free. Jude grumbled and cursed as he fell onto his bed and crawled toward the pillows. Everything felt cold and inhospitable as Jude tossed and turned, trying to settle into pillows and blankets that had been perfectly acceptable the night prior. Now, his bedding felt like it was made of hair clippings and sandpaper. His eyes had finally become heavy again and his body loose and weightless when his door was thrown open and Noah dashed across the room. Noah launched himself at Jude and did his impression of a nuclear bomb as he landed. Jude grunted as Noah crashed into him and squeezed his eyes shut, trying to make them work. “I want to watch cartoons!” Noah announced as he began to bounce on his knees. Jude grabbed Noah’s arm, trying to make him be still. “No one is stopping you,” Jude mumbled as he covered his burning eyes. Noah made a frustrated, impatient sound as he tugged at Jude’s hand.
