Chapter Four
Theo
As much as I’d enjoyed my weekend of filming, coming home to Laurie was my favourite part. And it wasn’t just because he always spoilt me rotten.
Being with Laurie always made me feel peaceful and contented, even if I was tired and sore, with burning thighs and a grumbling stomach from when I’d forgotten to eat.
Every time I came home it was like a puzzle piece clicked back into place in my heart, like I’d left a part of myself behind with him.
I’d tried really hard not to think about what Austin had implied on Saturday about it being obvious that we were a couple, but his words had kept playing in a loop in my head all night while I huffed into the pillows and tried to force myself to fall asleep.
I’d never thought twice about how I acted around Laurie, and I didn’t want to start now.
We could be the bestest of best friends and still share a bed and hang out together and cook meals and stuff.
It wasn’t like any of that was exclusively for couples.
Alex and Noah had practically lived in each other’s pockets before Noah and Spencer had started dating, and nobody had ever thought they were a couple.
So what was different about Laurie and me?
At this rate, I’d have to corner someone and ask. Because it was super obvious from their reactions that they’d thought the same as Austin, and I wanted to know why.
I’d probably ask Alex since he was the most likely not to bullshit me.
But he could be kind of an asshole and I didn’t want him being mean.
Noah would probably be too nice about it, though, and Spencer might not have even noticed.
As much as I loved our resident gym bro, he wasn’t exactly the most observant guy.
Lane might tell me and so might Oliver, but they might do it in some super-sweet couply way that would make me want to barf.
Will was also an option since he was pretty observant, and I adored his boyfriend, Jamie.
He’d recognised me the first time we’d met and then laughed when I’d gently pointed out it was from porn, not the London party scene.
The final option was Bastian and Anders, and while Bastian sometimes had his head in the clouds, he was really good with making people comfortable.
It was probably what made him such a great wedding photographer.
Anders could be a bit standoffish, but that was more general shyness than assholishness.
Well, at least I had options when I decided to enact my plan.
“Your bath’s ready,” Laurie called, his voice distracting me from my thoughts, which had happily wandered while I washed up.
Since Laurie had made me the best mac and cheese and offered to run me a bath, I’d said it was only fair I washed up.
And by that I meant rinsing everything and sticking it in our tiny dishwasher.
It felt a bit ridiculous washing things to then be washed again, but the dishwasher was so old and cranky that it wouldn’t clean anything that had more than the tiniest speck of food on it.
At this rate it would probably be easier to just handwash everything, but I was lazy and that would take more time than just running the bowls and pans under the hot tap until they were vaguely clean.
“Thank you,” I said. I wedged the largest of the saucepans into the top rack and grabbed a detergent tablet out of the cupboard before shutting the dishwasher door and flicking it on, glaring at it so it knew it had to work properly. I did not want to wash everything again in the morning.
Once the dishwasher started humming, I walked out of the kitchen and towards the bathroom which, like the rest of the flat, was cute but very dated.
Laurie and I had vaguely discussed redecorating or refitting the two rooms at some point, but we’d never actually gotten round to doing anything about it.
I thought it was both about the cost and the fact the flat was such a reminder of Laurie’s grandparents, and I wondered if he was reluctant to change anything because he had such happy memories of being here with them.
Which was all well and good, and I adored that, but I’d really love a bathroom that didn’t have carpet and an avocado green bath.
Laurie was waiting for me by the bathroom door and smiled softly as I approached. “Thanks for doing the washing up,” he said. “I really appreciate it.”
“You cooked, so it’s only fair of me to do something.”
“You helped.”
I grinned and kissed his cheek softly. “I love that you’re calling me grating half a block of cheese helping.
” I slipped past him and into the small room, taking a deep breath and inhaling the scent of strawberries and cream wafting from the glittering pink water topped with mountains of bubbles.
It looked like an ice cream sundae, just without the sprinkles and cherry on top.
Now I really wanted ice cream. I wondered if we had any in the freezer…
“We don’t have any ice cream,” Laurie said. “I forgot to get any when I went shopping.”
“That’s okay,” I said as I began to strip, trying not to think about how Laurie knew me so well he could tell I was thinking about ice cream just by looking at me.
Was that what Austin had meant? But surely all best friends knew these things about each other.
Otherwise how could they be best friends?
Maybe I was being stubborn or naive, but I didn’t want to think about it anymore. I just wanted to sink into the hot water and mountains of bubbles.
I shoved my dirty clothes into the washing basket in the corner so Laurie wouldn’t give me a disapproving look and climbed into the bath.
The water was blissfully hot and a sigh of happiness escaped me as I sank down.
“Mmm, this is perfect,” I said as I leant back, nearly disappearing into all the bubbles. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Laurie knelt down beside the bath and rolled his sleeves up. “Do you want me to wash your hair now or in a minute?”
“In a minute. Otherwise it’ll get rid of the bubbles.”
“Okay then.” He moved so he was sitting cross-legged and my eyes roamed over him.
Laurie really was ridiculously gorgeous—he had the most beautiful long, dark hair that cascaded over his shoulders in soft waves, golden-brown eyes that reminded me of caramel, and plush lips that always looked so kissable.
He wasn’t wearing any make-up today, but usually he wore at least a little smoky eyeliner.
Some days he’d do a full face of gothic make-up, with pale skin, intricate eye liner with carefully smoked shadow, and black or dark red lipstick, and whenever he did that I’d do my best to be as pink and bimbo-esque as possible because I loved how cute we looked together as this little gothic and femme-boy duo.
One of my favourite photos of us was from October two years ago when Laurie was in full gothic regalia with a long coat, white shirt, waistcoat, leather trousers, and huge boots with buckles all the way up to the knee, and I was wearing a pink jumper, white miniskirt, long socks, and platform Mary Janes, living my best slutty schoolboy-bimbo fantasy.
I had it framed on my desk so I could look at it every time I gamed.
“Did you organise another date for filming with Austin?” Laurie asked as I played with the bubbles sitting on my chest.
“Yeah, but it’s not for a while. He and Kanan are going away for like a month on holiday so we’re doing something when he gets back.
Jake and I are thinking about meeting up during August but it’ll depend on if I can find some other collab partners for that weekend.
I need to reach out to a few people and see.
Jake talked about bringing Kai up, which would be nice.
I haven’t seen him in ages.” I blew some of the bubbles into the air and giggled as they exploded into a fluffy, sparkling cloud.
“I’m tempted to organise another gang bang but I don’t really fancy doing one without Austin.
His dick is just so perfect. Plus everyone listens to him, so he’s good to have on set just for that.
I mean, I’m bossy as fuck but it’s hard to be in charge when there are like, five or six guys trying to fuck you.
Maybe I should make it ten next time, just because it sounds fun. ”
“Whatever you do, as long as you’re being safe and you trust everyone,” Laurie said.
“I promise I’ll be safe and make sure I know everyone.
” I made a cross on my heart and smiled at him.
It was so cute how he always took care of me and never judged me for anything.
I knew most guys wouldn’t be so open if their best friend talked about organising a gang bang with themself at the middle, but that was just the way Laurie was and why I loved him.
“Thank you,” he said, giving me a warm smile that made me feel like I’d swallowed a falling star.
We chatted for a few more minutes while I lazed in the bath playing with the mountains of bubbles before Laurie helped me wash my hair.
I couldn’t even remember how the tradition had started but now, every time I came back from filming, Laurie ran me a bath and washed my hair, massaging my scalp until I was a boneless pile of goop.
After he’d rinsed all the conditioner out, he left me to finish my bath while he locked up for the night, and when he came back, he was carrying a fresh pair of pyjamas.
They were a pastel mint green and patterned with daisies, with white frills around the bottom of the shorts and the hem of the vest top.
“Are you ready for bed?” Laurie asked as I climbed out of the bath and wrapped myself into the huge fluffy towel he handed me. I had no idea how he managed to keep our towels so soft for so long, because mine had always had a habit of turning into sandpaper after about six months.
“Yeah. I’m sleepy now.” I hadn’t felt tired when I’d gotten home, mostly because I’d still been coming down from concentrating on the drive home and I’d been buoyed by the sound of Laurie’s violin.
There was something so nice about walking into our home and finding him playing, so lost in the music he’d forgotten the rest of the world existed.
It was something I wished he’d do more often because he played so beautifully and he obviously loved it.
I added a note to my mental to-do list for the week to nag him into playing more.
“Can I sleep with you?” I asked as I pulled on my pyjamas. I didn’t know why, but I always felt a tiny bit clingy after filming. Maybe it was because I’d spent two days surrounded by people and it was weird going back to being on my own.
“Sure. You can go and get in whenever you’re ready. I’ll just do my teeth and stuff first.”
My hair was still damp as I walked into Laurie’s room but I couldn’t be arsed to dig the hairdryer out, especially since the evening was warm and clammy and blasting myself with hot air wasn’t something I fancied doing. I’d just deal with the fact that my hair would be unruly as fuck tomorrow.
I pulled back the thin sheet on Laurie’s bed, climbing onto the side that was always mine whenever I slept in here and snuggling deep into the mattress.
My eyes already felt heavy and I knew it wouldn’t be long before I drifted off, but I wanted to wait until Laurie was here.
I didn’t want to fall asleep without him.
I forced myself to stay awake by trying to plan my week ahead, but everything kept getting muddled in my brain and by the time Laurie walked in, I could barely remember what I’d done that weekend, let alone what I was supposed to do tomorrow.
“You look exhausted,” Laurie said as he pulled off his clothes and retrieved a pair of loose shorts from under his pillow. “You should go to sleep.”
“I can’t,” I said before yawning widely. “I was waiting for you.”
Laurie looked at me with something that appeared to be a mixture of fondness and exasperation. “You’re tired. Get some sleep.”
I tried to pat the mattress next to me but my arms were too heavy.
Laurie got the message, though, because he slid in beside me and put his arm out so I could roll into his embrace, burying my head in his neck.
His arm wrapped around me and he pulled me close, into the place I always felt safe and wanted.
“Love you, Lor,” I muttered as I tilted my head up to kiss his cheek. He smelt so good. I wished I could magically bottle it.
“Love you too,” Laurie said. He kissed the top of my head and whispered something I couldn’t catch as sleep finally claimed me.