Chapter 20 #2
By the time it ends, he’s due for more meds, so I help Chad take them and insist he move to his bed with clean blankets.
Getting him upstairs is a struggle while he wraps his arms around me and insists I “carry him,” but eventually we get there.
It’s kind of impressive just how dramatic he can be. Endearing even.
When he’s tucked into his bed, he almost immediately dozes off. As I stare at his peaceful expression, that pull in my chest happens again. Nope. Not thinking about that. I run back down to grab Chad a fresh glass of water and leave the cold medicine box on his nightstand for the morning.
Before I leave, I put the blankets from the couch into the washing machine and watch the post-game recaps while I wait to switch them to the dryer.
It’s well after midnight by the time I get home. But it’s still definitely not a sleepover.
Because I know that’s at least one rule of the arrangement I can follow.
The rest… Well, I don’t want to think about that.
Liam
Hey man. We got back late last night, the trip was amazing. Are you free to come over today? Would love to catch up and tell you about it. Blake is also very excited to show off his pictures and some of the content he made.
I groan as I force my eyes to focus on the text from Liam. Not because I don’t want to see him and hear about his trip, but because my head is throbbing and the light from my screen isn’t helping.
Fuck. I meant what I said the other day to Chad. I never get sick. This is probably an allergy thing. Pollen in the air combined with a lack of caffeine yet this morning.
Still, I should probably skip seeing him today.
John
Raincheck? I have an allergy thing going on, I don't want to spend the day sneezing on you guys.
My entire body feels stiff as I force myself out of bed. I just need coffee. Caffeine helps everything.
But by the time I’m reaching for the pot to pour a second cup, my head still doesn’t feel any better. Maybe I should eat something. I stumble to the pantry and pull out bread to make toast because that’s about all I think I can currently manage.
I’m not sick. But maybe I should take some painkillers for this headache. I reach for two Tylenol to take with more coffee then decide to rest my head on the cool surface of the tile countertop while I wait for my toast.
“See! I told you I needed to check on him!” Chad’s voice startles me awake, and I blink a few times to confirm what I’m looking at. Chad, Liam, and Blake are all standing in my kitchen staring at me like I’m the one out of place in my own damn house.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” I mumble.
“Well, Chad showed up this morning to surprise us. He bought a house and lives in town now too,” Liam explains. “So he overheard me telling Blake you wouldn’t be coming to the farm today because you’re sick.”
“I told you it’s allergies,” I huff, but it turns into a cough I try to cover up.
“Sure,” Liam continues sarcastically. “You look great. Anywaaay, Chad freaked out saying he knew you don’t have medicine and insisted on coming to check on you.”
“Even I thought that was strange,” Blake chimes in.
“So we wanted to come too,” Liam finishes his explanation.
I roll my eyes. “Well, I already took medicine, for my allergies,” I emphasize. “So thanks for coming or whatever. Good to see you. Hope the honeymoon was fun. You can leave now.”
“Oh come on, I’ve never seen your house before!” Blake protests. “Don’t kick us out already.”
“Chad, on the other hand, knew exactly where you lived,” Liam points out, and I raise a brow in his direction in response to how smug he sounds.
“Oh yeah, I didn’t even think about that,” Blake says, sounding far more confused than Liam. “Have you been here, Chad?”
Chad, to his credit, looks horrified as he realizes what he’s given away. “I, uh, why would I have been here before?” He laughs nervously. “Very nice house, John. Or at least, I’m sure it will be when you finish fixing it up.”
I give him an unamused look and dryly answer, “Thanks.”
“Bullshit,” Liam interjects with a laugh. “Why was Chad so convinced you wouldn’t have medicine, John? He texted Blake that he was dying a few days ago because he was sick, so do you have the same thing? It’s been almost two weeks since the wedding; have you seen each other since then?”
I glare at Liam while he fires off his list of questions I definitely don’t have the energy to answer. He’s obviously putting two and two together that something happened between Chad and I, but he’s going to make one of us say it.
“Well, it sounds like you already know the answer to that, Liam,” I grumble.
Blake is dramatically whipping his head back and forth as he looks between the rest of us, and the motion is making me dizzy. Fucking allergies.
I know for a fact Chad won’t give a shit about them knowing we’re sleeping together, he told his family he moved here to date a man for fuck’s sake, but I don’t really appreciate Liam calling us out like this, even if I know he means well and is just giving me shit because I used to complain about Chad.
So I decide to give him shit right back.
“Liam, I thought you were better than that,” I say seriously. His amused expression morphs into confusion. “Are you really trying to out someone right now? Your friend?”
His mouth drops open, and he looks mortified as he turns to Chad. “I wasn’t. You know it’s not like that. I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything if you’re not ready—”
“What the fuck is going on?” Blake interrupts.
Chad turns to me with a pleading expression, clearly looking for my permission to tell them, and I snort a laugh before rolling my eyes and nodding.
Liam obviously knows, so Blake will as soon as they leave this house.
Those two don’t have any secrets anymore.
And maybe it’s my allergies fucking with my head, but the idea of them knowing that Chad and I are…
well, I don’t think they need specifics, but them knowing we’re sleeping together doesn’t bother me like it probably should.
Unlike the idea of them finding out about what happened in Vegas did.
Chad lets out a huge sigh of relief. “Oh thank God! I’ve been dying to tell you, but we didn’t want to draw any attention away from your wedding or your honeymoon—that’s also why John made me promise not to tell you about your new dog—but I realized I’m bi too!”
“What new dog?” Liam asks.
“No way! You’re bi too?” Blake sounds thrilled. “We’re bi twins! That’s awesome, man, congrats! So, wait, are you dating John?”
“What new dog?” Liam repeats.
My head is still throbbing as I try to figure out how to answer Blake’s question, but before I have a chance, Chad speaks up. “Nah, it isn’t serious, he’s just been helping me figure everything out.” He aims a small smile my way, looking proud of his answer.
I should be relieved by how easily he came up with that, how genuine he sounded dismissing what’s going on between us. Maybe it’s the headache, or maybe I really am ill, but my stomach drops in response.
I need to ignore the jealous part of me that’s desperate to claim him. As what? I don’t know exactly. My sub? My fuck buddy? My friend with benefits? None of that fits what’s been going on between us. I just know that Chad is mine.
I don’t want to give them the opportunity to ask any more questions—I don’t know how I’ll respond if Chad continues to be so dismissive—so I force myself to walk toward them so they back up.
“This has been fun. Chad, it sounds like you still have to tell them about your wedding present, so I’ll leave you all to it. I need to take a nap.”
“Oh, are you sure you’re okay?” Chad checks.
“Never been better. We’ll talk soon. Goodbye, everyone.”
I usher them out the door as Chad shouts, “I’ll be back with medicine and soup!” and I immediately go back upstairs to sleep.
Because I’m tired, I’m not sick.