Author's note:
Thank you for the love you showed to the previous chapter, dear readers!
BlowPopJ - there's more of Mike and Ryan ahead :)
Hutchison12 - I knew a lot of people would cheer for Mike and Ryan, and it makes me so happy!
1moeannie - and there is more of them as follows!
Anon - you know something ;)
And now please enjoy!
Chapter Twenty-Three - A Little Help
Adrian hadn't slept a wink all night long, tormented by questions and what-if scenarios. He couldn't, wouldn't allow himself regrets, but that was easier said than done. There was one particular thing that came back to haunt him over and over. Edward had said that he had decided on Sunday to call it quits, and yet, the next day, he had hurried to meet Adrian, go out to dinner with him, and later to bed.
That didn't sound like someone who had made up his mind. It was irksome, and Adrian tossed and turned until he needed to get out of bed. He could always call Edward and ask for explanations, but he had a feeling his calls would be rejected.
Even if they hadn't, that still didn't mean that Edward would have the patience and inclination to listen to him. No, things like that needed to be clarified face to face. With that decision in mind, Adrian dressed for work. One last cursory look at himself in the mirror told him that anyone could read on his face what a shitty night he had had.
He pondered for a while. He grabbed his phone, and for long moments, his fingers hovered over the screen. Once in his life, he would have to swallow his pride. After all, all he needed was clarity, and that seemed to lack the most in his corner of the universe at the moment. With the risk of having Adrian Rossi's image completely compromised, he had to do it.
***
Jared danced around the kitchen, humming a tune he must have heard during the commercial break on the radio, and grabbing the ingredients he needed for making breakfast. Shane had come home late last night, so he hadn't even had the time to wonder why they needed to have another sleepover so soon after the other from Sunday night. Once Shane had kissed him and pushed him toward the bed, any such questions had drifted from his mind.
Even right now, Jared was in no mood to ask himself those pesky questions. Having such a close friend, a friend he had sex with, was not at all complicated. Actually, his life seemed to have become incredibly easier lately, or better said, from the moment he had met Shane. Everything was straightforward with the guy.
Now, there was a bit of a problem because Jared didn't know how Shane took his coffee. He stopped his dance and went directly to the bedroom, where he found Shane dressed up and, by the looks of things, ready for a new day.
"Do you need to go back to yours?" Jared asked, a bit disappointed. For some reason, he was looking forward to having breakfast with Shane. He might not be able to pull something like pigs in a blanket for the first meal of the day, but he took pride in being the master of all things omelet-related.
"I think I should," Shane said and ran one hand over his face. "I need to shave."
Jared liked Shane like that, but it felt like it wasn't his place to decide what Shane preferred. The short stubble became him. There was something rough about Shane that Jared liked; at the same time, he was sweet and charming, and that combination had to be Mother Nature's recipe for making Jared go all mushy over his friend with benefits.
"Ah, okay. Maybe you should bring your stuff," Jared said as he walked out of the bedroom, with Shane following him. "Wait, I should have some spares for one time use or something," he added and went directly to the bathroom. He was the guy ready for an apocalypse. Surely, extra shaving supplies had to be somewhere.
"Do you want me to bring my stuff and keep it here?" Shane caught him before he could reach the bathroom.
Jared realized how ridiculous that had to sound. They weren't living together or anything. "Well, not in particular," he said, trying to get out of the situation without sounding like a moron.
Shane rubbed his nose against his playfully. Jared inhaled the smell of minty toothpaste when Shane pressed their lips together. Maybe the short stubble was a little bit of a problem, as Jared felt his mouth being slowly ravaged. Shane needed to sort his priorities; didn't he need to leave? It was unlikely, however, that Jared would protest. Since the last bone in his body was turned to putty by that kiss, there was no conviction of any kind to tell the other off.
Jared broke the kiss. His sanity was at risk, and he needed to set some things straight. "Yeah, you might have to shave," he said, patting his lips.
"So you don't like me like this?"
It was a bit weird to be crowded in his own home and pushed against the wall. Also, it was arousing like hell.
Jared shook his head. There was just something about how Shane's skin smelled, even after showering, that made him light-headed, like walking in a dream, if he inhaled too much. "I think I like you plenty. My ass is my witness," he said quickly. He tried to straighten up instead of molding his body after Shane's slow moves. His back was against the wall, and Shane made a cage with his arms, seemingly bent on holding Jared there.
Shane didn't appear to take the hint. "Oh, do you think it's wise to mention your ass so early in the morning?"
Jared let out a small, nervous laugh. "Why wouldn't it be? After all, it's part of my anatomy."
"Yes, and you have beautiful anatomy. I recall everything about it in detail."
Shane was such a teaser. Jared pressed against his chest, and he didn't need to do it hard to make the other move away. "I was thinking about making breakfast for two."
"Great. I'd love that."
"Didn't you want to go home so that you could shave or something?" Jared reminded him.
"I'm not a big fan of shaving. Breakfast with you, on the other hand -" Shane left the words hanging and wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
Jared groaned. "Why do you have to be such a joker? Do you ever take a break?"
Shane appeared to ponder for a second. "I don't see why. And I think I just complimented you. I'd rather have breakfast with you than shave."
"Well, thanks for considering me above mundane tasks. I bet I can beat taking out the trash. Oh, right," Jared said, smacking his forehead, "I need to do that, too. I forgot yesterday."
"You go make breakfast. Let me take out the trash," Shane offered.
"Really? Okay, thanks, that's nice of you."
Jared couldn't believe Shane wasn't taken. Well, of course, he was new in town, and the ladyfolk didn't stand a chance given where Shane's preferences lay. Therefore, Jared was fortunate to have Shane all to himself, at least for a while. That said, he needed to take advantage of the situation, but not too much. Maybe letting him take out the garbage was not that great a move, but it was too late now to take it back.
He was back in the kitchen when he realized that he still hadn't found out how Shane liked his coffee. Well, he would ask when Shane was back.
It was undeniably nice to set the table for two. Jared wanted to sing and dance again, but he needed to keep his wits about him; he and Shane were nothing but friends, and that meant that it wasn't wise to fall into some romantic trap laid by no other but himself.
Shane was back as he placed the plates loaded with food on the table.
"I forgot to ask you about how you like your coffee," Jared said apologetically. "Or are you a tea person?"
"Coffee, black, is good enough for me," Shane replied as he took his place.
"Ah, so there's no room for sugar in your life?" Jared joked as he filled Shane's cup.
Shane surprised him by catching his hand and bringing it to his lips. He winked at Jared before placing a small kiss on his knuckles. "I think I have plenty of it."
Jared pulled away his hand. He used the kitchen towel in his hand to swat Shane's head playfully. "I'm not some missus you need to seduce first thing in the morning, joker."
"I kiss your ass to seduce you," Shane replied promptly.
And didn't he know it. Jared sighed.
