Chapter 23 - The day Jerry came to live here
We helped Jerry pack most of the essential things we could think of and loaded three suitcases into my trunk. Jerry was still shaken, but he seemed a bit better.
"Thank you. I can't tell you how much that means to me."
I hugged him and smiled at Nate.
"Don't mention it. You would do the same," Nate said and went to the driver's door.
Jerry frowned and watched him get in. Then he looked at me and observed me closely.
"What?" I asked like I didn't know.
He probably didn't feel like asking the question with an obvious answer. He just watched for my reaction. I knew him well enough to guess.
"Why is everybody so shocked that Nate can drive my car?"
"Everybody?"
"Yes."
"He drove it more than once?"
I rolled my eyes. "Yes."
"When?"
"I took him with me to Ben's birthday."
He didn't say a word. He just kept looking at me with a stunned look.
"How long are you two dating?"
Jerry must have known that it's not long since he saw Nate just a few weeks ago when Nate caught the two of us having sex.
"I don't even know. Not long." I said and shrugged, opening the passenger's door.
"Right..." He opened the back door and sat down.
I exhaled, thinking about what now as I got in.
"Everything's good?" Nate asked me softly.
"Yeah, just tired."
Nate nodded and took my hand gently into his. He pressed my fingers to his lips and kissed the back of my hand before letting me go and starting the car.
"So, what now?" I asked when Nate turned the wheel.
"We need to talk with Ashley."
"Ashley? Your sister Ashley?" Jerry asked.
"Yes."
"Just so I understand this picture. Are we talking about your wife, Nate?"
We both looked at each other. Nate said, "Yes."
"Ok. Please tell me what is going on?"
Nate looked at me like, 'Please, you tell it,' and I thought for a second about how to even start. I felt like I could be honest with Jerry. Still, it was so much going on within me now that it was hard to put it into words.
"Well... a couple of weeks back, we kinda started to sleep together while Ashley was away."
"I got that, alright. So am I correct that she doesn't know?"
"No, she doesn't, yet."
"Are you planning to tell her, or is this just hook up for you, Nate?"
"No, it's not." Nate looked seriously at Jerry in the mirror.
"Okay. So, if I remember correctly, we are going to the house where you grew up. House where your homophobic sister lives with her husband, who you sleep with."
I nodded slowly.
"This will be fun!"
"Don't worry. It will be fine."
"I'm not worried. I am too flabbergasted for that."
"What do you think would be best now?" I asked Nate.
"Let's get back home and get some sleep. We can talk with Ashley when we wake up."
"Okay."
"Can I ask where I will sleep?" Jerry asked.
I turned to him.
"Ashley is in a downstairs office right now since she came from abroad. You can sleep on a couch or in her bed." I said.
I saw his face. He was frowning. "And where would Nate sleep?"
"In my room."
"He sleeps in your bed?!" his voice got high.
"Yes. Well... We are still determining for how long. But definitely, until Ashley is downstairs. Everything it's a bit confusing now."
"You tell me that. It took me well over a year to get to sleep with you in one bed overnight!"
Nate looked at me, surprised. "Really?"
"I told you, I don't like sleeping with people in one bed."
Nate was now grinning widely.
"What?"
"Nothing, I am just honored."
I smiled at him.
"Seriously, how long are you two dating?" I heard Jerry's voice.
Nate started laughing, and he just couldn't stop.
"What?"
"I just counted and realized it's not even two weeks."
"Damn," said Jerry. "I am taking the couch!"
"I am sure Ashley would gladly let you sleep in her bedroom. She is very nice." Nate said with a smile.
"I think she will have enough on her plate. I don't want to take her bedroom."
"You are judging," I said, hurt.
"Daddy, give me time to process this. This guy who is married to your sister, not even your type, no offense Nate, has already driven your car and slept in your bed overnight. I know it's silly, but I don't even know what to think. I hate cheating and lying, yet somehow I can't seem to judge you for all that you two are doing. I may be that much thankful, or I think the two of you stumbled upon something remarkable. But forgive me; I am a bit jealous. Right now, it's good for me, I suppose, as I can think about other problems than my screwed-up life, but this is intense."
"Sure."
"It's past seven. Ashley will be up." Nate said plainly when we reached our house.
"Damn. I am exhausted."
"Me too."
We parked in the driveway, and Jerry and I went for his suitcases. This will be fun...
We opened the door, and as we came in, we could hear Ashley.
"We should talk to her now," Nate said, pressing his right temple with his fingers. Neither of us had a wink of sleep yet, and this night was fucking intense even without that.
"I know..." I moped.
"Maybe I should have gone to the hotel."
"Stop that. You're fine." I turned to Jerry and then said to Nate. "I need some sleep. This is getting too much."
Nate nodded but looked determined. He came to Ash's door and knocked.
"Ashley, are you up? I am sorry we need to talk. Can you come to the door?"
"Nate? What happened?"
"Richard's friend is here."
Jerry turned to me with lightning speed.
"Richard?" he whispered with his eyebrows so high it would be funny if I weren't so tired. I just smiled and nodded. Jerry shook his head in disbelief and watched Nate.
"Right... Is everything alright?" Ashley asked, concerned.
"He had some trouble and needs a place to stay for some time."
"I will start looking for something immediately. I don't want to bother you." Jerry came closer to the door.
"Please don't feel pressured. I am sure there is enough room for you here. I am just sorry I cannot be a better host. I need to stay here for at least seven more days. What is your name?"
"Jeremiah, nice to meet you, Ashley."
"Nice to meet you too, in a way." She chuckled, which also made Jerry's lips curl a little. "Feel free to stay as long as you need."
I crossed my arms in front of me, remembering the trouble she gave me to come live here. And half of this house is mine. Nate picked up on that and brushed my cheek with his palm with a gentle, soothing smile. Jerry noticed this but turned back to the door.
"Thank you. I really appreciate that. I promise I won't intrude on you for long."
"Then I hope I can make it out before you leave so I can meet you properly." A welcoming smile was heard in her voice. Jerry felt touched, and I could see that.
"I already had COVID, so you can say I am immune. If you want, I can visit you sometime."
There was this short silence, and then she said sweetly. "I would love that. I am getting crazy here!"
Jerry just smiled. "I remember that feeling."
I didn't want to ruin it for them by mentioning his sexuality and her views on that, but I felt bitter about how she welcomed a stranger compared to her own brother.
We spent another few minutes discussing sleeping arrangements, and Jerry insisted that he would be sleeping on the couch. So Ashley told him that the door on the left was to the bathroom she was using, and she could keep her door locked so they could share it. With the way Ashley, or Jerry, for that matter, cleaned obsessively, I was sure that even if she had covid, that bathroom would be less hazardous than any in a hospital.
Since we were exhausted, we told Ashley we would make her breakfast and go to sleep. Jerry offered to do it, and we were too tired to argue.
Nate and I didn't even shower. Instead, we undressed, got to bed, and fell asleep in each other's arms instantly.
...
I woke up a couple of hours later. Nate, by my side, breathed into my ear, and I turned to him. He looked so handsome. Why is everybody so cute while sleeping? I lay there for a few moments and watched him. I thought about the night before. I just wanted to cuddle with Nate, stay here, and not think about the world around us.
"Good morning, Richard." I felt his lips on my nose as he gave me a soft peck.
"Morning, Nathaniel." I hugged him closer, intertwining my legs with his.
"How do you feel?"
"Good. What about you?"
"Overwhelmed with everything. Can we stay here the whole day?"
Nate chuckled softly and combed through my beard gently. "I don't think that would be polite to Jerry or Ashley."
"Can we pretend that they are not here? Just until they will knock or call us?"
"Richard." He smiled at me. "We will be fine."
"Sure we will. We can barricade ourselves here and fuck all day."