002

After his shower, Shaun reluctantly pulled his clothes back on. They still smelled faintly of alcohol and sweat, but he preferred that discomfort to the thought of borrowing Nathan’s clothes and having yet another reason to come back here. He checked the bathroom and bedroom carefully, making sure he had not left anything behind, then stepped out of the room with a firm resolve to leave immediately.

He tried ordering a cab on his phone, but the app refused to load. Shaun frowned at the screen and tried again, only to get the same result.

“Join me for breakfast,” Nathan said casually from the kitchen. “I’ll drop you off after we eat.”

“Ew, no thanks,” Shaun replied immediately. “Who knows what you might have put in the food.”

Nathan laughed, genuinely amused. “It’s been years since someone’s made me laugh this hard,” he said. “And why would I put something in your food?”

“I don’t know,” Shaun shot back. “You’re bad news. Besides, you just kissed me like it was nothing back there.”

Nathan laughed even harder at that. “First of all, you kissed me first. Second, I didn’t put anything in your food. And third, you won’t be able to order a cab here. It’s a private apartment.”

Shaun bit his lower lip in frustration, only to wince when a sharp sting followed. It was then he remembered feeling it while he was bathing. His eyes narrowed as he looked at Nathan. “What the hell did you do to me last night?”

“I already told you,” Nathan replied calmly. “You kissed me, and I bit you back because you bit me first.”

Shaun exhaled slowly, forcing himself to calm down. “I won’t give you the privilege of making me mad,” he muttered.

Nathan gestured for him to come sit and eat, but Shaun stubbornly insisted on leaving.

“Fine,” Nathan said at last. “I’ll drop you off.”

He took a large bite of his sandwich, finished it quickly, and disappeared briefly into his room to pull on a shirt. By the time he returned, Shaun was already heading for the door.

Nathan grabbed another sandwich, wrapped it in a napkin, and followed him out.

Nathan tossed the wrapped sandwich onto Shaun’s lap once they were in the car.

“Where do you stay?” Nathan asked.

Shaun silently entered his location into the navigation app, clearly not in the mood to talk. He turned his face toward the window and made no attempt to touch the sandwich.

Nathan glanced at him and rolled his eyes. “Stop being a little girl and eat the damn sandwich,” he said, his voice firmer than before.

Shaun flinched slightly, looking for all the world like a scolded five year old. After a moment, he picked up the sandwich.

“I’m only eating because I’m in your car,” Shaun muttered. “I don’t know what you’d do to me.”

Nathan shook his head, amused, and focused back on the road.

About twenty minutes later, the car pulled into Shaun’s compound. Shaun lived with his parents, and as soon as the car parked, his mother rushed outside. The moment she saw him, she hurried over and wrapped him in a tight hug.

“You scared me,” she exclaimed. “How could you do that?”

“What’s wrong?” Shaun asked, startled. “You’re overreacting.”

Nathan laughed softly. “You don’t remember calling your mom last night?”

Shaun frowned. “I called you?”

His mother nodded, clearly still shaken. “You said you were being kidnapped,” she scolded. “You told me you loved me and that I shouldn’t miss you when you’re gone.

How could you pull a prank like that?”

Shaun’s eyes widened in horror.

“Thank God your friend took the phone and told me you were just drunk,” she continued. “Do you know how scared you made me and your father?”

“I’m sorry,” Shaun said quickly. “I swear I won’t drink again. And he’s not my friend,” he added, glaring at Nathan.

His mother lightly hit his shoulder and gently pushed him aside. “Young man,

what’s your name?”

“Nathan,” he replied politely.

“Would you like to join us for breakfast?” she asked warmly.

Nathan’s face lit up. “Oh, thank you. I’m starving.”

Shaun’s eyes widened. “You ate three sandwiches right in front of me.”

“I’m a heavy eater, little one,” Nathan said with a wink.

Shaun’s mother ushered Nathan inside, completely ignoring Shaun’s protests.

“Dear?” Shaun repeated dramatically. “Ma, he’s not as good as he seems.”

At the dining table, Nathan ate everything that was served to him with alarming enthusiasm, leaving Shaun staring in disbelief.

Shaun had barely finished his sandwich, yet Nathan was already reaching for more like a man who had not eaten in days.

Shaun’s father cleared his throat. “Would you eat your food and stop staring at him?”

Shaun coughed awkwardly, embarrassed, and quickly excused himself. He went straight to his room to change, choosing not to come back out. The memories of the previous night finally resurfaced fully, and the embarrassment hit him all at once.

A few minutes later, the door opened, and Nathan entered the room alongside Shaun’s mother.

“I can’t believe you want to leave so soon,” she said cheerfully. “You two should play some games together. You can leave later.”

Shaun shut his eyes. “Mom,” he groaned.

“He’s not my friend.”

Nathan smiled politely at her. “It’s alright, ma’am.”

Once she left, Shaun let out an irritated sigh, briefly annoyed with his mother.

Nathan sat down on the edge of the bed, his eyes moving around the room as he took everything in. he said, “You don’t look like the type who plays games.”

“And you don’t look like the type to entertain people." Shaun raised an eyebrow, glancing at him suspiciously. “Why are you acting all humble with my parents?” he asked, his voice sharp with suspicion.

“They’re being nice to me,” Nathan replied smoothly, his smirk curling just slightly at the corner of his lips.

Shaun rolled his eyes, his patience thinning. “They’d probably cut you into two if they found out you stole my girlfriends,” he muttered.

Nathan shrugged, still grinning. “Once again, it wasn’t personal. It was just coincidence. Cassie told me you two were just friends… though I admit, I teased you a little with how I was touching her because I knew you liked her,” he said, his tone teasing but oddly sincere.

Shaun let out a frustrated sigh and rolled his eyes again. “Whatever. Just stay put and leave after an hour,” he snapped.

Nathan nodded as if agreeing, but then tilted his head, his sharp eyes catching Shaun’s evasive movements. “You’re avoiding my gaze,” he pointed out, voice smooth and deliberate.

Shaun cleared his throat, glaring anywhere but Nathan. “I don’t want to look at you. Don’t bother me,” he said firmly, trying to assert control.

Nathan, of course, ignored that completely. He moved closer, lowering himself to sit on the floor beside Shaun, whose attention was absorbed in reading comics. Nathan’s gaze locked on his, unwavering. “You remember, don’t you?” he murmured, leaning in slightly.

Shaun swallowed hard, tension coiling in his chest. “Fine,” he admitted. “I’m sorry. I was drunk, and I wanted to piss you off.”

Nathan’s lips curved into a mischievous smirk. “Too bad I wasn’t pissed.” Before Shaun could react, Nathan pressed his lips against his.

Shaun’s eyes widened in shock. He tried to pull away, but Nathan’s grip was stronger. He pressed again, letting out a soft groan, then pulled back slightly and licked his lips. “I was turned on… cupcake,” Nathan said casually, smirk still plastered on his face.

“What?!” Shaun nearly shouted, staggering while standing up. “I’m a guy, remember?”

Nathan only shrugged, smirk unyielding. “I don’t care,” he said, standing up.

Shaun straightened, brushing at his clothes, flustered and frustrated. “Fine. I’m sorry for messing with you… now stop staring at me.”

Nathan ruffled Shaun’s hair lightly before stepping back. “See you on Monday, cupcake,” he said, a teasing glint in his eye.

Shaun groaned, mentally screaming as Nathan smirked at him. He’s obviously messing with me… Shaun thought, the helpless frustration building.

From somewhere down the hallway, Shaun could hear his mother calling Nathan to come back and visit. He froze for a moment, realizing he was truly doomed.

The rest of the weekend passed in tense plotting. Shaun spent hours crafting strategies to avoid Nathan entirely.