“I’m not sure viruses actually work that way, champ.”
“Champ?” Cade said. He sounded like he actually was falling asleep. “Is that what your dad calls you?”
“Only when I’m sick.”
They sat quietly for long enough that Aiden wondered if Cade had nodded off, but then Cade said, “You had fun? With your family? Thanksgiving was good?”
“It was okay. I missed you.”
Another long silence before Cade said, “I was a little bit jealous of Ian.Andhe gave me a cold.”
“He’s a bastard. Let’s never talk to him again.”
“Okay,” Cade agreed. And this time, judging by the way his congested breathing turned into congested snoring, he really did fall asleep.
Aiden had never felt this sort of tenderness before. He was an affectionate person who liked doing nice things for other people. But for Cade? Aiden wanted to devote his life to making Cade happy. He’d start with finding a cure for his damn cold, but after that, he was pretty sure he’d be perfectly happy spending his life as Cade’s valet, like on those BBC shows his mom denied being addicted to. He’d draw Cade’s bath and wash him—well, he wasn’t sure if valets actuallywashedpeople, but Aiden would—and it wouldn’t be sexual, really, just part of looking after him. Then he’d help dress him, and he’d follow him around all day and make sure he had whatever he wanted to eat, and at the end of the day he’d follow him back home and help him dress for dinner or whatever, and then he’d undress him and… okay, at that point ithadto be sexual. No way would Aiden go through all that and not even get laid.
He gently smoothed the hair back from Cade’s temples, using only his fingertips. He wouldn’t let himself do more than that. He couldn’t take advantage of Cade’s vulnerability or abuse his trust by giving in to any of his other urges.
Cade had said he liked Aiden. He liked having Aiden in his apartment. He’d admitted to being jealous of Ian. Cade’s rule about things not counting when he had a cold was ridiculous, but Aiden would at least pretend to respect it. He wouldn’t mention any of the things Cade had said, not unless Cade mentioned them first. Which he probably wouldn’t do. But Aiden would remember them, and they’d give him hope and patience.
Cade liked him. Cade wanted him in his apartment. That was more than Aiden had really thought he’d ever have when this was all starting. Of course he still wanted more. But he’d wait.
He looked down at Cade’s sleeping face and let himself smooth his hair back one more time. He’d wait a lifetime, if he had to. But he really, really hoped it wouldn’t take that long.
Chapter Fourteen
Cade waswell enough to go back to school on Monday, at least as long as he kept popping the assortment of cold medicines Aiden had picked up on his behalf. He was working cash instead of the sandwich bar when Aiden went by the cafeteria at lunch, which made sense, but it felt wrong to order a sandwich from someone other than Cade.
“I think she put on too much turkey,” he confided as he handed his money to Cade.
“That’sgood,” Cade told him. “She’s being generous. You shouldn’t complain.”
“So why aren’tyougenerous? You never give me this much.”
“I’m trying to help you out. I know how hard it can be to lose those last few pounds, and getting double-stuffed sandwiches isn’t going to make it happen.”
Aiden grinned and stretched so his shirt rode up and exposed a half inch of washboard stomach. He was happy to see Cade’s gaze wander in that direction. “You should be taking away the bacon or the cheese, not the turkey.”
“Okay. Next time I make you a sandwich, no bacon or cheese.”
“Huh. I guess maybe I should keep my mouth shut.”
“And you should move too.” Cade nodded to the line forming behind Aiden, and Aiden shuffled off to eat.
It wasn’t enough, only seeing Cade for that brief moment of nonsense. But Cade had a late lab and a group study session on Mondays, and he’d made it clear that Aiden didn’t get to interfere with that.
Aiden thought about going over to Cade’s apartment and waiting there for him to get back from studying. Sure, it was stalkery, but he could pretend that he was simply worried about Cade’s health. He’d be there in case any medicine was needed, or maybe a back rub to sooth fever-aching muscles. Never mind that Cade didn’t have a fever… maybe his muscles were sore from excessive sneezing. But Aiden managed to resist the temptation. He shouldn’t push, even if he wanted to.
By lunchtime on Tuesday, Cade was back on sandwich duty, and that day when they met in the engineering library, he didn’t seem to have the hint of a sniffle left. “Cold drugs are awesome,” he told Aiden sincerely. “I always thought they were a waste of money. But they really work—I’m all better!”
“They aren’t actually supposed to make you get better faster. They just mask the symptoms.”
Cade didn’t seem concerned. “Well,somethingmade me better fast. I’m not going to ask too many questions.”
“Maybe it was my mom’s leftovers.”
“Okay. So cold medicineisa waste of money. But leftovers are awesome.”
