God, Bailey looked adorable. All sleep tousled as he tried to bury himself further under the covers.
“C’mon, gorgeous. I know you want to sleep but this’ll make you feel better.” He placed the ibuprofen and glass of water on the bedside table and sat on the edge of the bed. “I promise to let you go back to sleep once you’ve taken the pills and drunk the water.”
“Urgh.” Whatever else Bailey tried to say was unintelligible.
Tom nudged the covers from over Bailey’s face. Bailey buried himself deeper into the pillow. “What was that?”
Bailey huffed and turned over, flinging an arm over his eyes. He peeked out. “I said you’re torturing me.”
“I’msavingyou, you ungrateful fool.”
“I don’t need looking after and I’m not a fool. I just need sleep,” Bailey mumbled.
“Says the man who drank half his body weight in beer.” Tom chuckled.
“Urgh. Don’t remind me.” Bailey groaned and tried to turn over.
“Oh no you don’t.” Tom stopped him mid-roll and tried to pull him to sit up. Bailey must have gotten the hint that Tom wasn’t going to give up, and scooted up the bed to recline against the pillows. His dark hair fell across his forehead, and dark stubble graced his jaw, those grey eyes bleary as they gazed at Tom. Tom’s stomach fluttered as he admired the man in his bed. He raised a hand, Bailey’s skin warm under his fingers, and his breath caught as Bailey pressed his cheek into Tom’s palm. He loved the idea of Bailey wanting to get closer, moving toward him, craving his touch.
“You’re gorgeous.”
“You’re crazy.”
Bailey tried to push the lock of hair from his face but it fell back again. “Why’d you let me drink so much anyway?” Bailey groused as he tried to haul the covers back up to his chin.
“I thought I didn’t have to look after you.” Tom laughed as he pressed a couple of painkillers into Bailey’s palm.
“I give you permission to stop me drinking in future. Actually, scrap that, I probably won’t ever drink again. If you see me with a drink, remind me of this morning, will you?”
“Sure thing, baby.” Tom passed over the glass of water.
Bailey took the glass and looked up at Tom with large grey eyes. “Did you just call me baby?”
“I guess I did.” Wow, the endearment had just slipped out. Weird because Tom wasn’t usually the endearment type. “Is that okay?”
Bailey gave a shy smile. “I liked it.” His eyes widened. “Unless you’re calling me a big baby for not being able to handle my alcohol.”
Tom chuckled. “Never. I’m calling youmybaby.”Mine.
Bailey’s grin widened, if that was possible. Tom found himself wanting to say all kinds of soppy stuff. How much he liked having Bailey in his bed—hangover or no hangover—how going to sleep and waking up next to him made him feel, how much he enjoyed Bailey’s company, valued his advice, wouldn’t have felt so positive about the future without him….
Tom cleared his throat. “C’mon. Take the pills. I’ll go make coffee.” Bailey swallowed the ibuprofen with a grimace and emptied the glass before placing it on the bedside table. He moved to get up but Tom held a hand to his chest. “I’ll bring you a cup of coffee, but go back to sleep if you like.”
“What about you?” Bailey snuggled back down, pulling on Tom’s hand. “You gonna come back to bed?”
“Sorry, Bails, I’ve got to get moving.” He glanced to the bedside clock. “The cafe opens in half an hour and I’m already late getting things ready.”
“’Kay.” Bailey gave a rueful smile, then pulled the covers over his head, already closing his eyes. Tom couldn’t hold back the warmth that filled his chest and stayed there for the rest of the day.
* * *
"C’mon. Talk to me, mate," Ryan pleaded over the phone. "I can tell there's something bothering you."
Bailey doodled on the notebook in front of him, random swirls and circles that had no meaning. A bit like his thoughts, he mused, a random mess of thoughts that he couldn't make any sense of. He had no idea where to start.
"I guess I'm just feeling a bit lost at the moment. There’s so much going on and I don't know where to start."
"Is this about the job?" Ryan asked.
