Holy fuck. What had Chase dealt with before he moved in here? He was a smaller guy, so maybe it was someone trying to intimidate him. Or maybe he got picked on for being so damn quiet all the time. Or maybe, just maybe, I was reading way too much into his body language. If he wanted us to know, he’d tell us.
We fell into awkward silence, only speaking when it pertained to getting food ready for whenever the guys rolled their lazy asses out of bed. Weekends were typically more laid back, and I made sure everything could be easily reheated in case Zach and Daniel had been out drinking and fucking around until the sun came up.
Chase startled me by speaking up as I scooped some of the casserole onto each of our plates. “About Jayden…he’s not a dick, right?”
“Nah, he’s pretty laid back,” I reassured him. Chase didn’t seem convinced. “Did something happen? If he snapped at you, it was probably just because sometimes he stresses about his schoolwork.”
“Nothing’s happened, I just…” Chase rested his elbows on the table and wrung his fingers in his hair. “Never mind. I’m probably being dumb. I just… I really want this semester to go well.”
“I’m sure it will,” I reassured him, even though I had no clue why he was so spooked. After breakfast, Chase helped me clean up and we went our separate ways. I’d have to try and chat with Jayden once he got back from his moms to figure out why Chase seemed scared.
* * *
“Do you need any help?”I hadn’t seen much of Chase the rest of the weekend, so it surprised me when he came into the kitchen early Monday morning.
“Oh, hey!” I glanced over my shoulder as I pulled a bag of frozen sausage links out of the freezer. “If you want, you can get these in the oven.”
Chase seemed surprised that I was letting him help me again. I’d been serious when I said I’d teach him how to cook. “I can do that.”
“How are you settling in?”
“Fine.”
“Did Jayden make it back last night?”
“Yeah.”
I’d been hopeful we’d made it beyond one-word answers. Apparently, that had been too much to ask after one morning and a shared breakfast. But Chase didn’t seem as anxious as he’d been Saturday, so I’d count that as progress.
“Hey babe—” Matt bounded around the corner, stumbling over his feet when he realized I wasn’t alone in the kitchen. “Hey, Chase. I didn’t realize you were out here. I heard Jayden in the room and figured you were hiding out waiting for him.”
“I am capable of functioning without him,” Chase replied. His snarky response was another crack in his shell. Eventually, he’d be just fine.
“Don’t mind him, Chase. What he was trying to say is that it’s good to see you settling in a bit,” I explained, glaring at Matt. If he didn’t watch it, he was going to earn a spanking before class. “And he’s not admitting that he’s glad there’s someone else who gets easily overwhelmed by new people.”
“Oh. Cool.” Chase took the mug of coffee Matt offered him and loaded it up with sugar and creamer. Matt gaped at him, then pouted at me. I ignored him because I didn’t care that Chase’s mug was more sugar than coffee, I wasn’t putting up with hyper Matt. “Sorry, not a fan of the taste.”
“How do you function after that much sugar? I’d be passed out in class when the crash hit if I did that.” Matt was full of shit. I doubted Chase’s was as sweet as Matt liked his, the difference being Chase didn’t have anyone telling him it wasn’t allowed. Matt thought I didn’t notice when he swiped Chase’s cup off the counter and took a sip.
“I swear, if you’re drinking his coffee, I’m going to kick you out of the room this afternoon,” I warned him. Matt pushed the mug back toward Chase. “I’m serious, Matt. I’m not dealing with you bouncing off the walls when I’m trying to get work done.”
“Aww, you’re no fun,” Matt teased.
Chase spewed coffee all over the counter when I swatted Matt on the backside before demanding he get out of the kitchen. “Sorry about that. If we ever make you feel uncomfortable, let me know. He and I have been buddies since we were kids, so boundaries aren’t really a thing anymore.”
“No, it’s fine,” Chase reassured me. He worried his lip again. I knew just enough about him to realize he did that when he was thinking and nervous. He took a deep breath and squared his shoulders. “Just so you know, I’m gay.”
“Cool.” I wasn’t sure what else I was supposed to say. He’d heard Matt when he came into the room, and he’d watched our interactions with a combination of awe and envy on his face. Besides, I’d have been more surprised if he’d walked in with a girl in tow. I hated stereotypes, but everything about Chase screamed twink. And maybe more, but I wasn’t going to go there.
“I just thought I’d let you know so you understand I won’t be upset by you and Matt showing affection,” he explained. “I didn’t say anything at first because I wasn’t sure how people would react. And that’s stupid, because part of why I came here is the school has a reputation of being accepting and affirming, but it’s something I’ll probably always worry about.”
“Breathe, Chase.” He tensed when Jayden’s hands landed on his shoulders. Jayden spoke softly and Chase relaxed. I only heard the very last of it. “You never need to explain yourself to anyone unless you’re ready. Remember that.”
“Yeah, what he said,” I agreed. Wanting to get things back on more comfortable footing, I pulled a stack of plates out of the cupboard. “Chase, can you set these out? Jay, why don’t you go pound on the doors to wake up the lazy asses.”
Jayden swiped Chase’s coffee and took a gulp, his eyes bugging out as he set it back on the counter. “Damn, you don’t like much coffee with your sugar, do you?”
“Right? It’s crazy sweet!” Matt exclaimed from the lounge area. He winked as Chase set the table. “Kinda like him.”
