“Only because I’m weak and can’t say no to those big doe eyes of yours.”
Cora smiled from ear to ear. “Thank you!”
“Can I try it too?” Penny, who had been watching the entire scene unfold in silence, asked.
“Just a bite,” Jared whined.
Dylan chuckled, feeling completely satisfied. It was just a small, silly gesture, but he knew Jared would appreciate it.
Seeing him so relaxed for the first time in days flooded Dylan’s chest with warmth and his stomach with jittery sensations he’d never experienced before. Now, getting up so damn early didn’t pain his sleepyhead ass so much. Hell, he’d wake up at four every morning just to make Jared smile like this again. Would even gladly tamper down his urges of fucking the heartbreak out of him if that helped Jared go back to his normal self.
“Thank you,” he mouthed, eyes glowing with so many raw emotions Dylan didn’t know what to do with them.
“Anytime.”
5. The one with the bad timing
Although they hadn’t beenfriends for long, Dylan had done more for Jared than those he thought he could trust with his life. The daily homemade meals, the beers on Fridays he never skipped even if he had to work the next day, the stupid memes he sent just to make him laugh...
What he didn’t see coming, not even in his wildest dreams, was that after a few stormy weeks, they would be here, moving in together.
He couldn’t pretend part of him wasn’t scared of this new adventure—cohabitating could fuck things up—but he really didn’t have many other options. Though, at this moment, anything was better than having to choose between eating or sleeping with a roof over his head. He didn’t have enough money for both.
“Thanks again, man,” Jared said with a grateful smile as he entered Dylan’s apartment. “I don’t know how I’ll repay you for this.”
“Shut up,” he countered, closing the door behind him.
Jared wasn’t new to this place, but Dylan still offered a small tour, making him feel all cozy inside. The way he treated and talked to him, as if he wasn’t just a guest, warmed his heart. He really needed this—a shelter, a place where he could crash and lick his wounds until he was feeling better.
Romantic relationships shouldn’t take up our entire lives. But sometimes, when you’ve shared all of your dreams with one person, waking up to the painful reality of the end is too much to deal with in solitude. And sure, Dylan could be a little cranky some days, but he was also the best person to have beside you, helping pick up the pieces of your broken self.
Half an hour later, Jared’s clothes were unpacked and all his toiletries were set up in the bathroom.
He sucked in a deep breath and stared at himself in the mirror. Somehow, the grey vintage patterned shower tiles behind him and the bright white light accentuated his exhaustion, the dark circles under his eyes almost matching the purple of his hoodie.
This shouldn’t be happening. He shouldn’t be looking like a dead man walking. Why couldn’t Paul keep it in his pants?
With his knuckles turning white as his hands tightened on the edge of the sink, he mentally hyped himself for the task he had to handle next: going to his old place to get the rest of his stuff. If Paul hadn’t already donated, burned, or thrown everything out the window, that is.
Jared didn’t like the idea of stepping into that house ever again, but he had to do this. Hoped it would feel like turning the page on this awful chapter of his life, or maybe like closing a book to pick up a new one. He needed to heal.
They say there are five stages of grief after a breakup, but he couldn’t see how he would ever reach the bargaining one. Trying to patch up the rotten love or rebuild the friendship? Bullshit.
Some would say he was still too angry, that everyone goes through it no matter how much you try to avoid it. But he couldn’t see that happening. If things had been different, and Paul hadn’t betrayed him, he perhaps would have tried the friendship route. But betrayal was something he would not accept or forgive. Hell no. Once the trust was broken, there was no turning back from that.
A knock on the door startled him.
“You ready?” Dylan asked.
Jared frowned at his reflection, releasing a heavy sigh before walking out of the bathroom. “Are you sure about this? You really don’t need to come.”
“I said I’ll help you, and if that means going to grab your stuff, I’ll go,” Dylan replied. “Besides, you’ll probably need a shield against his sorcery.” He wiggled his fingers in front of his face like he was casting a spell.
Jared snorted. “Let’s go.”
The atmosphere in the car was relaxed, with small talk and laughter filling the space. They talked about their plans for the next weekend, since this one was already packed with boxing and unboxing Jared’s crap. No one would say they were two grown-ass adults if they heard them excitedly talking about the upcoming video game convention. Who the fuck cared though? Not Jared.
It had been a month since he’d broken up with Paul, and he would be lying if he said it hadn’t been a rough one.
