Page 73 of Dance With Me
“I’ve brought you some food. I hope you’re hungry.”
When Seb opened the bag, a sandwich from his favourite deli was inside. Seb could have kissed him. Hospital food was nothing to shout about but this, this he could eat.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Joe
Joe hoped Seb was going to give him a second chance.
The times he’d been alone with Seb at the hospital, just the two of them, he’d filled Seb in on the goings-on with Clare, how everything had happened between her and Neil, how Joe had known he couldn’t have been the father of the baby. How he actually couldn’t remember how long it had been since they’d had sex. Certainly not recently enough for the baby to have been his, but the doubt had been there.
He explained how he’d asked Clare to leave after Seb had gone and how she’d only tried to get him back because Neil hadn’t left his wife yet. Once he had, she’d immediately decided to move in with him.
Joe was desperate to know what Seb had decided, and the day before he was due to be discharged, he broached the subject.
“So now you know everything. I’ve missed you, Seb. I went from seeing you a few times a week to not seeing you for a month. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I was a mess. You can ask Hazel.” Joe laughed. “She threatened to come and drag you back from your parents. I was so miserable without you.”
He reached for Seb’s hand and brought it to his lips. He kissed his knuckles and rubbed his cheek against the palm.
“Can we try again? I feel we never got started, never got to explore what could be a good thing. What do you say, Seb?” He looked at Seb and hoped the other man could hear the sincerity in his words. He desperately wanted Seb to give him this, this second chance at happiness.
Seb looked at him. “Are you sure you can put up with me, put up with my dog? That’s a deal-breaker, Joe.” It was a no-brainer as far as Joe was concerned.
“I love your dog almost as much as I love you.” There, he’d said it. He loved Seb. The weeks they’d spent apart had been the worst of his life, and after the accident, he’d been distraught, not knowing how serious his head injury had been. He didn’t expect Seb to say it back to him. It might be too soon for him, but Joe had had weeks to think about it.
Seb gazed up at him, his love reflected in his eyes. “I love you too, Joe.”
Joe was ecstatic but tried not to get ahead of himself. His next question might not be so well received.
“I want you to come and stay with me whilst you recover. Natalia’s going to London with Louis; Dom has his place with his brother. You can’t stay on your own, and you’ll need help with Rocco.” Joe looked at him earnestly. “Please, Seb. We can spend time together, get to know each other even more. I have time owing me from work, so I can look after you. Your parents will be going back home too. It makes sense. Please say yes.” Joe wasn’t above begging at this point.
He looked at Seb as he contemplated his offer and knew the moment Seb decided to agree.
“OK, I’d love to come and stay with you.” Seb grinned at him.
“I’ll try to be the perfect gentleman, though, while you’re recovering from your injuries.” Joe winked. He would try, but he couldn’t promise anything.
The following day, Seb was discharged, and Joe picked him up in his car and drove him to his house. Dom had already been by Seb’s apartment to collect Rocco as well as some clothes and other things Seb might need while staying over at Joe’s.
Seb’s parents were going to be there for another day, and Joe planned on cooking a meal for them that night. They’d gone into the city for the day, though, so for now it was just the two of them and Rocco, who wandered in and out of the house—the doors to the garden were open whilst the weather was good. Joe settled Seb on the sofa and set some drinks and snacks on the table in front of him, within easy reach. He put his broken ankle up on the coffee table in front, with a cushion underneath it.
“Do you want to watch some TV or Netflix or something?” Joe wasn’t sure what to do now Seb was in his house. He was really nervous.
“You don’t have to babysit me, Joe. I’ll be alright on my own, you know.” Seb pulled Joe down to sit next to him. “But I won’t say no if you want to sit with me. I am a little tired.”
Joe pulled up Netflix and lined up a series he’d been trying to watch. “Is this OK?” he asked as he started the first episode of Schitt’s Creek.
“This is great, Joe. I’ve already watched the series, but I could watch it again with you.” Seb lay on the sofa and put his head in Joe’s lap, his broken ankle now resting on the arm of the sofa.
Joe pressed play and sat back, feeling more content than he had in a long while. He ran his hands through Seb’s dark waves, his hair feeling silky beneath his fingers. He’d known it would feel like this. He’d imagined doing this for months.
One episode ran into two, then three, and before long, Joe felt Seb’s rhythmic breathing as he slept. Joe didn’t want to move and wake him, so he closed his eyes—just to rest them for five minutes. He’d get up and cook in a while.
“Aww, don’t they look cute together?”
Joe slowly opened his eyes to see Seb’s parents, Jana and Levi, looking down on him and Seb. He rubbed his eyes and stretched. He’d given them a key so it would be easy for them to come and go whilst Joe had been at work or the hospital.
Joe carefully moved Seb’s head from his lap and stood to go to the kitchen, but Seb sat up slowly and smiled, a slow, sexy smile that had Joe’s stomach doing somersaults.
