Page 13 of Jalen & Colby

Colby seems to fall asleep quickly, but I find myself staring at the walls for a long time before I drift off. My head is full of thoughts of my best friend as much as my new friend, and I’m really not sure what to do or how to feel.

But eventually, I soothe myself with the knowledge that everything will be simpler in the warm light of day. We’re all just having some fun. No need to overanalyze it.

We’ll probably have forgotten all about it once the new year rolls around. It’ll just be a crazy story that Colby and I reminisce on from time to time.

Except one last thought slips in just before I lose consciousness. Maybe Andreas and Colby will be a couple by the time we’re singing Auld Lang Syne.

Where will that leave me?

CHAPTER6

Andreas

When I wakeup and my first thought ishave you gone insane?I make a decision. Carpe diem. Seize the day.

Yes, when I woke up yesterday, I was excited about delivering the toy set and had no idea where the afternoon would lead me. But do I regret it?

Absolutely not.

It was the most fun I’ve had in a hell of a long time. Probably the most human interaction I’ve had in months outside of colleagues, as well. Sure, we socialize with after-work drinks and karaoke and the like. And I have my rock-climbing buddies. However, I’ve recently realized how easy it is to be alone in a crowd. How easy it is to get lost.

Jalen saw straight through the bullshit and got right to the heart of me in a matter of hours. I must admit that before I fell asleep, I did a little online research, and it looks like he’s definitely onto something with this sugar Daddy business. It can manifest in many different ways, but he was correct that it comes down to a kink that thrives on a specific kind of financial arrangement.

The idea of spending the day spoiling those two sweet boys with a whole load of decorations for their tiny flat makes me feel like Father bloody Christmas. I’m hoping there’ll be a chance for me to buy them lunch and maybe other treats as well.

And all I want in return is to see them happy. If they’re enjoying themselves, that’s all I need. If that’s what it means to be a sugar Daddy, then sign me up.

I can see how I wouldn’t want to be taken for granted, though. That would leave a sour taste. I’m not a walking credit card. But even after less than a day, I feel very confident that’s not what either of these boys are about.

The other annoying voice in my head is nagging at me that it’s a little weird that I’ve takentwoyoung men under my wing. But weird by whose standards? Who here is actually judging me? Myself, and again, I decide that I don’t care. As far as I’m concerned, Jalen and Colby come as a pair, and it would be unethical to separate them. Like bonded puppies.

As I take a quick shower, I keep arguing with myself. We’re all consenting adults here, and all we’re doing is being friends. If someone looking in from the outside thinks the dynamic is strange, that’s their problem.

What I know is that when I let all the other bullshit fall away and just think about those sweet boys currently asleep in my spare bedroom, I get butterflies in my stomach and a deep feeling of contentment settles over me. IknowI can look after them. That’s my only job for today.

As I exit my bedroom, I’m pleased that I appear to have risen before them. They might be awake, but there’s no movement in the apartment as I make my way into the kitchen and get the kettle boiling for tea or coffee. Once that’s going, I nip back into the bedroom to retrieve the last surprise I snuck in from the grocery store order last night.

I didn’t think the boys would want to spend all of today in the clothes they wore to dinner last night. I couldn’t exactly get them whole new outfits—that would be a bit much to buy themunderwearwithin hours of meeting them. But I could at least do this one thing.

As I lay out my spoils on the sofa, I grin. The boys will see them as they come out of their room. Then I get to work on breakfast. I ordered a mixture of pastries and fruit from the store that I can plate up now. But I also mix eggs together and get bread ready to toast once they’re awake if they want hot stuff.

I don’t have to wait long. Even though I’m trying to be quiet, I guess me moving around the kitchen still creates a certain amount of noise. My head whips around as soon as I hear the door creak open, and my heart melts as two sleepy boys emerge wearing my T-shirts over their underwear.

“Good morning,” I say cheerfully as Colby rubs his eyes sweetly and Jalen yawns with a big stretch of his arms. “Did you sleep okay?”

“Like a log!” Colby declares.

Jalen shakes himself out before grinning at me. “Yeah, that mattress is amazing.”

I beam, happy that I was able to take care of them even as they slept. This sugar Daddy thing is getting addictive fast. “Are you hungry? I know we had a lot to eat last night, but we’ve got a busy day ahead of us.”

“Oh, wow,” Colby says as he comes to inspect everything. “You didn’t have to do all this.”

I try and hide a laugh as Jalen elbows his best friend. “Say ‘thank you, Andreas.’”

Colby rolls his eyes but then gives me a shy smile that makes my stomach flip. “Thank you, Andreas.”

I wonder what it would be like if they called me ‘Daddy.’ That’s what Google said last night was the norm. I thought it might be a bit weird. Seedy. But like my other preconceptions, it’s not at all. In fact, I think I might love it. I swear Jalen almost called me it when we got back here last night, but I couldn’t be sure.

---