Chapter 8

Ellis stirred, moving around in his morning wake up routine of procrastination until he felt more awake. Well, this was his routine when his night hadn't been smooth sailing.

He cuddled up to his husband. "Nick?" he kissed a stubbly cheek. Seeing his lover still asleep he got out of bed and walked into the kitchen to get the coffee ready for Nick. Ellis didn't drink coffee, didn't really need it. Nick, however, claimed that he couldn't function without it. Ellis didn't believe it though.

He took the freshly prepared coffee into their bedroom and set it next to Nick. Ellis supposed he would just shower and get ready for the day while Nick slept. He kissed his lovers forehead and walked the bathroom.

Nick woke up to the smell of fresh brewed coffee.

He smiled and sat up, noticing Ellis had left it next to Nick's side of the bed. He smiled. Ellis was such a beautiful person.

He could hear the shower running. He left the coffee there and walked into the bathroom, hoping to be able to join Ellis, who was singing as usual. Nick smiled and opened the door just as Ellis turned off the taps.

"Morning Nick" he smiled. "Hope your coffee was to your liking."

"Didn't drink it" he mumbled. "Was gonna join you in the shower. Guess I'm too late." He yawned and walked back to the bedroom to drink the coffee. Coffee made everything better.

Ellis walked in and kissed Nick. "I love you."

"I love you told El." He sipped on his coffee. "You make good coffee wifey."

Ellis chuckled at the nickname. "Maybe. I jus' watch you make it so I thought I'd have a go."

"You did good." He pulled Ellis down into a kiss. "Listen, sorry again about last night."

"Nick, Hun, you don' have to apologise none. I am sorry there wasn't more I could do."

Nick pulled Ellis into the bed with him. "Don't be like that. You did so much for me. I owe you everything right now. In quarantine, when it rained… I couldn't sleep, eat… hell, I could hardly talk, El, and that is embarrassing, y'know? But for me, knowing that you are here… and that you are safe settles me right down. I love you El. Thank you for always helping me out."

Ellis blushed. "Aw Nick, you're more than welcome. I love you so much an' o' course I will always be here for ya."

Nick touched Ellis' face. "You are so beautiful" he smiled, running his thumb over Ellis' lips, slipping it inside his mouth. "I love you El. You are so beautiful." He slid his thumb back out and kissed Ellis again.

Ellis climbed on top of him, grinding his hips next to Nick's. "Should we christen the bed?"

"Absolutely" Nick grinned, running his hand down Ellis' stomach.

Ellis smiled back. "I love you Nick-"

But the rest of his sentence was stopped short by the ringing of the doorbell.

Nick whined, half erect cock aching. "Can we ignore it?"

"What if it's Mia?"

"Fuck, I don't want her to see-"

"I ain't hard, I will go get it" Ellis looked at him apologetically. "Sorry Hun."

Nick nodded, feeling grouchy. They still hadn't had sex and they had been here for what felt like forever.

He sighed. Oh well, at least it could be worse.

Nick was wrong. It had gotten worse. A quick masturbation session, throwing slightly wrinkled clothes on, and going out to see Rochelle, who was in their living room, was not his ideal way of spending his morning off with Ellis.

"So, I am guessing I interrupted your sex session?' she said, looking at Ellis who was still wandering around in just boxer shorts and Nick's dishevelled appearance.

Ellis blushed a deep red, Nick just remained coolly pokerfaced.

She looked at Ellis. "I will take that as a yes."

"So, what do we owe this visit, Mother Hen" Nick asked.

"Well, I wanted to see your apartment and I knew that you guys were both off today-"

"This is literally the only day we will get to see each other all week and you decide to impede on it. I am on drink service almost all day tomorrow" Nick groaned, not looking forward to his Sunday.

"Boo-hoo Nick, I only feel sorry for Ellis."

Ellis chuckled. "I feel sorry for you Nick."

"At least someone but yourself does" Ro mocked.

"Whatever. How long are you planning on staying?"

"I can leave now if you want. Your apartment is nice."

"Ain't it jus'?" Ellis grinned.

Rochelle ended up staying for lunch, infuriating Nick.

By two it had started raining outside so Ellis had rushed down to the store for black block out curtains in case it stormed again that night.

Ro had decided to stay until Ellis got back. She seemed to be taking a lot of pleasure in how uncomfortable she could make Nick feel.

As soon as Ellis got back inside, however, she started talking to Ellis all over again.

Nick was annoyed. He didn't want to go out cause of the rain, but Ro was just being a bitch now. At least he didn't have to work that night.

At about four Ro left, thanking them for their hospitality.

Nick felt like slapping himself in the face.

That was, until five when the doorbell rang and Nick grudgingly answered it. "Zoey?"

"Nick."

"What are you doing here?"

"Ellis invited me over. I leave in two days, so-"

"Good for you."

She glared at him, but broke into a smile when she saw Ellis. "Hey!"

"Hi Zoey" he smiled. "Nick, I saw Zoey at the shop and told her to come by for dinner, hope that's ok. I forget cause Ro was still here-"

"It's fine. I will get dinner started." He walked into the kitchen and prepared a pasta dish he knew Ellis enjoyed.

He watched Ellis and Zoey talk. It made him jealous. He knew that Ellis had liked her, even if she was with Louis now he was still ridiculously jealous.

"Anyway, so I was actually gonna say you should hang around a little more and get Louis to come out cause next weekend we get Mia. She wants to meet everyone who's our friends."

"Will Rochelle be there?"

"Course. She lives in this building."

"Well, I told Francis that she was here, and he is keen to catch up. I will see if I can get Louis here.

"That would be awesome. Mia is real sweet, y'know. She is jus' lovely."

"Must be the opposite of Nick."

"Hmm… sometimes…"

Nick put the pasta dish in the oven.

"But I think Nick is a beautiful person, so I can't really agree with you on that point."

Nick smiled. Ellis was so unapologetically Ellis. He walked over and sat next to Ellis. Zoey didn't say anything else, which even Ellis thought was rude.

Nick just took to being a pest and making out with Ellis every now and again just to make Zoey uncomfortable.

"When's dinner ready?" Ellis asked.

"About ten minutes."

He couldn't believe Zoey just hadn't left. Did he have to start fucking Ellis to get her to leave early? She must have been really keen for food.

After five minutes he checked on the food. Still Zoey said nothing. Hopefully Louis and her would just stay out west.

He plated the meals with a small salad and took a plate for both Ellis and Zoey. He ate standing in the kitchen and when he finished he went straight to bed, not even bothering with anything else.

Zoey looked at Ellis. "Does he always go to bed so early?"

"Nah, not usually til like, two thirty in the morning. Cause of his job. He works at the bar."

She nodded.

"He is probably jus' tired cause he has worked late all week and he does the lunch shift tomorrow. At least I will see him proper in the afternoon. Lunch shift is ten til six Sundays."

"You… really mustn't get to see him much. Sorry for imposing on your time. I was under the impression that Nick didn't work."

"Aw, yeah, Nick works. Real dedicated to, y'know. Gotta get Mia nice things I guess" he chuckled.

"I would like to meet Mia properly. I will get Louis to come out here for the weekend. Then I can set Rochelle and Francis up."

Ellis chuckled. "Sounds a plan."

She looked at him. "I don't… wanna make things… awkward… but when we first met, did you like me?"

"I did. I thought you were like an angel. Nick teased me about it. Now I know why."

She chuckled. "I thought you were nice. But I was already seeing Louis. He thought you were cool."

Ellis grinned. "Really?"

She nodded. "He kept saying that we should have kept you with us, but Francis wanted Rochelle. None of us wanted Nick."

"I woulda stayed with him anyway. I never knew I could love someone so much."

"I am happy for you. I never thought that… Nick would take you… or love seriously. But I was wrong." She looked at the time. "You will have to thank him for dinner. I have to go now, but thanks. It was nice to catch up."

"Likewise Zoey. Guess I will see you next week."

"We'll be there."

"Lookin' forward to it."

"Bye Ellis." She walked out of the door.

Ellis walked into the bedroom. "Nick?"

Nick was already deep in sleep. He had looked exhausted, but working late nights and PTSD didn't help. He kissed Nick's forehead, undressed to his underwear and cuddled close.

"I love you Nick."