Spud is bogged down by more paperwork for TNA, starting to see double, when he notices his phone is flashing. Sighing, he reaches over and picks it up, bringing it closer... but before he can read it, he realizes he'd improperly filled out a form. Groaning, he pulls it over and begins to correct what he can, thankful for WiteOut. Upon completing that, he pushes the papers aside and lays his head on the table, exhausted. He loves his job but sometimes the red tape and busy work kills him worse than any wrestling match possibly could.

Remembering his phone, he finds it in the mess the table has become and checks the text. A smile immediately crosses his face as he sees it's from Ethan, calling him his #1 tiger for International Tiger Day. "Oh, sir," he murmurs happily. He replies with a quick tweet about what a good friend Ethan is. He yawns and stretches before looking back at his phone when it lights up again.

ethancartertna: rockstarspud wait... no.

Spud stares at the short tweet, trying to figure out the meaning. That Ethan had changed his mind, that he isn't a good friend, that...? Wanting to reply directly to the tweet, he accesses his mobile web and looks over his timeline, frowning. The confounding tweet is missing from his timeline and he grimaces, standing up. "Well, sir, I'm not letting this go." Pocketing his phone, he scoops up other things he'll need to finish his work at the house and peeks in to Dixie's office. Finding her gone, he leaves a note for her before heading for the parking garage where his car waits for him.

Upon arriving at the house, he goes to find Ethan and finds him tanning by the pool. Kicking off his shoes, he joins him and sighs as the warm air tickles against his skin, the bright sun overhead rejuvenating him after so many hours in the office. "Sir."

Peeking an eye open, Ethan glances at him. "Spud." Before he can lay back and resume ignoring everything around him, Spud thrusts his phone in his face and allows him to read the tweet he'd deleted. He grimaces and swats at the phone. "Why do you get tweet alerts sent to your phone?" he huffs. "So ridiculous..."

"For moments like this, I think sir," he says with a sigh. "So which is it? I'm not your #1 tiger... or you're not a good friend?"

Ethan stares at him darkly before grabbing his phone and deleting the text alert, handing it back. "Nothing, I shouldn't have said anything. Just let it go."

Spud bites his lip and closes his eyes, trying to think about how best to respond. Finally getting up, he curls next to Ethan on the chaise lounge. When his presence isn't outright complained about, he relaxes and stares up at the sky, absorbing the silence for a few moments. "You may not think so, but you are a good friend, sir. I understand it's bizarre for you because no one was ever this loyal to you, but... no one's ever given me pep talks or picked me up and carried me when I was injured either, sir. If I ever seem... overenthused, that's why. It's new to me as well and I suppose I overcompensate because I want you to know how much it means to me."

Ethan doesn't say anything, breathing steadily against Spud's side and he worries for a moment that his best friend had slept through his heartfelt explanation... but then Ethan's hand rests on his forehead, brushing his hair back. "I know, Spud." Their eyes lock and he smirks. "Now how about we stop talking and just enjoy this beautiful weather, tiger?"

Spud flushes. "Yessir," he agrees, settling back against Ethan's shoulder and doing just that, his fingers still carding through Spud's hair.