"I'm fine. Just waiting on my friend from earlier. He'll be here in a few minutes" Liam told Brett. He'd asked if he needed a ride somewhere and Liam felt almost intimidated. Not in the way he did with Theo. This was... different. Theo didn't make him feel uncomfortable.

"Would you mind if I waited with you then? Can't trust that someone won't kidnap a cutie like you"

"Sure" Liam rolled his eyes, but in his best 'customer service' way he could. Which means it was hidden behind his fake smile. He took the opportunity to check if Theo had texted him and saw his last message was about ten minutes ago. He wanted to get away from this guy. Who asks a stranger if they want a lift? Liam thought about it and almost facepalmed. Theo. Theo had given him a ride the first time they met... which was less than a week ago... significantly less... Liam began to question if he was too trusting, when the man moved a little closer to him, almost brushing his shoulder.

"So, Liam, do you like working here? I bet you must meet some interesting people."

"Not really. I mean it's pretty boring. It's a job though and it pays the bills." Liam was being honest. He liked it as far as jobs go, but it wasn't exactly a celebrity hot spot.

"Oh, come on. Nothing interesting? Humor me" Brett insisted. He was weird, but Liam told him about the guest that gave him the free champagne for his twenty-first birthday. He left out some things, obviously.

"Well, you definitely don't look twenty-one... but it's good to know" Brett said with a toothy grin that made Liam feel slightly disturbed. Why the fuck does this weirdo wanna know how old I am? Or anything about me? Before he could ask, he got his answer "now I know that you're legal" he said with a wink. Now Liam decided he would text Theo. He wanted this to be the last thing Brett said to him that night, or ever if he could help it.

Not trying to rush you bc I'm completely grateful

But how long do you think you'll be -L

Pulling in now

Don't worry

I won't let you get kidnapped -T

Liam looks at his messages and looks up for Theo, still not seeing his truck. Why the fuck are people talking about kidnapping me right now?! The beep of Theo's horn sounds before Liam can really think about it and he jumps into the truck and away from the creepy handsome hotel guest.

"See you later then Liam" Brett eyes Theo from the passenger window and smirks knowingly before he says "Bye, Tyler." Theo's head snapped at the man and looked him in the eyes. There was something implicit between them, and Liam didn't understand it, nor did he like it.

"Yeah..." Liam looked between them and back at Theo "uhh... Let's go. It's getting late" and Theo seemed broken out of whatever spell he was under and put his foot on the gas and skidded out of the parking lot. The ride was silent for the most part, mostly just awkward eye-contact (meaning Liam's eyes contacted Theo's stoic demeanor that was focusing way harder on driving than actually necessary).

After a few minutes, Liam couldn't stand it. He had to break the silence "soo... whaaat was that about?" he tried to ask in a way that sounded natural, so he didn't come across nosy or judgmental.

"What was what about?" Theo asked calmly. His voice was calm, but he was gripping the steering wheel like he was desperate. Desperate for the ride and the conversation to be finished. Desperate to get away from the hotel and from Brett.

"Did you... know that guy?" Liam didn't want to be nosy. It was just a character trait he preferred to call 'curious' or 'inquisitive'. Nothing wrong with that. He was concerned for his... fuck it we'll call him a friend. Liam knows too much for them to be considered anything less.

"Did you? To me it looked like you two were the ones who were getting chummy " Theo asked, dodging the question. Mason was better at interrogation. It's a fact. He never let Liam talk to people face-to-face without him and this is exactly why. He was awkward and red-faced every time he was put in a situation where he had to think up anything that wasn't generic.

"No but he was really creepy and stirred some really bizarre things in me" Liam said in one breath, borderline freaking out. Brett was a weirdo, and he was way too comfortable coming onto Liam. Who just comes onto someone so brazenly? With no shame! Liam squinted as again he thought of Theo. He didn't come onto him, but he was way too comfortable stripping down in his house and thinking he wanted sex. It's not the same.

Theo finally looked from the road to his face and smirked "oh yeah? well I could have told you that-"

"NOT THAT" Liam said wide eyes, facepalming.

"I'm sure" Theo turned back to the road laughing at Liam's priceless reaction.

"No! I mean... He's attractive, objectively. I just feel like... I don't know dude" Liam sighed as they turned into his neighborhood. Theo looked at him, deeply concerned now, as to what could have happened in his absence with Brett.

"What is it, Liam? Did he do something?"

Theo pulled in front of Liam's house and when Liam was taking off his seatbelt he finally said, "he just freaks me out is all" and turned to get out of the truck.

Theo grabbed his arm, protectively when he leaned to get out "Freaks you out how? Because of his little comments he was making, or did he do something?" Liam was worried about Theo now because he seemed seriously worried. It made Liam feel like he should be more worried about this person who would be at his hotel for three weeks... at the least.

"Theo, did he do something to you? Was he like... one of your customers? Like that other guy?"

Theo chewed his thumbnail for a minute "Liam, it's a long story and-"

"Come inside. You can stay the night. You don't even have to tell me if you don't want to..."

"Liam it's getting late" Theo protested, but Liam wasn't having it.

"You don't have to say anything, just please... just come in for a bit..." Liam sounded like a kid that was excited for his first sleepover and then faded to a school guidance counselor in just a literal second. Theo couldn't help but put his truck in park and shut it off, following Liam inside the house.

Liam got Theo and himself a couple of beers. He felt like the intensity of the situation called for one. Theo spoke up, but of course it was a diversionary tactic to prolong his story.

"Getting me drunk isn't going to make me want to talk about it more, Liam" Theo laughed but took the beer. Theo didn't drink much but he came to trust Liam enough that he felt comfortable having a beer or two.

"I wasn't trying to get you drunk Theo. I meant what I said. It's none of my business. I just didn't want to be alone tonight" Theo smirked as he took a swallow of his beer and Liam caught what he was thinking.

"Not like that you pervert. God, you're almost as bad as that Brett guy."

Theo stopped laughing and looked at Liam with serious, precautionary eyes as he asked "Liam, what did he say to you?"

Liam just looked down at his beer and took a sip and then he looked at the floor. He didn't want to tell Theo how he kept calling room service and requesting him and the bold way he was talking and flirting with Liam. It was embarrassing. It made him feel embarrassed that he couldn't do anything about it. It wasn't because of his job, but because of his problem. He didn't want to tell Theo about his IED so early into their friendship. It's not the same as a job that you can quit. It's something that stays and never gets better. Not with therapy. Not with medication. Not with hobbies or sleep or distractions. It's always right there. It'll come out when he least expects it to, but it's mostly in his nightmares.

"Liam, I'm sorry. Same rule applies. If you don't want to talk about it, then you don't have to. Just know that you can." Liam unclenched his fists, not realizing they were balled up. He looked at Theo, hoping he didn't already see something to scare him off. Especially if Mason was going to be spending so much time with Corey. He'd need a new friend and Theo seemed like he needed someone too.

"You can tell me too, Theo. Or not tell me. It's whatever." Whaaattt a fuckin idiot. You talk to people ALL the time without sounding like a dunce. Liam was hearing laughter and he didn't even realize he'd been so expressive with his inner monologue. To the point he'd said it out loud.

"Liam, you're not an idiot. I know I can tell you things." Theo stopped laughing and placed on his face a small smile. "There are just some things that I don't want to relive." Theo said with a serious voice, still keeping his small, soft smile. Liam nodded in understanding, but he also felt bad. He definitely didn't want to pressure Theo.

"Do you want to watch a movie and just... not think about it?" Liam offered hoping the subject change would be favorable. He didn't even have to consider it. Theo was on his way to Liam's room where his tv was, ready to get the thoughts of that stressful day out of his head.

"If I stay over, do you have something to fit me that I can sleep in?" Theo asked about five minutes into the movie. Liam didn't have many movies but when Theo said he hadn't seen it, Liam's mind was made up. They were watching 'Now and Then', which was a great movie to get their minds off the night. It was a great American classic. How could Theo have never seen it?!

"I have some pajamas in the second drawer over there that you're welcome to" Liam said as he went through his phone.

"Great. Thanks" Theo rifled through Liam's clothes until he found something that looked like it might fit.

Then he started to leave and change, but Liam stopped him "what are you doing? You're gonna miss the movie. Aaannd you're gonna make me miss it" he said offended. Theo looked at him like he was a child.

"Pause it" he said like it was the dumbest thing he ever had to explain.

Liam scoffed and turned his head dramatically "uhm. absolutely not. 'fraid that's not how this works sir-" Liam turned his head back to the tv and continued smirking cocky "Besides, I've seen what you have to offer, and it isn't worth pausing this movie." Theo, being Theo, couldn't resist at least trying to bother him at this point. He took Liam's words as a challenge. He took his shirt off and pants and quickly put Liam's pajama pants on, leaving the shirt off. When he went to lay on his stomach on the bed, he made a show out of slowly crawling up to the edge of the bed where Liam was, seeing if he was paying attention. Liam was laughing at the movie, not paying attention. Theo scooted closer to Liam's leg until he was up against it, touching it with no subtlety. Liam asked if he was comfortable, but nothing else. Well, if he's not gonna pay attention then fuck it. It's not funny anymore.

When the movie was over, they decided to watch another one that Theo hadn't seen. 'Clueless'. It wasn't a big deal to Theo to have seen it, but Liam was mortified.

"How can you have never seen Clueless? I can forgive 'Now and Then' because it's a forgotten gem but 'Clueless'?! It's like-" Liam tried to equate it to something in movie terms but came up short, so he said the first thing that popped into his head, which in hindsight, was the worst thing ever "-it's like you're not even gay!" Liam felt his face turn red after his absurd comparison, but Theo busted out laughing.

"How in the hell does not seeing a movie revoke my gay card?" Theo laughed even harder. To be honest, it was what Mason had told him. He made Liam buy it when they saw it in the five-dollar bin at Walmart when he'd found out Liam hadn't seen it. They watched it several times since then throughout the years. It was sort of a ritual. When one of them was feeling down, it was something

they'd watch together. It wasn't like it was the best movie ever, but if you haven't seen it, you've been living under a rock. "Ok. If it means that much to you, we'll watch it" Theo said, still trying not to laugh at Liam's shenanigans.

"You're gonna love it! I promise!" Liam had assured him.

Theo fell asleep as soon as the movie started playing. Liam was nostalgic for some of the DVD commercials, so he'd let them play. Plus, he was getting more blankets and pillows for them. He didn't have much in his house, but he did have extra of things like that. All the years of last-minute Christmas gifts from people and 'I didn't know what to get you so here's a blanket' left him with plenty. He could really use furniture, though. He didn't really realize how bare his house was until he stayed over at Theo's and that place was minimal as fuck.

Liam didn't need much, but he should at least have a couch. An air mattress. Something for when people come over... but that was the thing, wasn't it. Liam didn't really have people over. He didn't really want to. Theo was the same way, but he still had a couch. He still had enough space for guests. He said he didn't invite people from work over and that they didn't know where he lived. Did that apply to his... other job? Theo rustled around in his bed. Luckily Liam had a large enough bed for them to share. Liam looked down at Theo's peaceful face and he couldn't help but feel sad for the man. Guilty even.

Just when he starts thinking he's been staring too long, he hears the doorbell and starts freaking out. He hoped it didn't wake Theo. He got a text from Mason a few seconds later letting him know that he was coming over with Corey after his shift was over. Well, that's late. He called Mason in hopes to let Theo sleep longer when he'd seen the noise hadn't disturbed him.

"Mase! What the fuck!" he whisper-screamed.

"What do you mean?"

"Why are you here at ten forty-five at night?"

"Liam, I told you we were coming. Why did you call me and why are you whispering?" Liam made it downstairs and opened the door.

"Theo is upstairs in bed is why I'm whispering, and I called you so that you didn't ring the doorbell again" he said still whisper-screaming.

Mason looked at Liam with a devil-like grin and Liam just shot back "Is everyone having sex on their mind today?!"

"I thought you were straight" Corey said, not helping.

"Wait, is Theo gay?" Mason was a little bit surprised. He doesn't come up on his gaydar, but it makes sense.

"I am" Liam looked at Corey and Mason took the opportunity.

"Liam, welcome to the dark side. It was only a matter of time."

"Mase, no" Liam was too tired and the innuendos were relentless today. "Seriously guys, I just got the message and Theo is asleep and I kinda don't wanna wake him" Liam looked serious and looked pointed at Corey, wondering if he'd even known about Theo's nightmares or even that man

at the hotel.

"Gotcha" Corey nodded. "Well, Mason, we can still have our private party" he said with a wink. Liam tried not to. He could have just kept his mouth shut. He could have just let them go.

"Hey, Corey?" Corey turned back to him, still with a small smile on his face from his back and forth with Mason to the car. "Yeah?" Liam couldn't help it. His mind and mouth were betraying him. "Who is Brett?"