Luckily, he tuned in just as a game was starting. Not his favorite team, but he didn’t really care. He just needed the distraction. Fuck, this weekend was not going as planned. How had he gone from being injured by a horse ridden by a fake prince to having said prince announce his love for Chad? Life was toofucking weird.
Perhaps he was more drugged up than he thought? Maybe it was yesterday and he was still lying in the road. He glanced around his living room, checking for anything that might appear out of place, but everything seemed real. He patted the sofa cushion next to him. It felt like his sofa. It looked like he was in his own home. Drinking a Coke. Watching a game. Waiting for a fake prince to bring him dinner.
Sure. Everything was normal.
It really irked him that Jeff had made the first move. Yes, Chad liked being in charge. In control. Find a guy, have a fun night. Maybe even a weekend. Then send him on his way. Scratch the itch and get back to life. That was his way. Love was not on his to-do list. Not at all.
But Jeff was really sweet and he didn’t want to hurt him. And now that he knew how Jeff felt about him, he couldn’t just take him to bed and kick him out the next day. But he needed to be truthful with him and let him down gently. Chad could do that. He could make sure Jeff understood. He would just say…maybe he could say that…nope. His mind went blank.
Hmm. Maybe he should call his sister and ask her to help him with the words. She was sensitive and alwayssaid the right thing, while Chad put his foot in his mouth more often than he liked to admit.
Jeff showed up with the food a couple of minutes later, interrupting his internal debate.
He set the bag on the coffee table. “Want to eat in here or the kitchen? They gave us some paper plates,too.”
“I’m kind of watching a soccer game,” Chad said, gesturing to the television. “Mind if we stay here?”
Jeff flashed him a big smile, and Chad tried to ignore the warm feeling spreading in his chest. “Soundsgood. I’ll fix up the plates.”
Chad started to protest, but when he reached for the bag, he groaned at the pain. God, he felt like he’dbeen run over. He wasn’t a man prone to giving into pain. Hell, he couldn’t count the number of times he’d been tackled in football. But shit, his whole body hurt and he could only hope the pain would ebb soon. He groaned again as he leaned back into the sofa. Was this the first sign of getting old? He was going to be thirty on his next birthday.
Jeff shot him a concerned look, but kept silent as he plopped the mashed potatoes and gravy on the plate, then added two pieces of chicken. “Leg and breast?”
Chad nodded.
“Honey or butter or both for your biscuit?”
“Honey.”
In just minutes, Jeff handed a plate and plastic utensils to Chad before making his own plate and settling in at the other end of the sofa. They both dived in.
“Mmm, I always forget how good their chicken is,” Jeff said.
Chad agreed wholeheartedly. “Best around.”
“Hey, where are your pills?”
“Upstairs.”
“I’ll run and get them. It’s time for one of each.”
Before Chad could tell him to stop waiting on him hand and foot, Jeff was running up the stairs. He should have been miffed, but he was actually happy about it. He was too sore to move at the moment.
After Jeff handed him the pills and he washed them down with his Coke, Chad finished his meal and set theplate on the coffee table.
“Want more?”
“Nah. I’m stuffed. Thanks. How much do I owe you?”
Jeff looked appalled. “I offered, so you don’t owe me anything.”
Open mouth, insert foot. Chad shook his head. “You’re right. Sorry. I didn’t mean to offend. Just feeling a little…off-kilter I guess.”
Jeff smiled. “It’s okay. I understand. You’re not feeling well, you’re on meds, and then I throw some crazy shit at you, too.”
Chad laughed. “Yeah. Um, about that crazy shit…look, I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but love just isn’t in the cards for me, Jeff.”
“Of course, it is.”
Okay. This wouldn’t be as easy as he’d thought. “Jeff, I’m not looking for a relationship. I would love to be friends, though.”
Jeff tilted his head and watched him, a smile playing at his lips. “You’re so cute.”
“What?”
“You’re trying to be nice and not hurt me. I knew you were a good man. But look, this is clearly a shock for you. I’m going to clean up here and help you get ready for bed again, and then I’ll be back tomorrow.”
“Don’t you have to work?”
“I teach, remember? I get weekends off,” he replied with a chuckle.