Page 80 of Should the Sky Fall

Ellis makes a sound, something between a snort and a chuckle. “Hate to break it to you, but I don’t bat for your team.”

Dawson sputters, his cheeks flaming. He scowls when he can hear Ellis suppressing a laugh. “Ha ha. I meant you, me, and Cal, you dick.”

Ellis gives a rumbling laugh. “Sure. Family dinner. How could I miss that?”

“Is that a yes?”

“Sure. Just text me the place and time.”

“I thought you could just come over. I’ll cook.”

“You’ll cook?” Ellis says incredulously.

“You don’t have to sound so excited,” Dawson grumbles, offended.

“No, that’s not…” He goes quiet for a moment. “I just haven’t had a home-cooked meal in…Christ, almost ten years.”

“What?” Dawson squeaks.

“I don’t cook. Couldn’t even if I had time.”

“What about your girlfriends?”

Ellis makes a choking sound. “Yeah, definitely not.”

Dawson feels bad for him. It only makes him more determined to get him over for dinner.

“It’s settled, then. I’ll cook for us when you get back.”

“I’m a terrible person to cook for. Dairy doesn’t agree with me.”

“That’s an easy fix. There are so many alternatives these days.”

“You really don’t have to—”

“Ellis, just shut up and come for dinner. Please?”

Ellis heaves a sigh. “Alright.”

“That wasn’t so hard, was it?” He hears Ellis’ answering grunt and smiles. “Say Friday, six o’clock? If you’re not too tired.”

“Sounds good.”

“Great. See you then!”

“See you.”

Once he hangs up, the fatigue that’s accumulated throughout the day descends on him, making his eyelids heavy. He rubs his eyes, willing himself to stay awake long enough to take a shower. And then…

Then he’ll go to sleep. Next to Cal. Like he’s done for years. So why does the idea of getting into bed with Cal make him queasy? Is it because he’ll essentially be sleeping next to a stranger? If that’s the case, he has nothing to fret about, because that ‘stranger’ seems safer than Cal ever was.

Kieran’s words ring in his ears. ‘I don’t want you to forget what kind of person he is just because he seems like a harmless puppy now.’

Right. He’d better not forget that.

The bizarreness carries over to the next day. For one, Cal is up before Dawson which happens…never. Second, it’s weird not to see him inhaling a cup of coffee like his life depends on it.

“Well, aren’t you chirpy first thing in the morning,” Dawson comments saltily while trying to drag his ass out of bed.