Darren stepped inside, his eyes darting around the room before settling on Kayden, who lay curled in bed, a blanket resting lazily around his waist.
"Wow. You really look like shit," Darren teased, walking in without formality.
Kayden let out a faint chuckle. "Good to see you too."
"I mean, I thought you were exaggerating. Headache, my ass, you look like you wrestled a fever and lost."
"I didn't think you'd actually come," Kayden admitted, his voice soft.
Darren dropped into the chair beside the bed. Well, you sounded kind of off on the phone. Thought I'd check. I brought some snacks too, not sure if you can eat, but...
"Thanks," Kayden said quietly. He appreciated the gesture, even if his appetite was gone.
He glanced around, eyes briefly resting on the untouched breakfast tray. So your uncle Thad's been playing nurse?
Kayden's face flushed lightly, but he didn't say anything. He simply nodded.
Darren leaned back and gave the room another look. His smirk returned. "Can I say something?"
Kayden raised a brow. "Do you ever ask before saying something?"
Darren ignored the comment. "Your uncle is ridiculously attractive. Is he married?"
"No," Kayden said quickly, not meeting his eyes.
Darren gasped dramatically. So he's single? And that hot? God, whoever ends up with him must have a VIP pass to heaven. He's the full package.
Kayden rolled his eyes and tried to bury himself deeper into the blanket.
"I'm serious," Darren went on. Skin? Glowing. Hair? Thick and perfect. That face? Literal jawline of the century. I swear, I've never seen a man age like that.
"You done?" Kayden asked, voice flat.
"I'm just appreciating beauty," Darren said, laughing. If he weren't your uncle and if I weren't already confused about my own taste, I'd be asking for his number.
"Darren," Kayden warned.
"Alright, alright, calm down," Darren said, raising his hands in mock surrender. No need to get all territorial. I'm just speaking facts.
Kayden turned away and muttered, "You're not even funny."
But in truth, he wasn't entirely annoyed. Because everything Darren said, he had already thought. Hearing someone else confirmed it only made his feelings harder to deny.
Thaddeus wasn't just attractive. He was composed, confident, and untouchable. And Kayden wanted him in every way he knew he shouldn't.
Downstairs, Thaddeus sat on the edge of the couch, tablet resting on his lap. His eyes flicked over the documents he was supposed to be reviewing, but none of the words registered.
He had been trying to stay out of the way, giving Kayden space with his friend, but that didn't stop his ears from tuning in whenever he caught bits of laughter from upstairs. He kept checking the time even though he had nowhere else to be. His mind wasn't on the quarterly figures scrolling across the screen it was upstairs, with Kayden.
But it wasn't the noise that unsettled him.
It was the feeling.
The way Kayden looked at him earlier, the way he grabbed his wrist, sought some kind of silent reassurance, afraid he was upset.
Thaddeus wasn't angry. He didn't even know what he was feeling anymore.
He leaned back slowly, staring at the high ceiling of his mansion, then lowering his gaze to the untouched glass of water on the table in front of him. It wasn't jealousy. That would be ridiculous. Kayden was young. He had friends. He needed people his age.
But still…
A muscle in his jaw tightened.
Back upstairs, Darren's phone kept vibrating on the side table. He ignored it once. Then twice. By the third time, Kayden raised a brow.
"You should pick that," Kayden said, propping himself up on the bed.
Darren sighed and glanced at the screen without touching it. "It's my ex."
Kayden blinked. "Didn't you say you were done with her?"
"I am. I don't even know why she keeps calling me." Darren sat back, folding his arms. It's like she has radar for when I finally get some peace.
Kayden chuckled. That's what you get for dating clingy girls.
Darren turned his head slowly, smirking. Funny. Speaking of dating. I've never seen you talk about any girlfriend. No boyfriend either. You've never mentioned anyone.
Kayden rolled his eyes. Because it's not important.
That sounds like hiding, Darren said, leaning closer. Who are you secretly dating?
Kayden grabbed a pillow and hit him with it lightly. I'm not dating anyone. Mind your business.
Ah, that just made it more suspicious. Someone's hiding something. Darren scooted up on the bed beside him, grinning. Come on, spill it. Is it someone in school? Is someone older? Is it that cute guy from the library?
"Darren," Kayden warned, laughing now. "You are nosy."
And you're not denying it. I knew it. Darren pointed at him like he'd won a bet. You've got a type. I bet he's serious, tall, and maybe rich.
Before Kayden could argue, the door opened.
Thaddeus stepped inside, followed by the doctor carrying a small medical bag. Kayden's eyes immediately found Thaddeus, and something shifted in his expression a quiet warmth, something unspoken.
Thaddeus glanced between the two boys, his gaze pausing on Darren before returning to Kayden.
The doctor smiled politely. "Good afternoon."
"Oh. Sorry," Darren stood quickly, brushing invisible lint from his jeans. I'll get out of the way.
He turned to Kayden and gave him a wink. "Take care of yourself, secret keeper."
Kayden threw a pillow at him, but Darren ducked and grinned all the way to the door.
"Thanks for coming," Kayden said as Darren exited.
Thaddeus watched the interaction quietly, saying nothing until Darren had fully stepped out.
Then, with a softer look, he walked over and gently helped Kayden sit up as the doctor began preparing.
Kayden tried to focus on the doctor's words, but his eyes kept drifting back to Thaddeus, to the quiet way he stood nearby, arms crossed, concern lingering in his eyes like something too heavy to say out loud.
The doctor stood and zipped his bag. "He'll be fine," he said simply. "Just rest, keep him warm, and follow the prescription I left on the table."
Thaddeus nodded. "Medication three times a day?"
"Yes. After meals. If the fever spikes again or he feels worse, call me immediately."
He turned to Kayden with a small smile. "No stress. No late nights. Let your body recover."
Kayden nodded faintly, and the doctor gave Thaddeus one last look before heading out.
After the doctor left, the room fell into a quiet stillness. It was just the two of them now.
Thaddeus picked up the tray of food and moved closer to the bed. "Try to eat a little," he said gently. "You need it before taking your medication."
Kayden sat up slowly. He let Thaddeus feed him a few spoonfuls before reaching for the glass of water beside the bed. As he swallowed the last bit, Thaddeus looked at him.
"You and your friend seem quite close," he said, almost casually.
Kayden nodded, not meeting his eyes. "Yeah… we are."
He didn't push the thought further. He knew if he gave Thaddeus too much room, the conversation would go deeper than he was ready for.
After taking the medicine, Kayden let out a small sigh. Thanks… and I'm sorry, he added. For making you skip work and everything.
Thaddeus shook his head. "It's okay."
Their eyes met. A quiet tension settled between them. Kayden leaned in, almost instinctively, lips parting slightly, but he caught himself. He remembered his promise to act more maturely to slow down. Instead, he pulled Thaddeus into a hug.
Thaddeus didn't resist. His arms wrapped around him with quiet hesitation.
Then his phone rang.
The sound made both of them flinch slightly. Thaddeus reached into his pocket and glanced at the screen. A woman's name lit up.
He stood, adjusting his expression quickly. "Excuse me," he said and stepped out of the room to take the call.
Kayden watched the door slowly close behind him, his curiosity quietly stirring. Who was she?
The conversation was brief, but whatever was said made his tone sharpen, and his movements quickened.
Moments later, he returned to the room.
"I need to head out for a bit," he said, grabbing his watch from the side table.
Something came up. I might be back late, so just make sure you sleep early, alright?
Kayden nodded slowly. "Okay."
Thaddeus offered him a small, reassuring smile before heading out of the room. The sound of the front door closing echoed through the house.
Kayden sat still on the bed, eyes fixed on the door he had just walked through.
He didn't ask questions, but his mind was already spinning.
Who was on the other end of that call?
As the door clicked shut behind Thaddeus, silence settled thickly in the room.
Kayden remained on the bed, his body still but his mind racing. A quiet ache stirred in his chest one he couldn't ignore.
What if Thaddeus is seeing someone?
He had always assumed Thaddeus was single. Not because the man ever said so, but because he had never seen anyone with him. No signs, no lingering perfume, no late-night calls. Nothing.
But that didn't mean it wasn't possible.
The sudden rush, the urgency in his eyes, the name that flashed on the screen, it all unsettled Kayden. His fingers tightened around the edge of the blanket, his heart beginning to thud a little faster.
What if I've been wrong this whole time?
He didn't want to admit how much the thought hurt.
Because if Thaddeus belonged to someone else… then where did that leave him?