While the Sun Shines

16.

When Nick woke up, the world was gently swaying like he was on a boat. It'd been a long time since he'd woken up still a little drunk. After not drinking alcohol for several months it definitely hadn't been smart to go this heavy on the Sambuca—Nick couldn't even remember how many glasses Alex had poured him. 

Alex. 

Nick's eyes shot open. He turned his head to the side, and there Alex was, fast asleep next to him on the bed. Nick vaguely remembered telling Alex to stay because he couldn't go home in the middle of the night, and them stumbling to the bedroom shitfaced drunk. 

Since they were both still dressed, obviously, nothing except sleeping had happened in this room. Even if the bed was rather small for two people. And even if Nick would've been fine with a little more making out. 

Nick carefully reached over Alex and grabbed his phone from the nightstand. It was only eight thirty, thank God. Nick guessed neither of them had thought of setting an alarm clock despite having a class and a flight to catch. 

Fuck, eight thirty also meant Blake was probably awake by now. If he was lurking around in the apartment he'd see Alex and it wouldn't take a genius to understand the guy slept in Nick's room. With Alex being gay as the day was long, that wasn't suspicious at all. Nick swore under his breath. 

Beside him, Alex stirred. He let out a groan but kept eyes squeezed shut. "What are you so pissed about this early?"

Nick resisted the urge to shush Alex. His eyes shot to the door. He heard nobody on the other side, but if Blake heard voices in here... 

"Nothing, it's fine," Nick replied quietly. "Can I get you anything? Some breakfast?" 

Alex cracked one eye open and chuckled. He matched Nick's low tone and whispered, "As long as it doesn't involve more Sambuca. God. My head." 

"And one painkiller on the side to go with breakfast," Nick joked as he scooted over to the edge of the bed and carefully got to his feet. He was still a little wobbly. 

"Make that two painkillers," Alex called after Nick as he walked to the door. 

Nick cringed at the volume of Alex' voice, but he couldn't exactly tell Alex to quiet down without sounding rude. Nick halted for a moment at the door and listened. When he still didn't hear movement on the other side, he opened the door just a crack, peeked into the hallway, and then stepped outside. 

Blake was definitely home. Nick smelled sizzling bacon, and lounge music played in the living room. Nick stalled the confrontation with Blake by brushing his teeth and drinking some water in the bathroom first. Then he cast his eyes up to the ceiling, let out a deep sigh, and trudged onwards. 

The moment he walked into the living room, Nick found himself immediately eye to eye with Blake. 

"Nick!" Blake greeted him with a wide grin. His eyes sparkled mischievously. "Good morning and... congratulations." 

"Congratulations?" Nick blurted. The regret was instance as Blake's grin only widened. 

"Oh come on, you thought I didn't hear you two last night? You were stomping and stumbling around like you were wearing heels for the first time. I would've been pissed at being rudely woken up like that any other day. But, you know, Lara's like a friend of mine, I guess. So I made her some breakfast." 

Blake tried to step past Nick into the hall, but Nick quickly blocked the path and held up his hands. "Where are you going?" he asked. 

Blake arched an eyebrow at Nick's strange behaviour. "To Lara?"