No Better Version of Me Than When I'm With You

Chapter 12

Chapter Summary: Nick comes over for the evening, and he and Newt have a conversation.

A/N: Just a heads up that this chapter is from Newt's POV!

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"This was a bad idea." Thomas declared as they walked into the grocery store several days after Newt had gotten home. He pushed a cart, and Newt walked beside him.

"Why?" Newt frowned at his best friend, who was chuckling wryly.

"Because it's noon and we haven't eaten lunch yet. I'm hungry. Aren't you? It's always a bad idea to go shopping when you're hungry."

"Then it's a good thing I have enough impulse control for the both of us." Newt chuckled in reply.

"Please," Thomas scoffed, then laughed, "I've seen the things you bring home when you shop by yourself."

"Okay, I got those boxes of cookies one time."

"Mhm. And the bag of chips, and that frozen pizza, and the microwave meals, and-."

"I was planning ahead for low energy days!" Newt defended himself, but he was laughing as much as Thomas was. "Besides, we actually have a list this time." He flourished the messily handwritten grocery list before them as they walked down the produce aisle.

"That's never stopped me before."

"Let's just see how full the cart is when we're done, hm?" Newt nudged him. "Okay, first stop: lettuce."

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Forty five minutes later and with a cart loaded with two weeks worth of groceries, Thomas leaned against the cart's handle and looked over at Newt. "I don't think we did half bad, honestly."

Newt shrugged, "We could've done worse. Surprised we were able to walk past the Doritos without you snagging a bag. They even had your favorite flavor."

"That's 'cause we still have some at home."

"What, no snacks for the road?" Newt remarked sarcastically.

Thomas laughed and shook his head, leaning his forehead against his shoulder. Newt shifted his stance to hold him, and looked down at the crown of his husband's head. "Honestly, if we make it past this check-out without snagging a Twix, I'll be disappointed in you."

Thomas looked up at him without lifting his head, "If you want me to buy you a candy bar, I'll buy you a candy bar."

"No, no." Newt replied loftily, shaking his head. "Only if you want one, but I certainly don't."

"Yes, I'm completely convinced." Thomas deadpanned, and Newt's previously blank face came alive with a grin as he laughed. "That's what I thought." He laughed, poking him in the ribs before moving to grab a Twix and a Crunch Bar from the little shelf above the belt as they began to load their items to be scanned.

On the drive home, Newt looked over at Thomas. "What do you think about Nick coming over for dinner this weekend? Maybe Friday?"

Thomas shrugged, "Sure. I'll ask Brenda if she's free and we can go do something that night."

"If you want. You're always welcome to stay though, y'know."

"I know, but I don't want to interrupt or anything. Being a third wheel is kinda the worst."

"Okay, that's fair. But don't feel like you need to go anywhere." He reassured, needing to make sure Thomas knew he wasn't being pushed out of his home on a Friday night just so he could have his boyfriend over. Not like he hadn't done that in the past. . .but not this time. This time, he just wanted Nick to come over and if possible, the three of them to have a good time hanging out together. They were all friends, right?