A Life with Him [VegasXPete]

CHAPTER 23

PETE

Pete was sat by his desk silently watching as his fiancée packed what was left on top of the bed where they just slept together the night before. Honestly, the thought of having to sleep there all alone once more was enough to stole him from a good night of sleep the night before, but he decided he was going to try his best to not let that show. After all, he knew very well that Vegas wouldn't be able to travel peacefully, knowing that Pete was left behind with his anxiety getting through the roof.

“Did you grab your toothbrush?” Pete asked, trying his best to not sound nervous at all. “You usually forget about those things.”

Vegas opened his mouth for a brief second, like he was about to say something, maybe a protest about his constant forgiveness of such trivial, but important, things when it came to packing, but he quickly closed it down and grabbed the small purse he used to put hygiene items in it. Maybe, it wouldn’t hurt to check again, right?

“It’s here.” He said with a proud smile. “Are you okay, though? I believe it’s the third time you ask me about toothbrushes...”

Pete just sighed deeply and nodded, turning his face away from Vegas’s to stare at the faint smoke coming out of the freshly made hot cup of chamomile tea, his grandma brought a few minutes ago. A couple of seconds after, Pete heard a rustling coming from where Vegas was leaned towards the bed and even shortly, there was a pair of warm arms around his shoulders, hugging Pete from behind.

“Hi.” Vegas said with a playfully smile on his face, squatting on the ground to be at the same height level as Pete. “Can you please tell me what is worrying my fiancée’s mind so much that he won’t stop ask me about all the stuff I packed?”

Pete smiled at that, but kept the silence for a bit longer, watching as Vegas was playing with his hands, tangling their fingers together just to put them apart again.

“Packing is important.” Pete said at last.

“So, you’re telling me that you’ve been sitting all sad and grumpy for the past 30 minutes just because you think that packing is important?” Vegas asked with pure disbelief.

“Yes?”

“Pete...”

“I just...” He sighed deeply again when he realized he was suddenly raising his voice out of the nowhere. “I just want you to have everything you need in Taiwan.”

Vegas blinked a few times, but went with it anyways.

“Okay... but you know that we can stop at some random market to buy whenever we need, right? It’s not like my whole trip it’s going to be cancelled just because I forgot about my toothbrush.”

“I wish it could be.” Pete said in a low tone. “Listen, the issue here is not the fact that I’ll be on my own while you’re there. The issue is what can happen while you’re in Taiwan... what can happen with you, Vegas.”

“I thought we’ve already talked about this.” Vegas said.

“I know...” Pete took one more deep breath and cursed himself to feel that way even when he was trying his best to not feel. “I know we talked about this. I know... I’m sorry, babe.”

Vegas sighed and moved his hands from Pete’s to his face, grabbing Pete gently by the cheeks and making him look directly at Vegas’s eyes.

“You don’t have to apologize to feel worried about this trip.” He started. “I understand the feeling and I would be feeling the same way if you were the one going, but...” Vegas took one hand from Pete’s face and placed it on his bump, stroking gently. “I need the optimistic Pete just one more time, okay? Me and Venice need this Pete right now.”