inkspresso

jack? are you okay?

Zach hides the big parcel in his garage. Jack could not know about this. It was his birthday gift. The big day was approaching. Jack was doing the afternoon shift, so it was incredibly convenient that the package had come when Jack was out.

He hears his doorbell ring. Zach rushes to get the door. He smiles when he sees Daniel and Jonah. "Hey guys! Come in. Make yourselves at home."

They give him a short hug. Behind Jonah was Corbyn. Zach pauses. "Yes, can I help you?"

"I'm sorry." He lowers his head. "I want to help. Please." His voice is quiet.

Zach steps to the side and allows him in. "I hope you have thought about what you've done." He mumbles as he closes the door.

The brunet leads them all to the kitchen, where some snacks are spread out on the table. "You can eat whatever you want." He reassures. "It'll help me choose what I should make for Jack's birthday. Sit down."

He grabs a little notebook and a pencil.

The guys sit down, and Daniel is the first to try something. He takes a bite out of spinach and feta spinwheels. He stops moving. All attentions turn to him. He covers his mouth. "Oh my God. I think I'm in heaven." He comments as he pulls the plate closer to him.

Zach chuckles and scribbles down the spinwheels. "I made slutty brownies for you guys to try. They're like one of Jack's favourite desserts I make." He points at the few slices.

Jonah grabs a slice and inspects it. He takes a bite. "Oh wow." He stuffs the rest in his mouth. "Oh wow." He says with a mouthful.

Corbyn looks at the plate with green slices. He grabs one. "What's this?"

"Baked zucchini chips."

The blond shrugs and takes a bite. His eyes widen. He devours the rest."Holy fuck."

Zach scribbles that as well. "Anything you guys want me to make? Isla already asked me for gelatto, Syd asked for pizza sticks, uhm... and Ava for churro poppers." He looks up at them and sees them eating like they've been starved."Uhmm..."

Daniel swallows his food. "How is Jack even daring to eat out when your food exists?" They all point and nod at what he said.

"Are you making his birthday cake?" Jonah questions.

"Kristin is." He smiles.

"I am going to eat until my stomach explodes." Daniel groans.

"Pigs in a blanket. Please." Corbyn requests.

Zach nods and writes it down. "Garlic bread, mozzarella sticks too?"

They nod vigorously.

"Should I invite anyone else? Or just you guys and his family?"

"Actually," Daniel speaks up, "uninvite Jack, so we're left with more food. He can get this every day, we don't."

They all chuckle.

"Just us." Jonah answers him.

Zach nods. "It's like really important that Jack doesn't know about this party. His mom will be distracting him until I get everything done."

"Let us help." Corbyn speaks up. "He's our friend. It's the least we can do." They all nod in agreement.

"Will the party be here?"

Zach nods. "We were thinking about my backyard." He confesses. "It's big, I can like mow -"

"I'll do that." Daniel offers. "In exchange for more of these." He points at the food.