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//chapter forty-one • Andrew Cameron
𓅰彡𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐃𝐀𝐘
THE DRIVE TO JJ'S house was never all that long. Not when he left from Barry's, and not when he left from the O'daire's. Andrew would be lying if he said he wasn't a little bit worried. JJ going home was never a good omen. Even though Andrew was pretty sure Luke wouldn't be there. The blond outside when Andrew parked, working on his bike. The brunet spared a glance to the house and noticed the yellow tape that'd been ripped off, and the sign on the door.
"J, is that...?"
"Eviction notice," He answered. "For, like, nonpayment or whatever." Andrew frowns. JJ turned away from his bike, back to the wooden table he had set up, where his tools were. "Doesn't matter," he said with a sigh. "This place sucks anyway. Great to be back in the Outer Banks, right?"
Andrew blinked at his behavior, not really expecting him to be so bitter. Not after their talk on the boat.
"It's... alright. We can figure something out. Still got the chateau, ya know?" Andrew offered, though it felt wrong for him to attempt to the be one to be positive. But he was also stating facts. "Mmm, also, Bailey is making lunch and wants to know if you'll be back, which is fine she just wants to-"
"I think we should take a break."
Andrew Cameron froze.
He stared at JJ. Like, a proper stare, unable to form a coherent thought. His mouth agape, he kept his eyes on the blond who just wouldn't lift his. Andrew inhales sharply. He heard it wrong. Or it's a joke. It's got to be one, that's the only explanation.
His voice came out shaky. "Excuse me?"
It's like he's giving the blond a way out. Surely. Surely, JJ wasn't breaking up with him. He just woke up feeling weird. And then he saw the eviction notice. And now he's... he's panicking. That's all. He's panicking. He does that. Humans do that.
But then JJ started apologizing. And Andrew felt like the earth was opening underneath his feet and he's being swallowed down into the earth.
"I'm sorry," he said, still refusing to look up.
Andrew's mouth opened, but nothing came out. It takes him a moment before he tries again. "I don't... understand. What did I...?"
JJ shakes his head, pacing. "I'm sorry."
This enraged Andrew. He kept repeating it, but it made no sense, "JJ Maybank if you're going to fucking break up with me, at least look at me," Andrew snapped, "And give me a fucking explanation you-"
JJ stopped and turned to him. His own eyes were red with unshed tears, the corner of his mouth inches down and trembled like he was trying to keep words in. "I'm sorry."
