The Midnight Confession bl

the room~

Steam filled the bathroom, mingling with the soft sound of water droplets hitting the tiles, creating a soothing backdrop that filled the apartment. The bathroom door remained closed, concealing Aiden within. His faint humming barely made it through the door, drowned out by the running shower.

Carter stood in the kitchen, pulling out two small steaks and a bag of frozen vegetables. His mind wasn’t on cooking, though. It kept wandering back to Aiden—the boy he hadn’t seen in years, who was now in his shower.

Aiden had been reluctant to stay with him at first. He’d clearly felt like a burden, hesitant to impose. But Carter knew he needed a place. The area wasn’t cheap, and Aiden didn’t have the money to afford anything on his own. The remaining available rooms were either overpriced or in poor condition. It didn’t help that Aiden had been tricked by a scammer, a rare but unfortunate occurrence in the area.

Still, Carter had managed to convince Aiden to stay, working out a deal that made it easier for Aiden to accept the offer. They agreed to share the apartment like proper roommates—Carter would take care of the rent, while Aiden handled the groceries. Other bills were split evenly. It was a fair arrangement and far cheaper than living alone. More importantly, Carter knew Aiden was safe.

The thought of Aiden being under his roof, close but still a little distant, brought a mix of comfort and confusion. They weren’t sharing a bed or anything, but the mere presence of Aiden stirred something within Carter—a fluttering sensation he tried to ignore. He wasn’t sure what it was. Maybe it was just excitement from seeing an old friend after so long. That had to be it, right?

As the vegetables and meat started to cook, Carter absentmindedly stirred the pot, watching the ingredients blend together into a hearty stew. His hand instinctively reached for a few spices, adding them in with the practiced ease he’d developed from years of cooking for himself. One of his ex-girlfriends had been strict about food—strict enough to almost hit him with a pan once when he suggested instant ramen over cooking a full meal. The memory sent a shiver down his spine. He couldn’t remember why he had dated her; something about her always felt off, and there was a quiet but ever-present sense of danger when they were alone.

His thoughts were interrupted by a pair of arms wrapping around him from behind. He jumped at first, but the panic quickly faded when he realized it was Aiden. There was something calming in Aiden’s touch, even though it had caught him off guard.

“The food smells amazing,” Aiden said softly, his voice warm and a little playful. “I never imagined you were much of a cook.”

Aiden stood beside him now, dressed in yellow checkered pajama pants and an oversized shirt. His damp, messy hair framed his face, and despite the contentment in his eyes, Carter found himself holding back the urge to reach out and run his fingers through it.

Carter blinked, processing Aiden’s compliment before a blush crept across his cheeks. “I’m a great cook, thank you very much!” he huffed, crossing his arms defensively. Aiden laughed softly, clearly amused by Carter’s reaction.

Smiling, Aiden moved to help with the food, carefully lifting the pot from the stove. The scent of the stew made Carter’s stomach growl, but he resisted the urge to serve himself first. Aiden’s laughter still hung in the air, light and teasing, and Carter couldn’t help but feel a warmth spread through him.

“You know I didn’t mean anything by it,” Aiden teased, his eyes glinting with mischief. “I just remember your mom trying to teach you to cook and how you burned the eggs. Every time.”

Carter rolled his eyes but couldn’t suppress a smile. “Yeah, well, things change,” he said, stepping closer. He placed his hands over Aiden’s, guiding him as they spooned the stew into bowls. Aiden glanced at him, a little surprised by the gesture, but didn’t pull away. Carter wanted Aiden to feel comfortable here, to know that this could be his home too.

“I know what you meant,” Carter added softly, his voice turning more serious. He grabbed a couple of spoons, setting them on the table. “But now, we need to settle the most important issue of the night.”

Aiden looked at him curiously, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. “What’s that?”

Carter met his eyes with a smirk. “Who gets the bed—you or me?”