D&B5

15

After packing everything up, Salmon came down to play in the living room with Day and Brick. However, due to his body needing to adjust to the time difference, Salmon dozed off on the sofa.

"Day, should we take our nephew to bed? He's about to fall asleep," Brick said to Day after noticing Salmon with his eyes closed, bobbing his head. Day leaned forward to take a look before getting up to wake him.

"Salmon, do you want to go sleep on the bed?" Day shook his nephew gently. Salmon opened his eyes slightly.

"Maybe he's feeling sleepy from the sticky rice," Brick joked.

"Come on, let’s get you to bed," Day said, seeing that Salmon looked very tired. He picked him up and carried him to the bedroom, with Brick following to open the door. Day set Salmon down on the bed, and Brick turned on the air conditioner and covered Salmon with a blanket. Salmon fell sound asleep immediately. Day and Brick stood beside his bed for a while before looking at each other.

"Think of it as practice for when you have a kid," Brick said with a smile before both of them left the room.

"Want to wash the car?" Day asked.

"How about we just take it to the car wash instead?" Brick replied.

"It's good to get some exercise and move our bodies a bit," Day teased. Brick pouted at his lover.

"You make it sound like we don't move our bodies at night," Brick quipped playfully. Day chuckled softly.

"Then choose: do you want to work out by helping me wash the car, or do you want me to help you move your body every night instead?" Day teasingly asked back. Brick suddenly jumped up from the sofa.

"Let's wash the car, then! I’ll even get Cotton a bath, too!" Brick said while dragging Day outside the house. Day smiled slightly, thinking that even if they exercised by washing the car today, they would still be moving their bodies tonight. However, he chose not to say anything. Day backed the car out into the driveway, while Brick got the hose and car soap ready. They both began to wash the car, with Cotton wandering around nearby because he wanted to play in the water. Brick playfully sprayed some water at Cotton.

"Are you washing the car by yourselves?" A voice from next door called out, making Brick turn to see who it was, and he smiled.

"Hello, P'Jan! Aren't you working today?" Brick greeted back, surprised to see her. Day nodded in greeting, to Jan as well.

"I'm on vacation," Jan replied, smiling. Brick then walked over to the fence to chat with Jan.

"That's great because Salmon is back and asking about Kan. Is Kan coming to your house anytime soon?" Brick asked.

"Ah, I see. I'm not sure. His dad took him out of town, but how long will Salmon be in Thailand?" Jan inquired.

"He should be here for a while. Actually, I..." Brick began to explain that he and Day were preparing to have a baby and that Salmon's mother, Phim, would be a surrogate. That's why Salmon's family came to Thailand. Upon hearing this, Jan expressed her congratulations to both of them.

"It's best to wait until the embryo is implanted and you're sure it took before planning a celebration," Brick said with a smile.

"You seem so happy whenever you talk about this," Jan commented teasingly.

"Yeah, I never thought I would be able to raise a child. But after spending time with my nephews, I’m starting to really want my own," Brick replied humorously before Jan asked about Salmon again. Brick told her that Salmon was still asleep.

"I'll ask Kan's dad later. Maybe we can arrange for them to meet up with Salmon. I wonder if he'll remember me," Jan said with a smile. They chatted a little more before Jan excused herself to take a delivery, and Brick went back to help Day wash the car.