Don't Love Me, I'm Straight

Chapter 21

A/N: The image above does not belong to me. It belongs to the person who uploaded it on the internet.

Up's POV

"I'm sorry, Joss," I said. "I shouldn't be teasing you like this. Please forgive me for trying to get rid of my sorrows by flirting with you."

"That's okay," he said in a tight voice.  "As long as we understand each other."

"By the way, I'm fine with just resting on this couch instead of on your bed," I said. "It's spacious enough for me to rest on."

"Alright," said Joss. "But I really think that you should have something to eat. It just might improve your mood or give you some energy."

'Very well, then," I said. "Joss, I really appreciate the way you care for me. I really do."

"No worries," he said as he walked towards his refrigerator to take out whatever ingredients he needed for whatever it was that he was preparing for me.

"I mean it," I said, "I will make it up to you somehow."

"Don't worry about it, Up," he said. "Why don't you turn the TV on and see if there's anything interesting to watch."

"Okay," I said, reaching for the remote that was on the coffee table.

I switched from channel to channel, not really taking in what was on the screen.

The smell of something delicious floated to my nose.

"What are you making, Joss?" I asked, finally starting to feel hungry now.

"Scrambled eggs and ham with melted cheese," he replied.

"Sounds good," I said, "Can't wait."

I turned the TV off and walked over to where he was transferring the scrambled eggs and ham with melted cheese on a platter.

"Would you like a few pieces of toast to go with it?" he asked.

"Yes, please, thanks," I said.

He walked over to his bread bin and took out several slices of bread and placed them inside his toaster oven.

"This won't take long, Up," he said. "Why don't you sit at the table while you wait for the bread to toast. Would you like something hot to drink or something cold like milk or orange juice?"

"I'm feeling childish," I replied. "I would love some cold choco milk in a carton like the ones that we used to drink as kids."

Joss shook his head but smiled and said, "You're in so much luck, because I do keep several tetra packs of them. I have never outgrown that drink myself."

"Yay!" I exclaimed feeling more lighthearted now.

Joss joined me for breakfast because he made enough for two.

"I will help clear the table and wash the dishes," I offered.

"Yeah, like you ever learned how to do such stuff in your life," he smirked at me.

"Of course I know how to do such stuff," I said in an offended tone, grabbing the plates and utensils.

In my hurry, I dropped a fork.

We both bent down at the exact same time to retrieve the fork from the floor.

My hand landed on his.

He lifted his face to look at me at the same time that I looked into his eyes, my hand staying where it was, on top of his.

The air suddenly turned electric. I wouldn't have been surprised if I heard a crackle of lightning.

We both straightened up at the same time, my hand curling around his. He didn't seem inclined to pull away.

He was starting to lower his face toward me when my phone started to ring.

That was when he broke away.

"You better answer that call," he said. "That might be the hospital."

"I don't think so," I said. "I didn't leave my name as Poom's responsible party."

I was torn between answering the call and letting my electric moment with Joss continue.

I let the phone ring several time before I took my phone out of my pocket.

"Hello," I said after swiping my phone screen.

But it was too late, The screen went blank. The call had gone to voicemail.

Joss went over to the kitchen sink to drop the fallen fork in. The electric moment had dissipated.

In a few seconds I heard the notification of a voicemail message.

I tapped on my voicemail.

"Hello, sir, this is Boat. Poom has been discharged. I am taking him home with me to help him to recuperate. When he's strong enough to go back to work I will take him to your place."

The hell you are, was the first thought that entered my mind.  And then I reminded myself that Boat and Poom were 'sweethearts' and I had no right to interfere in their affairs.

"Who called?" Joss asked as he cleared the rest of the plates and utensils from the table.

"Boat," I replied, my mouth making a downward curve without my being aware of it. "He said that Poom has been discharged and that he's taking Poom with him to his house where he will help him to recuperate and then he will take Poom to my place when he is strong enough to go back to work."

Joss stared at me for a few seconds before speaking.

"And are you okay with that?" he asked, looking intently at my face.

I sucked in a lot of air before replying. I told myself it was time to be honest with Joss and with myself.

"No, I'm not," I said, my voice quivering with emotion.

Before I realized what was happening, Joss grabbed my hand and led me out the door of his apartment.

"Where are we going, Joss?" I asked, my heart suddenly galloping like a horse on a racetrack.

"We are going to bring Poom back to where he belongs," Joss replied in a determined voice as he led me to the apartment building parking lot.

"And where does he belong, Joss?" I asked, my voice still a quivering mess.

Joss stopped and turned to face me squarely.

"Right here," he said, poking the left side of my chest.

I stared at him not knowing what to say.

"You think I don't know, Up?" he asked.  "I am a very observant person, you know."

I continued to keep my silence.

"When we get to Boat's place, I will wait in the car, and you go in and sweep Poom off his feet and carry him to the car."

Joss's determined voice gave me the energy I needed to carry out his plan.

When we got close to the village where Boat lived we suddenly realized that we didn't know which of the houses there belonged to Boat.

"Not a problem." Joss said. "We will go from house to house until we find him."

"I'm all in," I said.