Elliot

11 - Sweatpants

The morning sun streamed through the windows, casting warm rays across the living room where Nate and Elliot had been lounging. Nate was idly flipping through channels, the TV displaying a mix of colorful cartoons and random cooking shows, but his attention was split. The previous night had been unexpectedly enjoyable, and he couldn't shake the feeling of having Elliot around. They were just friends, right? But there was a warmth in their interactions that hinted at something more. Suddenly, Nate's phone buzzed, breaking him from his reverie. It was Alec. He swiped to answer, bracing himself for the usual teasing.

"Nate! Just wanted to let you know I'm still at Mia's," Alec announced, his voice bright and unmistakably teasing even over the phone.

"Great. That means I'll have the place to myself all night," Nate replied, keeping his tone deliberately casual, though relief crept into his voice.

Alec didn't miss a beat. "Wait a second... You got a date or something?"

"No," Nate said quickly, rolling his eyes. He hesitated for a moment before adding, "Elliot stayed over last night. He locked himself out and needs a place to crash until Monday."

There was a beat of silence before Alec's triumphant voice rang through. "Perfect! You know what you need to do, right?"

Nate groaned, feeling his cheeks flush. "Don't start. It's not like that. He's just crashing here—nothing more."

"Uh-huh. 'Just crashing,'" Alec mimicked, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Nate, cozying up with someone you like in your apartment? That's basically the universe handing you a romantic setup on a silver platter."

Nate rubbed the back of his neck, casting a glance toward the kitchen where Elliot was rummaging through his snack cabinet, humming softly to himself. A smile tugged at Nate's lips despite his best efforts. "It's really not a big deal, Alec. We're just... hanging out."

"Sure, sure," Alec said with mock seriousness. "Tell me, are you gonna keep 'just hanging out' until he finds someone else to cozy up with? Or are you finally gonna do something about it?"

"You're impossible," Nate muttered.

"Look, all I'm saying is you'll regret it if you don't try," Alec said, his voice softening just slightly. "Anyway, I'll let you get back to pretending you're not into him. Later!"

"Later," Nate said, ending the call with a sigh.

He looked back at Elliot, who was now grinning as he held up a bag of popcorn triumphantly, his curls bouncing as he moved. Nate's chest tightened at the sight, warmth spreading through him.

Maybe Alec wasn't completely wrong.After hanging up, Nate felt a mix of determination and anxiety, but his thought were interrupted as soon as Elliot appeared infront of him.

"Hey, um, do you mind if I use your shower before we watch that movie?" he asked, his cheeks slightly flushed.

"Why would I mind?" Nate replied, trying to sound casual and went to grab him a towel.

"Sweet! Thanks!" Elliot said, and with that, he disappeared into the bathroom.

Nate busied himself in the kitchen, trying to calm his racing heart. The sound of water running made him acutely aware of what he was doing in there—of water running down Elliots naked frame. As he opened a cabinet to grab a drink, he couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to cross that line and just show some interest.

A few minutes later, the sound of the shower stopped, and Nate's heart skipped a beat. He tried not to imagine it, but the image of Elliot stepping out with damp hair and water trailing down his skin crept unbidden into his mind, sending a spark of nervous energy through him.  When the bathroom door finally opened, it was even more breathtaking than Nate had anticipated. Elliot emerged wrapped in a towel, droplets of water glistening on his skin, catching the light like tiny jewels. His damp hair fell in soft, unruly waves, framing his face with an effortless perfection that made Nate's breath hitch. There was an air of vulnerability and ease about him that was utterly captivating, leaving Nate momentarily spellbound.