Marry Me | NatePat

Chapter Fourteen

"Quite frankly I regret most things that I've done to you in the past. I've been irrational and idiotic, and there's no excuses for what I've done, but please let me take you out for ice cream because it's your birthday and I miss you more than anything in the world right now."

After Nathan had gotten home from Sean's the previous night, he had been wiped about physically as mentally. In other words, he was exhausted and wanted nothing more than to curl up with his beautiful boyfriend on their bed and fall asleep to the sound of each other's breathing.

However, he couldn't do that. Not with unfinished business with Mark, especially not with his birthday being tomorrow. He needed time to plan what he was going to do and couldn't just go to bed now, as much as he wanted to. Unfortunately for him, that wasn't as easy as he wished it would be, because he hadn't even taken to account that it was one in the morning and he had left Matthew alone practically all day.

"Baby?" Nate called out as he opened the door, shutting it behind him quietly despite how loud his voice had been before. The television in the living room was still on, so he walked in and shut it off before noticing Matthew curled up on the couch. He was fast asleep and judging by the pillow, blanket, and bottle of water by his side, he had been planning on staying there for a while. Nate's heart swelled with adoration and sadness at the thought that Matthew had been waiting all this time for him.

Gently, he pulled the blanket off of his boyfriend and moved one arm under his back while he other went under his knees. Nate carefully pulled Matthew close to his chest and began walking upstairs, praying to whatever God that was listening that he wouldn't wake up.

"N-Nathan?" a quiet whisper came from the boy in his arms, making Nate frown a little but still he continued to carry him.

"Hey sweetheart, I'm sorry I woke you up, and I'm sorry I'm home late. I just didn't want you sleeping out on the couch tonight, so I'm bringing you up to bed," he explained, swiftly kissing Matthew's forehead as he entered their bedroom. Nate pulled back the covers before placing his boyfriend under them, pulling them back up and beginning to leave after kissing his forehead once more.

"You're not sleeping yet?" Matthew yawned, a frown growing on his face when he saw Nate shake his head, "okay, then neither am I."

Nate was confused until he saw his boyfriend getting up, sleepily walking over and wrapping his arms around his waist, "baby, you're tired. I'm just gonna be up to plan out my day for later, okay? I'm meeting up with Mark today."

"I know, but I haven't got to see you all day. Could I just stay with you while you plan? I could help," Matthew was looking at Nate with pleading eyes that he knew the boy would never be able to refuse. With a sigh, he nodded and walked downstairs slowly with Matt still clinging to his waist. He went to the kitchen first, grabbing a notepad and pen before returning to the living room for the second time that very early morning.

A tired Matt was waiting on the couch when he saw Nate again, sleepily smiling. He almost looked drunk in the dim lamp light with that dopey smile and droopy eyes, but the gorgeous boy smelled like lavender instead of booze and he curled up against Nate when he had sat back down.

"So, it's Mark's birthday tomorrow," Nate scribbled down, "and I have been a total dick to him for the past year and a half or so. How in the hell am I going to be able to undo the damage that I've done? I know it's not going to all be resolved in a few hours, even a few weeks won't be able to completely fix anything. Hell, it may never be fixed."