Counting Minutes | Gay MxM |

12. Cup of Tea

When the sun finally set that day, I started making my way to Jordan. I would be a bit early this time, but I hoped it was all right. I congratulated myself for being early since the yard was so wet I had to be careful not to leave any footprints. It was hard to climb up on the trellis since it was wet, and the tilted roof was basically a deathtrap. The tiles were so slippery I was getting really worried. Getting to the other end was one thing, but next I had to run and jump.

I stopped to stare at the balcony that was so really close, but so, so far away. It was hard enough to run on the roof without making loud sounds, but now...

I took a deep breath and a couple of steps back, getting ready to sprint. I had to see Jordan, so I had no choice but to try. I tried not to think about failure, which meant broken bones, which meant I would never again see Jordan. I took another deep breath.

And suddenly, a rope dropped down from the balcony. I looked up and saw a hint of midnight-black hair vanishing behind the railing. I almost cheered when I realized Jordan had tied the rope around the railing, and it was long enough for me to use to climb up.

"Nice one," I whispered, walking to the rope, yanking it a couple of times.

It was so easy to climb up this way. When I landed on the other side of the railing, I turned to find Jordan. He was standing next to his painting, giving me a short smile before turning his attention to the canvas. He seemed proud of himself. I checked the door, which was open, but I didn't go to it. Instead, I stepped closer to the wall, to Jordan.

"Thanks. The rope was a brilliant idea," I told him.

"You're welcome," Jordan said like it was nothing. Oh, I knew he only acted like he didn't care.

"So... does this mean you like having me here?" I asked carefully.

His hand stopped for the shortest moment before he continued painting. "I haven't decided yet."

"Really?" I asked, looking at the rope. "Well, at least you don't want me to break my neck."

"Or catch a cold," he said, and when I turned back around, he was looking at me.

I frowned, so he pointed his brush at something behind me. I turned around and saw a big cup of tea on a table next to the door, and a woolen blanket on the backrest of a chair. I gave Jordan a smile and slowly made my way to the table. I touched the blanket lightly, feeling warm already.

I pulled it over my shoulders and grabbed the cup. Tea. Oh, God... when was the last time I had a nice cup of tea?

"Thank you," I told Jordan when I returned to him. "Aren't you getting cold with the door open?"

"I like fresh air. Especially now with all this stuff lying about," he said, pointing at a bunch of paint cans he had open on his table. He was wearing quite a lot of clothes, which was kind of a disappointment since they hid his nice body, but his well-being was more important to me than that.

"Well, if it gets too cold for you–"

"I'll live," Jordan said with a smile, but it faded soon, and he looked down at his palette. "I... I was worried... about you."

"Why?" I chuckled.

"The weather was really bad last night," Jordan said softly. "I couldn't get any sleep. I just kept picturing you... in that storm..."

"I have a good tent," I told him. "I was completely fine."

I decided to leave out the part where I was shivering in my wet, cold clothes. His concern for me was... That was quite something.