Avi hummed a soft tune when he parked his car in front of Scott's house. He was looking forward to an evening with his boyfriend. Since they had been swamped with work for the past week, they were both eager to spend some time with each other.
Once he had parked, he grabbed the snacks he had prepared for them and went up to his doorbell and ringed.
"Just a moment." He smiled when he heard the voice of his boyfriend and it got even brighter when he saw him right in front of him.
"Hello, Love," Avi said softly. "I'm glad to see you." He leaned in and kissed the blonde softly.
"Hey, Avi," Scott said and returned the kiss.
Avi furrowed his brows when he noticed that Scott didn't seem to be as excited to see him. "What's wrong?"
Scott smiled sadly. "It's Mitch. But come in first."
"Okay..." Avi followed his boyfriend inside and faltered when he saw Mitch sitting at the kitchen table. His shoulders were slumped and he had his head in his hands. Avi noticed immediately that he was crying.
"It's okay, Mitchy, I'm back," Scott said and sat down next to him. Mitch didn't really acknowledge the presence of his best friend, he was too lost in his heartache.
Avi wanted to ask Scott why he was that distraught but when he saw Mitch's engagement ring lying on the other side of the table, he had a vague idea. He sighed softly, feeling utterly sorry for the smaller man but unsure of his own presence.
"Scott?" he therefore whispered.
"Hmm?"
"Shall we reschedule? Mitch needs you more right now. I can leave the snacks..." he said, holding up the bag.
Scott looked sad for a split second. "I-"
That's when Mitch finally looked up. He wiped his swollen eyes and cleared his throat. "I should leave," he said raspily. "I didn't know you were coming over Avi. Sorry." He got up and wanted to rush out of the room, but Avi was quick to hold him back.
"Don't leave, Mitch. You need your best friend, hmm?" he said softly and was surprised when Mitch slung his arms around him and sobbed into his flannel shirt. Even though he was overwhelmed he hugged the smaller man and held him tight.
"Promise, Avi. Promise me that you'll never hurt Scott. I... I don't want him to feel this way" Mitch managed to get out in between sobs.
Avi was taken aback. "I... I would never hurt him, Mitch" he said softly."
"Promise!"
"Mitch-" Scott interrupted, but Avi silenced him with a look.
"I promise, Mitch. I promise that I will never hurt Scott intentionally" Avi said with a firm voice, still holding on to the crying man. "What-" he wanted to ask but bit his tongue.
"Cheated on me," Mitch said. He wound himself out of Avi's arms and wiped his tears away. "For three months he has had this affair" he continued and then snorted. "And has the audacity to plan our fucking wedding. Today I came home earlier and found them in the hot tub. Which I had installed to celebrate our anniversary and engagement."
"Oh." Avi didn't know what to say. "I didn't expect this..."
"Well, neither did I," Mitch said. "I... just don't understand why he did this."
Avi sighed. "I can say from my own experience that you will never understand him. So don't question it. I asked myself the same question when she cheated on me, but that led me to think I was at fault."
Mitch slung his arms around his torso as if he was trying to comfort himself. "I... he always told me I worked too much."
"Still, he cheated, not you," Avi said. He sighed softly when he looked at Mitch who just shrugged his shoulders. "Why don't I make us some tea?"
Mitch shrugged his shoulders again. "But your date night."
Avi smiled. "Not as important as you right now."
"Thank you. I'll have to go to the bathroom real quick..." Mitch left quickly and Scott sighed when he heard him sob.
"Make that two mugs, for now, he'll need a while," Scott said.
"Don't you want to see about him?" Avi asked while he turned on the electric kettle.
"No" Scott replied. "He wants to be alone."
"But-" Avi wanted to return when Scott silenced him with a soft kiss.
"This is not his first heartbreak, Avi, I know that he needs space. He'll come back downstairs once he's ready" Scott said. "And if he doesn't come until we've finished our tea, I'll go upstairs."
Avi nodded reluctantly. "Okay..."
While they were drinking their tea, the two men chatted quietly about work and whatever had happened during the week.
"So..." Avi said and emptied his mug. "I think I should leave. I don't want Mitch to think that he's interrupting our evening. Unless you need anything? How about dinner?"
"We're good." Scott sighed. "I don't want you to leave, Maybe we all can spend the evening together?"
"But Mitch" Avi said. "He'll need comfort."
Scott shook his head. "He needs a distraction. Games, movies, whatever. Please stay. I know it's selfish but I missed you and I can't wait to cuddle up with you..."
Avi smiled. "If it's okay with Mitch..."
Scott emptied his mug and put it in the sink. "I'll go and ask him."
~
Fifteen minutes later, Scott came back downstairs. "He's coming in a few," he said to Avi, who was sitting on the sofa with a book. "He originally wanted to stay in the guest room, but I told him you didn't mind a movie night with both of us."
Avi smiled. "I don't," he said and got up. "I'll get out the snacks."
"Good. Any ideas for movies that are not romantic, but still easy?"
"Fantasy or something animated," Avi said. "We'll figure something out.
Mitch came downstairs ten minutes later, wearing yoga pants and an oversized sweater. Scott's sweater. "Hey..." he said softly.
Scott smiled. "Hey, Mitch. I'll be with you in a moment, I'm just going to the bathroom."
Avi, who was just pouring three fresh mugs of tea turned around and smiled as well. "Hey, Mitch. Scott and I thought about watching How to Tame Your Dragon."
"Good idea," Mitch said. He went into the living room and looked at the snacks on the table. "That's a lot."
Avi chuckled. "Yeah," he said when he joined Mitch in the living room. "You know how Scott is with snacks."
Mitch nodded. "I know," he said and looked around.
"Are you missing something?" Avi asked. "Something else to drink? I thought we could have some tea, but I'm sure that Scott has wine in the fridge."
"No, no alcohol. But... do you know if he has some ice-cream?"
Avi chuckled. "Probably. You sit down and I'll get it" he said.
Mitch nodded and sat down. To distract himself, he turned on the TV and searched for the movie.
Scott came back a moment later and sat down in the middle of the sofa, right next to his best friend. "Where's Avi?"
"Right here."
Scott looked around and chuckled when he saw Avi carrying three bowls of ice cream. "I should've known," he commented when Avi handed Mitch his bowl.
Mitch shrugged his shoulders and took a spoonful. "Thank you," he said once his mouth was empty again.
"You're welcome," Avi said.
Scott looked at both men. "Movie?"
They nodded and Scott started the film.
Fifteen minutes into the movie, Mitch had finished his ice cream, set down the bowl and drank from his tea. Then he looked at Scott, unsure.
The blonde noticed that and smiled at his best friend. "C'mere."
Mitch looked at Avi, who just smiled and nodded, then he cuddled up against his best friend.
Scott looked at the bearded man and smiled. "You too?"
Avi hesitated a moment but then he lay down with his head in Scott's lap, sighing softly when he felt Scott's free hand in his hair. "Mmhm..." he hummed softly and closed his eyes momentarily, only looking up when he heard a soft chuckle coming from Mitch.
"Hmm?" he hummed questioningly.
"This should be so awkward right now," Mitch said. "Me cuddling with my best friend and his boyfriend. But it feels good."
Avi smiled up at him. "Same."
~~~~