Rage With Benefits

Chapter 36: Never Been Better

cunt ❤️is typing...

cunt ❤️: you never used to complain about it :)

You: wouldn't exactly call 'dirty slut' cute but sure

cunt ❤️: don't act like u didn't like that

You: word

cunt ❤️: so? bagels?

You: thanks but i'm finee, mom made breakfast :*

You: oh wait actually i've been craving coffee takeout

You: but if you can't it's okay

cunt ❤️: iced white?

You: yes please

You: but not too much ice

You: also can you try to get them to slide an extra breadstick? :*

cunt ❤️: mhmk brat

You: shut up

cunt ❤️: :*

Ian decided to spend the next ten minutes scrolling through Twitter before the sound of the doorbell rang the same time he set his phone down the nightstand, confusion easing its way on his face. "Huh," he muttered to himself. "That was fast." Slipping into his slightly oversized sweater, the brunet made his way out of his room, fully expecting to see his boyfriend as he skipped down the stairs.

"Oh, hi sweetie, you're early," he could hear his mother's smile through her voice. "Ian's still in his room, you can wait on the couch."

On his way down, Ian could feel his heart fighting its way out of his ribcage as he could but barely contain the huge grin on his face. He pictured Bryce standing tall by the door, holding two cups of coffee in his hands and his gym bag hanging low from his shoulder.  Ian wondered if Bryce shaved his stubble, or got a haircut, or if he should stop imagining things before it gets weird.

"Hey, I'm just gonna grab a toast then we can get go- oh," the brunet paused in his tracks, startled at his own voice. "You're not Bryce."

"Yeah, I get that a lot," the boy spoke jokingly, tone laced with laughter. "I like your sweater."

"Noah, what are you doing here?" Ian called as he stepped closer to the unexpected visitor. "I mean come in-"

Noah inched away from the door frame, which was when Ian noticed the duffle bag in his hand and the rolling luggage visible from the window of his car. He looked at the boy and was about to open his mouth when Noah spoke.

"I'm not staying for long, I just came by to apologize about not showing up these past few days," he objected. "I just didn't want you to think of me as a jerk who left without saying goodbye."

"You're leaving?" Ian asked, tone upset. "Right now? Don't you wanna grab something to eat? I'm sure Mom won't mind-"

"My flight is an hour," Noah muttered regrettably before Ian could start spiraling into full-charity mode. "I was supposed to be back yesterday but I asked my professor for an extension because you weren't home, and I really wanted to talk so..."

The brunet turned around to inquire about this with his mother, who immediately frowned guiltily upon realization. "Oh my- I'm so sorry," she apologized. "I knew I was forgetting something..."

Noah smiled and told her it was okay, to which Olivia mouthed a soft 'sorry' for the second time. He turned back to Ian as he went on. "So yeah, I just wanted to make sure we're cool before I go."