Just Good Friends?

Chapter 33 - Orders

Cal

"Why didn't you say anything?!" Bex laid in to Nate as soon as we got back, and she saw him sitting with Joe in the den.

"Jeeze, nice to see you too Bex" Nate grumbles.

"You're a f*****g i***t Nate, do you know that!? You could of had an infection and died!" She shouts at him, but leans down and gives him a gently hug so as not to hurt him at all.

"Bit of an exaggeration there sis" Joe smirks at Nate, but I know he was terrified earlier when Nate collapsed on him in the kitchen.

"No Joe, don't even start with me. Now I've had my orders from Cal and the doctor, to rest, take time and and have a little fun. Cal is going home, he deserves some peace from our mental s**t, and you and Harry are going to check on Mike later. Me and Nate are going to do whatever the f**k we want to do, without anyone having a go at us for not eating and resting ok!?" Joe smiles at Bex, and motions for her to sit with him.

"OK sis, whatever you say. In fact, I'm just waiting for Harry to get back here, and we were going to head to the hospital. He's just gone home to check in on how his Mum is doing, and grab a few things, then he'll be back" Joe pulls Bex in to his side and kisses her head. The bond between them is so strong, nobody will ever come between them.

"Right, I'm off. Ring me if there's any news, otherwise I'll see you tomorrow " I stand and leave before anyone has a chance to say anything. I'm totally exhausted too. As much as I love my friends, I need some time alone to digest everything that has happened.

.....

Nate

"So, what shall we do then Bex? Film, train, walk? What do you fancy doing? We are sitting in the den just listening to music.

"Run" she says without hesitation. "I need to run, but I don't want to go alone today. I know you can't run though, so if I go on the treadmill, you can chill out here for a bit, then we can head down the beach for a walk or something?" I'd do anything for her, I'd even try to run with her if she wanted me to.

"Of course, but I want to be in the gym with you ok. I need to keep an eye" I wink at her and she relaxes.

An hour later, we are in Bex room. She's just finished her run and looks much better for it.

"I'm going to jump in the shower, then we'll head out" she grabs a towel and heads in to her bathroom.

"I'll wait downstairs for you" I stand, and turn towards the door.

"Don't, don't go. I need to know you're here Nate, is that OK?" She looks so vulnerable right now, I just can't refuse her anything. I don't think its a great idea me being here when she's showering, but I can't say no.

"OK, but do me a favour, don't sing" I smirk at her and she throws a shoe at me. I'm only messing with her, she has an amazing voice, and I'd listen to her sing all day. She heads back in to the bathroom and I hear the water run. 5 minutes later Bex comes out of the bathroom with a towel around her. She grabs some underwear from her drawer and goes back in to the bathroom. f**k, she looks hot with just a towel, and a small one at that! Another minute later, and she emerges in her bra and knickers, and searches for some clothes. I can feel myself getting hard, I have to look away, I can't stare at her.

"You ok Nate?" f**k, caught.

"Yep. Fine... f**k Bex, I'm only human, and male. I need to go downstairs and sort myself out. You finish getting dressed and meet me down there ok" I laugh at how frazzled I am, and leave her to it.

.....

Bex

Oops, I totally forgot about Nates feelings for me. We have become such good friends, j just didn't think. I was just doing what I'd always done with Mike before I knew of his feelings for me. Everything was so easy between us, and that's how it felt with Nate. I should of realised it would make him uncomfortable, but I honestly did forget he had feelings for me.

I head downstairs once I'm decent, and go and find Nate.

"Thank god for that" Nate says and chuckles as he sees me come in to the kitchen.

"What?"

"You are fully dressed. You are torture Bex. Let's get out of here" he laughs, grabs my hand and we leave.

......

"Sorry Nate, I made you really uncomfortable back at home didn't I?" We are sitting on the rocks, watching some surfers doing their thing. This is my happy place, at the beach, looking out to sea.

"Nah, don't fret it Bex. But you're hot, and I'm a red blooded male, even if you are one of my best mates" he nudges me with his elbow and laughs.

"Well, I'm sorry anyway. I just don't think sometimes. I guess, I've been around you all for so many years, I feel a bit too comfortable around you" I laugh then too. He's a good guy is Nate. I've known for a while about his feelings for me. Little things he did, or little looks when he thought nobody would see, but I did. I don't usually notice things like that, but with Nate it was different somehow. I saw him almost daily since we were little because of his and Joe's friendship. He was always nice to me, when other boys treated me like an annoying little girl. So I noticed when he started looking at me differently when we were teenagers. I never said anything to anyone, because I didn't want it to come between him and Joe, so I just left things as they were. I'm really glad I did, because he's been a rock to me lately, and we wouldn't of had that if I'd let on that I knew.

We spent a few hours down the beach, just chatting, walking, drawing on stones with other stones, it was lovely to just get away from all the stress.

The house was empty when we got home. Dad was working on some big project, so was late home most nights, and Joe had gone to the hospital. He had messaged the group and said there was no change, but him and Harry were staying with Mike for a bit, then stopping off for food and a few games of pool somewhere.

I went up to my room to have a shower and get changed in to my pj's. I wasn't going anywhere, so wanted comfort. When I came down the stairs, I could hear Nate banging around in the kitchen.

"What are you doing?" I could see the oven on, and pans on the stove.

"Making food for us" Nate looked at me and smiled. "When Mike wakes up, he'll knock us all out if you haven't been eating properly, so I'm doing my bit to save my pretty face from being punched" he opened the oven and got something out. Grabbed 2 plates and started placing food on each of them.

"That smells amazing, what is it?" I walked over to where he was so I could see what he was dishing up for us. " Oh that looks lovely!" Nate had made us chicken fajitas and roasted veggies with a salsa dip. My stomach growled, and I realised then just how hungry I was.

"Eat" he pushed the plate over to me, and placed the veggies and salsa between us. I was only too happy to oblige. Neither of us said anything until our plates were clear of food.

"Nate that was really good. I had no idea you could cook! Does Joe know?" I take the dishes and pop them in the dishwasher.

"Of course he does, he gets me cooking for him all the time. We've known each other for, what, 16 years, and you didn't know I could cook?" He laughs and shakes his head.

"Well, no, you never cook when I'm around, we always order in, or Mia has left something... or I cook" I huff at him.

We head in to the den and settle down on the sofa to watch a film. Nate likes horrors too, so it's an easy find, and we say no more as the film starts.