Chapter 213

"Come on, Baby, you can't stay mad at me forever," Ezra tried to hold Nicholas, but Nicholas slapped his hand away.

Ezra stared helplessly as Nicholas walked around the table and spoke to the ladies who were decorating the place.

They were currently in Sebastian's beach resort, where he and Zeno's wedding would be held the next day. They just wanted to make sure everything was in order.

Sebastian and Zeno wanted a beach wedding, something simple but still screamed money.

Ezra looked around the whole place and was impressed. Sebastian's resort was long completed, the beach was well organised, and the sunset hit the horizon. Everything seemed perfect, except his relationship. 

He sighed and walked over to Nicholas, who was busy arranging flowers on the vase on top of a round table. 

"Bro, we need to talk," Ezra grabbed Nicholas's wrist and turned him around to face him.

"What? Bro?" Nicholas asked in disbelief and anger.

"Excuse us a bit, ladies," Ezra winked at the girls around the table.

With a nod and a smile, the girls left, leaving them alone.

"Let go," Nicholas huffed. 

Ezra shook his head, "No, bro. It's been two days, and I miss you." He stepped closer, wrapping his arms around Nicholas's waist.

Nicholas scoffed, "Missing? Your bro? That's weird. The bro era has been activated, bro. Now, get your hands off me," He tried to move out of Ezra's grasp, but it only tightened around him

Ezra kissed Nicholas's shoulder, "That's exciting... in love with my brother has a forbidden note to it, don't you think, bro?" His hand slid down Nicholas's body, cupping him between the legs.

Nicholas gummed his lips together to stop himself from making a sound, "You're dirty-minded, Doc," He said in a small voice.

"You and I both," Ezra slowly turned to Nicholas to face him, "You like it, don't you?" He glanced down between Nicholas's legs, smirking. 

Nicholas stared into Ezra's brown eyes and sighed, "I hate you. Why did you agree to trick me?" He slapped Ezra's cheek playfully. 

Ezra turned serious, "I'm sorry, it was just a harmless prank, I never knew it could threaten my relationship," He looked sad, "Were you really not planning to speak to me anymore?" He hugged Nicholas, pulling him closer. 

Nicholas chuckled, "Well, two can play the game, doc. You trick me, I trick you; win-win," He kissed Ezra's cheek, smiling. 

"Ah!" Nicholas gasped as Ezra's hand spanked his ass.

"You really pulled it off," Ezra frowned. "You had me losing my shit." He shook his head in disbelief. 

Nicholas just kept smiling at him, proud of his achievement. 

"You're getting it tonight, trust me. All night," Ezra's voice dropped lower.

Nicholas leaned his face closer as the gentle wind blew around them, the smell of the clean ocean creating a warm atmosphere for them.

"You sure you can go all night?" Nicholas whispered against Ezra's lips.

"You know, I can go longer if you'd let me. You're that sweet," Ezra replied in a husky tone.

Nicholas covered the space between their lips, placing a sweet kiss on Ezra's lips.

"Ahem, pardon my intrusion," Pole cleared his throat behind them.

With a frown, Nicholas stepped away from Ezra and looked toward Pole.

"What do you want, Pooh?" He asked.

"It's Pole," Pole corrected.

"Same, same," Nicholas rolled his eyes.

"Calm down, baby. He just wants to inquire something," Ezra faced Pole with a smile. 

"What did you want to ask?" He asked politely. 

"Yeah. The guys have just arrived, and they're not sure which floor has been designated to them, so I just wanted to check with you both," Pole explained calmly.

"Well, for the guys, the second floor. For you, outside... under the ocean," Nicholas replied, narrowing his eyes at Pole.

Pole chuckled, "Thank you, Nick," Pole smiled and walked away. 

"It's Mr. Nicholas to you," Nicholas called after Pole's retreating figure. 

Ezra laughed softly, "Stop being a baby girl, sweetheart..." he kissed Nicholas's cheek, "Your jealousy is hot though, maybe I should hang around Pole more and see more of your jealous side," He whispered. 

Nicholas scoffed, "Try me." He glared at Ezra and walked off.

"Or not," Ezra murmured and followed Nicholas behind. 
***
Late that evening, Sebastian stood in front of his mother with a frown, looking like a kid who was being denied of his favourite candy.

"Do you really have to carry out your traditional stuff with me? Why not just let us be? We'll arrive together at the resort tomorrow morning," He said, looking unhappy.

Mrs. Orion shook her head, "No, Sebastian. It is taboo for a man to sleep with his beloved a night before their marriage, I can't let that happen." She said, her voice stern.

"Hey, Grandma, I'm ready," Ken walked out of the house and walked past his father, stopping beside his grandmother. 

Sebastian blinked to make sure he saw it right.

"Put your bag in the car, Papa," She patted Ken's hair.

Ken nodded and walked around the car to put his bag in the trunk.

Sebastian scoffed quietly, "So, Zeno wasn't enough for you to take away. You decided to take Ken, too?" He questioned, staring at his son, who was happily dropping his bag inside the car.

"That's not true, Dad," Ken said as he walked back to stand in front of Sebastian.

Looking up at his father with a smile, he said, "Papi's leaving, which means the house is going to be boring. So, I chose to go with him, I can't stay," Ken smiled.

Sebastian couldn't believe his ears. His son was abandoning him to go with Zeno. He couldn't even complain because he wanted Zeno to have company with him. Still... he felt abandoned and unloved.

"I'm boring?" Sebastian asked his son. 

Ken nodded without hesitation, "A hundred and one percent, Dad. Sorry, I chose Papi... you would, too," He grinned and stepped back beside his grandmother. 

"Stop calling him Papi," Sebastian sighed.

"Well, he used to be Dad until I heard you call him Papi. So, I'll call him that too," Ken folded his hands on his chest.

Sebastian was about to say something when he heard someone coming out from the house behind him. He immediately turned, ignoring Ken, who seemed to be out for trouble that evening. 

"Hey, babe," Sebastian went and took Zeno's bag from him.

"Hey," Zeno chuckled quietly, "You look sad," He touched Sebastian's face.

Sebastian placed a hand on Zeno's waist as he led him to the car, "Of course I am. You're leaving," He unceremoniously threw the bag inside the car, slamming the door. 

"Mind my car, Sebastian," Mrs. Orion warned.

Zeno laughed, "It's just a night, Seb. I'm seeing you tomorrow," He leaned in to kiss Sebastian's lips, but it never happened. 

"Would you look at the time?" Mrs. Orion suddenly fixed herself between the couple, looking down at her expensive wristwatch. 

Sebastian groaned in frustration, "Really?" He frowned at his mother.

"Come, darling, we've gotta run," She ignored Sebastian behind her and took Zeno's hand.

"In here, Papi. You're sitting with me," Ken pushed the door open from inside the car, flashing Zeno with an adorable smile. 

"Thanks, buddy," Zeno ruffled Ken's hair as he entered the car.

"Bye, son," Mrs. Orion waved at Sebastian as she entered the car.

"Bye, baby, I love you," Zeno blew Sebastian a flying kiss, smiling at his sulking face.

"I love you," Sebastian reluctantly waved at Zeno.

His eyes stared at the car until it drove out of the gate, his life suddenly turning grey and empty.

It was going to be a very long night.

But he'd survive. After tonight, Zeno would be irrevocably his. Only his.
***
"Shit! Guys, we've got a problem," Jasper suddenly slammed his hand on the table.

They were sitting out on the decorated beach that night, having a good time and chatting.

"What?" Ida questioned, his brow raised.

"We forgot to book a room for the boss's cousin," Jasper palmed his face, sighing. 

"Not we... that was your job. To assign rooms," Jeremiah shrugged.

"What's the big issue? Whoever this cousin can can stay anywhere, his cousin owns this place for crying out loud," Pole shipped in.

Jasper shook his head, "You don't get it. You know how high demand this place is, there barely any room free; it's always from booked to booked. I can't possibly ask a customer out and give it to Boss's cousin, fuck," He raked his hair with his fingers.

"Chill guys, this cousin can stay with me in my room. I'm chill," Andre suggested.

"Really?" Jasper asked, his hope surfacing again.

He was already imagining how he was going to look being the only one with an unfinished work tomorrow morning.

"Yeah," Andre shrugged a shoulder.

"Lucky you. Left to me, I'd have let everyone see just how incompetent you are," Jeremiah scoffed.

Jasper gave him a small smile, "What can I say... it isn't left to you, kiddo," He replied.

"Bitch," Jeremiah murmured. 

Ida suddenly chuckled, grabbing everyone's attention, especially Cody who was sitting beside Pole at the round table. 

"Woah, today's a good day, Ida's smiling. What's the deal?" Thomas questioned, smiling widely.

Everyone was curious to know, too, these days, Ida had always worn a straight face, looking as if he didn't want to live anymore. 

His sudden chuckle came as a surprise to them 

Ida shook his head, "Well..." he paused and pointed to Jasper and Jeremiah. 

"It's these two," He smirked. 

Jasper and Jeremiah shared a short glance.

"And?" Jasper questioned.

"What about us?" Jeremiah asked.

"Yeah, Ida, what about them? I'm dying to know already," Thomas shook his legs impatiently under the table. 

Ida glanced around the table, "They both liked the same guy: Zeno. Now, look at them, low-key flirting with each other," he smirked, fixing his gaze at Japser.

"He's not," Jeremiah chuckled, not one bit riled up by the topic.

"I'm not. You guys should catch a break. Nothing is going on between us," Jasper stated.

"Well, that's what I was thinking about," Ida replied, going back to pressing his phone. 

"I'd know if my brother loves someone. For now, I'd just say it's a friendly banter," Thomas defended seriously. 

"I think I support Ida for once. I feel something between them too," Pole added.

Ida chuckled, "You'd feel anything with anyone, Pole... even with a Pole," Ida stood from his chair, ignoring Pole's offended glance.

"No pressure. I'm just saying, I think you guys look cute together. Don't get together because we said so, get together because you both wanted to. Y'all know my story. Goodnight, guys," He turned and walked toward the resort.

Cody bit his lip hard as he heard Ida's words; he felt it right in his soul. 

Was he responsible for making Ida the way he was becoming? No.

They both chose this path for themselves, so they had to find a way to live with it.

"What's his story?" Pole questioned. 

"It's a long one," Thomas replied.

"Goodnight, guys," Japser left the table, too.

Staying longer would be weird with the kind of atmosphere Ida left between him and Jeremiah.