Since Greg’s next day off wasn’t for three days after our hot jerk-off session, I decided to order Chinese tonight to surprise him when he got home from work.

After I’d almost kissed my best friend, I’d been doing some major thinking about what I really wanted. And so far, the only thing I’d come up was Greg. I wanted him... but I also didn’t want to lose him.

I mean, who knew if a relationship between us could work or not? But... we were best friends, we lived together fine, and we had sexual chemistry. I wasn’t great at math, but that seemed to add up to us being together.

I had everything planned for a nice dinner non-date, including our favorite trivial pursuit game. Even though he got off at two in the morning, Greg still needed downtime for a couple hours before he could sleep as a rule. I figured a little game time and dinner would be perfect. The fact that the lights were dimmed and I was lighting a candle didn’t mean it was all romantic and shit, right?

Besides, if I didn’t plan something, he’d relax by waxing the kitchen floor or something. Greggie was more than a little uptight about keeping things clean around here. He’d always been that way.

I had the food all laid out on our table, with fancy metal domes over the plates to keep the food warm and Greg’s votive lit when the door opened.

“Why’s it so dark in here?”

“Hey, Greg... I thought we could have some mood lighting to relax. I’m in the dining nook.” I turned as Greg stepped into the kitchen from the entrance near the front door.

His eyes blinked in the dim light, but he seemed... happy about it?

“Holy shit, Braden. You did this for me? This is incredible.”

Greg walked over to where I stood, and reached his fist out for our customary bump. But I did a sneak attack. As soon as our fists touched, I grabbed his wrist and yanked him against me where I actually fucking hugged him. He stiffened in my arms at first, then relaxed against me and hugged me back as I spoke into his ear.

“How are you today? Feeling any better?”

Greg pulled back and looked at me cautiously. “I’m okay, and no, I haven’t puked today.”

“Cool, then sit down and see what I have hidden under that dome for you.”

“As you wish,” Greg winked and slid into his chair. I lifted the dome with a flourish, prepared to see him lose his shit when the fragrance of his favorite kung pao chicken and fried rice hit him.

I was expecting a big grin, and maybe another of those awesome hugs. Instead, I watched in shock while Greg jumped up and looked around in a panic before running over to the sink.

He’d barely made it there, before he started puking. I watched in awe as he projectile vomited a gusher right into the sink.

After I realized what was happening though, I quickly put the dome back on the food and rushed over to turn the water. While his puke washed down the drain, Greg stood with his hands braced on the counter, panting and shaking.

Once the sink was clear, I turned off the water and pulled Greg into my arms for a hug. He shuddered against me, his face burrowing into my neck.

“Ah, fuck, G. I’m sorry that set you off. Let’s get you into some looser clothes, and I’ll come make you a cup of tea, okay? We probably have some crackers or some shit too.”

His nose bumped against my collarbone as he nodded his assent. “Okay, but I want you to know that what you did here was brotastic as fuck. I’m sorry my gut ruined it.”

I smiled at his muffled words. “Fuck the bro shit, Greg. Although I am rather brodacious, this is true. No, I did this for my best friend... not my broseph.”

He leaned back and started to pull away, but I finessed it so that I led him from the room with my arm around his waist as we took the shortcut from the kitchen across the entryway to the small hallway where our rooms were.

“I think I can take it from here,” Greg chuckled outside of his room. “I’ll go get some pj pants on, then come meet you on the couch for tea and crackers, okay?”

I nodded. Before I could talk myself out of it, I leaned over and kissed his temple. “Take a shower if you need to, I’ll get everything ready.”

Greg nodded with a bemused expression. He looked every bit as confused by this new shift between us as I was. He went into his room while I rushed back to the kitchen. I’d worry about this shit another time. For now, I wanted to make sure my best friend got the care he needed to feel better.

I got the tea and crackers set up on the coffee table after I’d cleared away all traces of the Chinese food in the dining nook. I had everything ready when Greg came back out. The poor guy looked miserable as hell.

I grabbed my Nana’s knitted afghan from the back of the couch and sat down, patting the seat beside me.

Greg looked at me for a second, then dropped down next to me, curling his legs up beneath him. Without thinking about it too hard, I pulled him against my side and reached out for his tea.

After he was settled, I covered us both with the blanket, and allowed myself to relax finally as I draped my arm companionably around him for a brolicious cuddle. Greg sipped his tea for a few moments as though gathering his thoughts before he spoke.

“Is this your latent alpha tendencies finally rearing their head? I don’t want to read to much into this.”

I shook my head and tried to joke. “A sphincter says what?”

“What?” Greg looked at me in confusion for half a second until his brain processed my bad joke. “Oh, shit. Seriously, Braden? Dude. 1994 called, they want their joke back.”

“Hey, it’s a classic. And no... it’s not latent alpha whatever the fuck you want to call it. I care about you, remember? You’re like, my bromega and shit.” I laughed when he elbowed me in the ribs with a groan.

“Well. Whatever it is, thanks for dinner, and sorry it made me puke again. This shit is getting old, right?”

“Yeah, it really is,” I agreed. “I’m putting you on blast now, I’ll be making you a doctor appointment tomorrow since you still haven’t called and made one. Your health matters, Greg.”

After a brief hesitation, he shrugged. “You know what? Go for it. Call them and let’s figure this shit out. I’m pissed I missed out on that food you had there. It probably tasted killer. And now you made the tea? I just want to say thank you.”

I tightened my arm around his shoulders and grabbed the remote. “You’re welcome. So... wanna watch another movie?”

Greg snorted. “As long as it has nothing to do with that shit we had on yesterday? Go for it. I mean, the sex was okay but that dialogue was cringe worthy.”

I nodded and looked for a bromantic bromedy. That seemed to be just what the doctor ordered for this little situation. I was glad he’d agreed to let me get him a doctor appointment. That puking he did was legendary, no lie. But I hated to know he was suffering.

I’d deal with all that tomorrow. For tonight, I was gonna cuddle the fuck out him and help us both feel better. I didn’t have to mean anything—nothing but a case of bros being bros.