Jock Next Bed (BL)-Chapter 241: Sky-Crossed Lover

Chapter 241: Sky-Crossed Lover
Mei, meanwhile, had been listening intently, a smudge of concealer on his neck. "Wait, wait, wait." She held up a hand. "You said, and I quote, ’I wouldn’t love you if you—’ and then you cut yourself off, right?"
He nodded, a desperate hope flickering that she might somehow validate his disastrous attempt.
"So, you never actually said ’I love you,’ did you?" Mei’s gaze was direct, empathetic.
Sky stammered, his face flushing hotter. "Well, no but—"
Mei slowly leaned forward, holding in a snort, a faint smirk playing on her lips. "Babe. First of all... that’s not technically a confession."
Sky froze. "Excuse me?"
"You didn’t say ’I’m in love with you,’ or ’I’ve been thinking about a future with you.’ You just said, ’I wouldn’t love you if...’ right?" She paused, then continued, "I tell Rain I love her because she’s so strong. I tell Henry I love him because he’s so sweet. I tell Noel I love him because he’s so incredibly clueless sometimes, it’s endearing. It’s a common phrase, Sky. Sometimes, people use ’love’ to describe strong positive feelings, not just... romantic ones. I tell you I love you all the time. I don’t even add reasons for it."
Sky stared at her like she’d just called him ugly, his face a mask of wounded pride. "You’re invalidating my trauma."
She laughed, a full, genuine laugh. "So, Chris probably heard ’I wouldn’t love you if you—’ and thought, ’Oh, Sky’s being dramatic again.’ And when you ran off, he was probably just confused. Or amused."
She paused, a thoughtful look on her face. "Though, given the way you both were most likely acting earlier... I’m guessing he’s more than just amused."
Amused? No. He didn’t want Chris to be amused by it, even though it had come out in a very awkward and embarrassing way.
"You think... he didn’t take it seriously?" Sky asked, his voice small, hesitant, utterly unlike his usual confident self. The thought was unbearable. To be misunderstood. To have his deepest, most terrifying feelings shrugged off.
Mei sighed, picking up her phone again, done with concealing the secret. Her unspoken message was clear: this was on him now. "Sky, if you want him to take it seriously, maybe try actually saying ’I love you’ without the dramatic cliffhanger. And maybe don’t run away immediately after."
Sky winced. He had definitely, absolutely, done the exact opposite of that. He suddenly felt a profound, aching dread.
----
Meanwhile, back in the room, Chris had remained seated where he was. He had not moved an inch from that position since Sky had launched himself off his lap.
But what stood out most wasn’t the hickey blooming all around his body or the slight tremble in his fingers.
It was his ears. Bright red. So red they could’ve had their own heartbeat.
He blinked at the ceiling, replaying the moment in his head like a broken record.
He suddenly chuckled to himself, a soft, disbelieving sound. "That idiot," he muttered, looking at the door Sky had taken.
"He loves me." A slow, incredulous smile stretched across his face, a warmth blooming in his chest that had nothing to do with arousal and everything to do with pure, unadulterated joy.
He fell back with a chuckle that slowly curled into a full-on laugh.
He was so screwed.
And he loved it.
There was a knock.
Chris didn’t move from his place. Still smiling like he’d just discovered the meaning of life.
The knock came again.
"I hope I’m not interrupting anything unholy," came Wilson’s unmistakable voice.
Chris chuckled softly and said, "It’s open."
The door creaked as Wilson stepped in — cautiously, like he was expecting to be greeted by a scene straight out of a romance novel. Or maybe an erotica.
What he did see stopped him cold.
Chris. Shirtless. Skin glowing. Hair a lot messy. Love bites boldly trailing his neck like war medals. And that smile. That stupid, dreamy, I’ve-been-kissed-by-God smile.
Wilson froze.
He pointed at Chris accusingly, wide-eyed. "Oh my God."
Chris turned his head lazily. "Hmm?"
"DID. YOU. JUST. GET. TOPPED?!"
Chris blinked. "What—?"
"You," Wilson gasped, pointing harder like an accusing priest. "You look like your mother is going to kill you if I tell her about this. And that smile—what in the heavenly sins is that smile?!"
Chris tilted his head and chuckled.
Wilson backed toward the wall like he was in the presence of something dangerous. "Tell me the truth. Did Sky...? Did Sky—?"
"No!" Chris said quickly, though his laugh didn’t help the denial. "Calm down. Nobody got topped. It was... mutual...ish." He grinned as he leisurely sat up. "What’s up?"
Wilson’s eyes darted across the room. "You disappeared. That’s what’s up."
Chris smiled even wider. "He loves me."
Wilson blinked. "I mean. Yeah? No shit."
Chris didn’t respond. He just kept smiling.
Wilson narrowed his eyes. "Wait. You mean... he said it?"
Chris gave a tiny, lovestruck nod. "Kinda."
Wilson groaned dramatically and slumped onto the bed. "Great. Now you’re useless."
Chris laughed, running a hand through his hair.
"No, seriously," Wilson went on. "You realize I’ve been handling everything? AND NOW, the queen mother called."
Chris raised a brow.
"She said to inform you since you apparently don’t pick your calls anymore that there’ll be a party in two nights. Family-hosted. Fancy. That means suits. That means your presence. And that means all of us are invited."
Chris finally looked at him properly. "All of us?"
Wilson nodded solemnly. "All of us. Including your star-crossed lover and his bunch."
"Or you mean Sky-crossed lover?" Chris wiggled his brows. The stupid smile back to his face.
Wilson rolled his eyes. "Unless you’ve got other lovers I don’t know about. Yes, Sky."
Chris’s smile softened again, dreamy and distant. "Nah. This one loves me."
Wilson looked at him like he’d lost brain cells. "Okay, yeah, we got that part."
Then he stood up, sighed heavily, and mumbled as he walked to the door. He paused by the door. "But hey, Chris."
Chris looked at him.
"That smile... I’m happy for you." Then quickly, "But never smile like that in public. It’s suspicious. You look like a satisfied cult leader."
He left.
Chris laughed to himself again, turning back to the window, hand still on his face, love-struck to the bones.