1. Drake

Chapter one

Drake

(Present Day)

" Y ou ate all my chicken nuggies!"

I bite back a chuckle as I sit in my home office and set up my new laptop. Someone probably shouldn't be this excited about having the option to work at home, but I love my job. Last year, I started working for a travel agency, hoping to get experience in sales after graduating with my marketing degree, but I was shocked to discover just how much I like the work.

"You better replace them."

"Replace what?" I know what, I just want to hear Ash say it.

"My nuggies!" His stomp can be heard from across the small apartment. "We need to go to the store. Now."

Is it weird how adorable I find it that Ash refuses to say chicken nuggets? "Okay," I call out. "Give me a minute to finish this update and we'll head over to Jaymin's Market." Honestly, I'm surprised he realized they were missing so fast; he just got home. Ash isn't the best at remembering to eat a nutritional meal in a timely manner, and frozen chicken nuggets don't scream healthy.

Ashton Canosa, aka Ash, my best friend of sixteen years, is the cutest thing since the creation of teddy bears, or something just as cute. Unfortunately, he's easily distracted, especially when his head is buried in his notebook and drawings.

It's a damn good thing he has me in his life, or I swear he'd starve. Ash is the sweet little book nerd next door, while I'm your classic jock who loves to workout and go to the batting cages. We are complete opposites and shouldn't make any sense as friends, and yet, he's the yin to my yang.

"You ready to go?" I shut off my computer and push away from my desk. I pull my wallet out of my back pocket and open it, making sure my coupon is in there. When I was in the office earlier, someone from the poke bowl joint down the street stopped by and handed out several Buy One Get One Free coupons, probably hoping we'd eat there during our workday.

Lucky for me, it's one of Ash's favorite places, and the easiest way to get him to eat something besides processed nuggets. Ash has no idea that I hid his nuggets in the back of the freezer. I needed an excuse to get him out of the house, because even if the poke restaurant is one of his favorites, Ash would rather stay in if he can help it.

"Come on, Drake."

"Alright, alright. Let's go," I say as I make my way into the living room, where I find Ash pacing by the door. He's already changed out of his work clothes and is wearing a pair of tan workout shorts and a blue tank top with some cat creature on the front. Adorable.

"It's about time."

"Calm down." I chuckle, holding up my hands in fake surrender. "You act like you're going to pass out if you don't get your nuggets."

He rolls his eyes and marches out the front door. Something catches my eye. Ash's phone is sitting on the little table where we place our mail by the door. I snatch it up and take off after him.

We fall into step together. Fortunately, the poke restaurant and Jaymin's Market are close to our place. Ours. I smile. I still need to get used to the idea that Ash is my roommate. After he was having such a hard time rooming with his sister, he finally called it quits when she told him she and her husband were going to try to get pregnant. I was never happy with the way Ash's sister treated him, always telling him to grow up and getting on him about everything. So naturally, I took him out to celebrate when he told me he wanted to move, and I offered my spare room while we were at dinner.

"I can't believe you ate all my nuggies." Ash nudges me playfully, already looking happy again with a sweet smile on his face.

"How about this?" I suggest, tugging my wallet out of my pocket. "I got a coupon today, so why don't I treat you to your favorite place?"

I wave the coupon in front of his face, and he gasps.

"Oh my gosh! Buy one get one free? Are you serious? I never get the good coupons like this. Oh!" Ash pauses, causing me to bump into him.

" Ooof ." He laughs as I grip his shoulders to steady him. "Can we go next door and get frozen yogurt after?" He bounces on his toes.

Bingo. I smile. "We always get so full after poke. Why don't we skip the rice bowls and order the poke salad bowls instead? Then we can save room for frozen yogurt."

Ash does this cute little eager wiggle I adore. I secretly call it his happy dance.

"Deal!" Ash's stomach growls, and we both laugh.

"Actually, now that I think about it, I didn't eat your nuggets. They probably got pushed to the back of the freezer.

"Oh good. That means we can skip the store and go straight to dinner and dessert."

"Sounds good to me—" Ash's ringtone goes off, and his phone vibrates in my hand. I glance down at the lit-up screen.

"What the fuck? Who the hell is Daddy John?" I ask, confused. Ash's dad is named Miguel. So who is this?

Ash squeals, his cheeks turning bright red. "Give me my phone back!"

"Not till you tell me who Daddy John is." It has to be a wrong number. Or some random nickname for a coworker. Right?

Ash opens his mouth to reply, but nothing comes out of his mouth. He kind of just gapes like a little fishy gasping for air.

I feel bad that I embarrassed him, but I don't know why. It's not like I programmed the guy as Daddy in my phone. Ash is quiet as we continue to walk, and I don't like that I made him shut down.

"I'm sorry, Ash. Here." I hand him his phone, just as I see a text message pop up on his screen. From Daddy John. Before I can glance away, I see the pop-up notification display part of the message.

Daddy John: Hey, boy. Please give me a call. I want to make sure you're safe–

Now my curiosity is piqued. Safe? Boy? What is going on? Is Ash in danger? My blood runs cold when the puzzle pieces fall into place. Is Ash seeing someone and do they have some Daddy/boy dynamic or something? And why hasn't he told me?

We arrive at the restaurant, and I hold the door open for him.

Ash looks down at the ground with a bashful look on his face. I don't like it. That face is reserved for the public. Ash is never shy with me.

"Will you order my bowl for me?" he asks, glancing back down at his phone.

I frown. "Sure thing, little one. Why don't you pick out a table and call your friend back? I'm sorry I got a little weird."

It must have been the right thing to say because Ash's head jerks up, causing some of his wavy black hair to fall in his face. He beams over at me, finally making eye contact. A piece of me melts when he aims his pretty eyes my way.

"Thanks, Drake. I promise it isn't anything bad. Just… private."

My stomach sinks. We never used to keep secrets from each other.

Ash throws his arms around my waist, tugging me into a hug. I'm helpless to stop my arms from wrapping around his tiny frame to return the embrace. His familiar blueberry scent surrounds me, even after he skips off to find us a table. My mind wanders back to that night a year ago. The night of Joshua's wedding, when I was this close to confessing everything. The night I finally got to kiss my best friend.

I rub at the sore spot in my chest, but it doesn't soothe the pain. The morning after Joshua's wedding, I woke up next to Ash. We didn't do anything other than make out, and yet it was the hottest, most meaningful thing that has ever happened to me.

But when I saw the pure panic in Ash's eyes, I knew it was a mistake. Ash didn't want me like that. So I gave him an out. I asked him if we kissed. The relief that spread across his face spoke volumes. When he laughed it off and said, ‘ I don't think so. ' I let it go.

It sucks being in love with your best friend.