“All the same?” Jason gestured at his face. “My sinuses are all fucked up, so imagine the snort of derision I’d have done just then.”
Blake laughed. “Imagined. Derisive and pompous.”
“Good. All the same. Hmph. Then again, you’re a descendant of heathens who dumped perfectly good tea into a harbor, so I shouldn’t be surprised.”
“Nope, not me. My family came over later.”
“Then you have no excuse.”
“Nope, I don’t.” Blake pulled a mug down from the cupboard and handed it to him as the kettle announced it was properly heated. While Jason put his tea together, Blake asked, “Do you need anything else? I can still take you in to be seen if—”
“No, no.” Jason dropped the tea bag into the hot water. “This is great. Thank you. I doubt there’s much to be done anyway—just have to ride it out.”
Blake scowled. “I should reschedule your return flight. You don’t want to be in the air until this thing clears up.”
“Why not? So I don’t infect the other arseholes like someone infected me?”
Blake chuckled. “Well, there’s that. But mostly because flying when your head is congested is miserable.”
Jason’s eyes widened. “Oh. I hadn’t thought of that.”
“Trust me.”
“It wouldn’t be too much trouble, would it? Rescheduling the ticket?”
“Not at all. I’ll make a call tomorrow.”
“Brilliant. Thanks.” Jason paused. “On second thought, maybe we should wait a few days. In case I bounce back in time to take my current flight.”
“It’s up to you. Say the word, and I’ll change the ticket.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you.” Jason’s lips twisted. “You know, I’d wager I got this stupid disease from that fuckwit sitting across from us.”
“Serves you right for making him choke on his drink.”
“I hadn’t realized snark was grounds for biological warfare.”
“Welcome to America.”
Jason laughed, which made him cough a few times. Another deep, rattling cough that made Blake wince. Then he swore, picked up his tea, and muttered, “Fucking hell.” He set the tea down and rubbed his eyes. “I’m sorry about all this. It’s—”
“Don’t you dare apologize for getting sick. It wasn’t exactly something you set out to do.”
“Still. This was supposed to be . . .” Jason’s brow furrowed. His eyes flicked toward Blake. “What was this supposed to be?”
“I don’t know, to be honest. I was going to show you around New York City.”
“And I’m sure you were expecting a bit more from me.” He lifted his cup. “I’m afraid I’ll have to take a sickie.”
“Don’t worry about it. We can kick back and watch movies for all I care.”
“I know, but . . .” Jason’s shoulders dropped. “I feel terrible.”
“Of course you do. You have the flu.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“I know. And really, don’t worry about it. It’s nice having you here, even if we’re not fucking every five minutes.”
Jason met his eyes, skepticism etched across his forehead.
Blake put his cup down and stepped closer. He wrapped his arm around Jason’s waist, but Jason recoiled, putting a hand on his chest to keep them apart.
“You’re going to catch what I have.”
“If I’m going to get it, I’ve already got it.”
Jason held his gaze, then lowered his hand and let himself be pulled into a gentle embrace. He rested his head against Blake’s shoulder. “If you want to go to work instead of burning your holidays like this, it’s fine. I can set myself up in front of the telly.”
“No, it’s all right.” Blake kissed Jason’s forehead. “I’d rather stay here with you.”
“Even when I’m—”
“Yes. Even then.” He smiled, releasing Jason. “If they need me at work, I can sign on remotely and get a few things done, and I might have to take a call now and then. But this is perfectly fine.”
Jason sighed. “Still, I’m sorry. You didn’t bring me all the way across an ocean to make me soup and watch movies.”
Blake smiled. “Well, you did say you spent a week feeding a client chicken soup.”
“Sure, when he was ill. I’m meant to be here as your entertainment, not—”
“You’re not here as my entertainment.”
“You could’ve taken anyone into New York. It didn’t have to be me.” Jason’s eyebrow arched. “Honestly, why am I here?”
“Because . . .” That’s a good question isn’t it? “You wanted to be here, right?”
Jason nodded. “Yes, but that wasn’t my question.”
Blake swallowed. “I didn’t bring you here to perform at my whim.”
Holding his gaze, Jason asked, “Then why did you bring me here?”
Yeah, Blake. Why did you?
He cleared his throat. “You said yourself you sometimes work as an escort, right? For guys who don’t want to be alone.”
“Yeah.”
Blake shrugged. “Maybe that’s all this is. I wanted some company. And even if this isn’t how we both planned it, I’m not complaining.”