Chapter 21

•Robert's POV•

"Is this it?" I ask once I stop the Jeep outside the large farmhouse.

"Yep!" Niveia said and then jumped out of the car.

I get out aswell and slam the door shut‚ deciding to follow her. I see Nathan's bike standing under some tree‚ which is more than enough confirmation that he is here. I still don't know if this is even a good idea coming here. 'What if he doesn't want to see me?'

The house was big yet looked old too. Looked like it has been here for a long while. Niveia mentioned something about this being her family's property which she and Shado took as their own. Even though this was a farmhouse it didn't seem like much farming was happening herein anyway.

We walked up the doorstep and once she pushed the door open‚ she walked inside with me following behind her.

"Hey babe!?" She called out.

"In here!" Someone hollared from another room.

I assumed that must be Shado. 'I mean of course it is. Niveia is her girlfriend. Hello!'

As soon as we walk inside the kitchen‚ I'm greeted by the scent of freshly made waffles. Scrunching my nose a little‚ because of how it reminds me of all the time Nate and I spent time together at waffle world. Shado was seemingly busy standing in the kitchen aswell when we walked in. Tall and rather bulky‚I had to admit.

Long dark hair braided into one whole she wore an all black outsit. A leather jacket and some jeans with a matching top.

"Been wondering what to you so long." She said to Niveia grinning widely but I can notice the affection in her gaze.

As soon as they kissed‚ I looked away. It smells like waffles in here‚ but things honestly couldn't get more awkward than two people kissing infront of me. 'I wonder what time it is.'

"You must be Robert‚" Shado then speaks to me.

I slowly look at her as Niveia went to go sit on the counter. I then nod. "Yes. Nice to meet you…"My tone is kept neutral and wary. I can see that it makes sense why Nathan even hangs around him. Her vibes are exactly like his.

"Don't worry about Nathan. He fell asleep after he got a little drunk." She explains and I can't help but feel relieved when clarified that. Walking to the kitchen island as she opened the waffle maker. "He said you like waffles. Thought you might be hungry since your dinner got ruined…he was slurring the entire time of course but I know that man when he gets serious. So you should eat up. Probably get some sleep too!"

"I'm good. No thanks." I lift my hand up and swallow. I appreciate the gesture‚ but really have no appetite. I just want to see him.

Shado gave me look then just shrugged. "Okay. More for us then…" She then glanced at Niveia‚ "You should show him where is Nate."

"Of course!" Niveia jumped down from the kitchen counter and then walked pass me out of the kitchen. "Come on. This way!" She said.

I nodded and walked after her. The house seemed a lot bigger on the inside‚ but it was also rather easy to find my way around it. I mean I do have a good memory when it comes to these kinds of things.

As soon as we reach the room‚ the door was only slightly left open. Niveia gestured for me to inside and once I did she headed back to the kitchen.

The room was dark when I walked inside. Yet as soon. As I looked inside I saw him. Sprawled out on a bed right next to the window. The blue moonlight illuminating his soft skin. His face looking so calm and innocent.

I can smell the alcohol from where I'm standing. He must've been really drunk.

But now finally seeing him and seeing that he is okay‚ I do feel pretty relieved. I searched all night for him but he's safe and that's all that matters now.

I gently close the door before I slowly walk to the bed. My eyes feel a bit heavy‚ so I sit down and take off my shoes before I lay down next to him. Keeping a small gap between us because I don't want to wake him.

Yet as soon as I laid down‚ he stirs. I stiffen up hoping that didn't wake him‚ instead‚ he turns on his side. Arms suddenly grabbing onto me before pulling me against his chest.

I try move a little‚ but I am caught in a lock. He then buries his nose into my neck and he whispers my name.

"Robert…mmm I missed you so much baby…"

I start grinning to myself. Him saying my name like that while still in his slip is so cute. And the way he's holding me as if a part of him knows it's me‚ just warms my heart even more. I don't hesitate holding him in my embrace aswell as I slowly wrap my arms around his body‚ before slowly shutting my eyes.

A lot of shit happened lately and all that truly helps me pull through is Nathan. I know things will be different now after what happened last night. I just hope I won't lose the man I love after finally finding love.

~~~

Next morning I wake up in an empty bed. Eyes fluttering open to the bright morning sun shining over my face.

Groaning‚ I turn away from the sunlight to light on my side. I huff‚ rubbing my eyes as it takes me awhile to register where I am and fully wake up. But once I do‚ I finally do remember. Yesterday felt like some horrible dream but seeing now that I am laying on a bed inside Niveia and Shado's home‚ I know it was not all a bad dream. It was real.

By the way‚ I don't see Nate.

Afraid I might lose him again‚ I quickly jump up from the bed. Rubbing my eyes again once I stormed out of the door. The first place I went to look for him was the kitchen.

But as soon as I walk in‚ I hear voices and giggles. Finding all three of them seated around the kitchen island‚ having breakfast.

"Look who finally decided to wake up!" Niveia squealed when she saw me. She is very nice and I might like her a bit more and we just met like ten hours ago.

But my focus only stayed in her for a few seconds. Not long after‚ I looked at Nate. He looked at me and smiled faintly before patting a spot next to him after pulling out a chair for me.

"Come have a seat baby." He says‚ not sounding angry at all. Looking relaxed even.

I slowly walk to the table‚ moving in right next to him before I sit on the stool. Before me I had an empty plate but Nathan got it stacked up with waffles in no time. Whip cream and some maple syrup‚ drizzling over them.

"Eh thank you." I say to him before I begin to slowly eat. I do realise now how empty my stomach is feeling. I'm glad it didn't start making strange noises yet‚ because that is not how I would want to start my morning.

The table was much more quieter since I got here. Even Niveia is not talking much and I have a feeling the way she is looking at me is because she's trying to encourage me into talking with him‚ about what she and I talked about yesterday. Being more open with him about my feelings and how I wish he was open with me too.

But I couldn't do that while those to were here‚ so we simply had to wait till we got a room to ourselves.

"So how did you sleep?" Nate asks me‚ killing the silence.

Still stuffing my mouth with food‚ I look at him before I swallow. "I slept fine…" I tell him and then lick my lips off. These waffles taste better than The Waffle House's. 'Did Shado make them?'

Nate cleared his throat before gently placing his hand on my lap. "About yesterday. I'm sorry I left you alone like that…"

I slowly look at him. He is genuinely apologizing‚ I didn't expect him to do it infront of others though. It makes me see how much he has grown too.

"It's okay Nate." I tell him‚ smiling reassuringly before I put my hand on top of his. "I would just like it if we talked about it later on…" I hesitated to continue talking but at the same time this was also something I needed to get off my chest. "I don't blame you for getting upset. Just wish you would stop keeping me at arm length whenever you are upset. I know yesterday was a lot to take in…but I hope it won't change things between us…"

"Of course not…" Nate frowns at me before his hand clasps mine. "And you're right….I will not push you away like that again. Or ever worry you…we will deal with this together and so what if you got swapped? If we never got swapped at birth I don't think I would've met an amazing person like you Robert and I most certainly would never want you to live the life I did.

"As for my shithead parents. Forget about them. Forget about our parents…let's just move on…together."

I start to smile at Nate and for the first time I kiss him while we're not alone. Holding the side of his face before I pull away‚ resting my forehead against his. Smiling against his lips and as I pull away‚ I stare deeply into his eyes. I want to tell him so badly I love him‚ but those are not just words you can throw around. After what happened last night I am glad there is chance that we can recover. I don't want to ruin that now.

"Get a room!" Shado exclaimed dramatically.

Nate and I snicker looking at her before he wraps an arm around me. "You're one to talk!" He pointed out then looked at me‚ "I guess you two never properly met. Shado this here is Robert. Robert that's Shado."

"Nice to meet you." I give her a polite smile then decide to apologize for last night. I didn't want to seem rude‚ "About last night. Sorry I didn't mean to turn down the waffles. I love waffles…I just—"

"It's okay." Shado nods before smoking on what looks like a vape. "You should hang around here more sometime."

I feel relieved now that there are no hard feelings. If these are Nate's friends‚ I don't want to give off a bad impression. He's my Bestfriend and I should get along with anyone he's friends with too. "Really?"

"Yea!" Niveia added‚ before she eats more waffles. "By the way‚ we should probably go on a double date sometime too!"

"Uhg. More dates!" Shado groaned standing up.

Niveia shot a glare at her‚ the two had a really cute dynamic and I already just met them. "Oh shush! You liked our last date."

"That was at a glory hole. You turned my bathroom into a glory hole."

"…So that's why there's a hole in the bathroom wall…" Nathan adds and as if the realisation hit us both‚ we both cringe.

But looking at each other‚ knowing that we did something much more nasty‚ which happened at the mall parking lot we just end up laughing. I don't regret a single minute of it. Might even do it again but maybe next time not in broad daylight!