The BL Nook

Chapter 25: Punch, Drunk, Love

Today, I’m taking Josh on a date.
That’s right. I planned the whole thing.

Lately, I’ve been feeling guilty because Josh always puts 1,000% effort into our relationship. He’s literally the best boyfriend in the world. I know it’s not much compared to everything he brings into my life, but I did my best for him. I have a whole day planned full of activities, and I’m bringing out the charm. Full romance mode. He won’t even know what hit him.

Three months ago, he threw me an amazing birthday party. I want to repay him, not with just sex but with real effort, real love. And later if he wants to repay me by diving into the peach pit, who am I to tell him no. 

I’m standing outside his door now, looking drop-dead gorgeous. I even brought flowers. Super embarrassing… but Josh eats that shit up. I knock instead of storming in. I want this to feel like a real first date.

After tonight, he’ll be falling in love with me all over again.

Knock, Knock, Knock.

I braced myself. He opened the door.

“Babe, why didn’t you just com-“

“I’m here to pick up the sexiest man in the world for our date. That must be you?”

What the fuck am I even saying?! I want to crawl under a rock right now.

Josh laughed. “Damn, flowers? Such a gentleman.”

“You ready to go, m’lady?” I teased.

“After you, good sir,” he grinned.

Before we got in the car, I held out my hand.

“Give me the keys. I’m driving today.”

“For real? Do you even remember how to drive?” he teased back.

Normally, I would’ve said “Shut up and give me the keys,” but today? Today I needed to be smooth. Charming.

“I want you to be my passenger princess.”

Josh laughed and tossed me the keys like he was the happiest man alive. I put on my shades, feeling like a boss, and started the car.

“Don’t crash, okay, honey,” he said.

“Don’t worry. I’ll drive slow,” I said, squeezing his hand and kissing it. “I have precious cargo.”

Josh stared at me, stunned.

“What is with you today? Not that I’m complaining. I’m glowing over here, but you’re… different.”

“Relax, baby. Just enjoy the ride,” I smirked.

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A few weeks ago, we fought.
He wanted to hold hands and kiss in public and I refused.
He cried, telling me I hadn’t made any progress. That I was still closed off about dating him.
He was right.

I realized I either go all in or break up with him.
And breaking up?
That’s not an option.

Today is my choice. Today, I’m all in. No pride. No rational thinking. Just Josh.

First stop: The mall.

Josh loves dressing me up and usually, I hate when he picks my clothes.But today? Today, I told him to pick whatever he wanted.

We walked around the mall holding hands, until he picked a store.
A freaking lingerie store.

Is he out of his damn mind?!

I wanted to refuse, but I swallowed it. I followed him in.
That damn thong must’ve excited him too much. I should’ve never worn it.

The sales lady approached.
Josh, as shameless as ever, said, “We’re looking for something sexy for my boyfriend to wear.”

Blood rushed to my face so fast, I thought I might faint.
Josh chatted with the sales lady like it was nothing while I pretended to browse. Eventually, they called me over.

Josh was holding a catalog, grinning like the devil. He showed me what he picked.
I blacked out. It was a maid costume.

I was in a daze. Before I knew it, they were measuring me, Josh was paying, and we were leaving the store. Josh was bouncing with excitement. Apparently it was something custom made for me.

“Thanks, babe, that was really fun.”

I stared at his satisfied face and thought, I guess it was worth it. Slowly, I slid my hand into his. We walked hand-in-hand out of the mall again. 

Second stop: The movies.

We ordered popcorn, drinks, way too much food, and found our seats. We held hands through most of the movie… and towards the end, I kissed him. Make out session in fruition. I honestly can’t even remember what movie we watched, I was too focused on Josh.

Third stop: Kerry Park.

We grabbed ice cream and plopped down on a bench, watching the Seattle skyline. There were so many people around, but I didn’t care.I kissed him anyway. Strawberry and matcha flavors mixed between us. It was sweet. Perfect. It almost made me forget there were people staring at us fully making out in public.

Fourth stop: The Space Needle.

I remembered how Josh had complained about me coming here with Diana, so I wanted to make a new memory, with him this time. The last time I visited, I imagined us here together on a romantic evening. So I made it real.

The sunset was vivid and breathtaking, casting the perfect glow for the mood I was going for. We sat on a bench, drinks in hand, and watched the sun sink below the skyline. Cue the romantic music.

It felt like the perfect moment to tell him I loved him. So I did.

He kissed me. Deeply, like it was our first kiss all over again.

How is it possible to keep falling harder for him? It doesn’t even make sense. I didn’t want the moment to end, but the sun had set, and it was time for dinner.

Final stop: A fancy rooftop restaurant.

August in Seattle meant perfect dry weather. The rooftop overlooked the city, the Space Needle glowing in the background.

Usually, Josh asks to sit next to me at restaurants and I always say no, it’s awkward for my neck. Tonight, I pulled the chair out for him. I sat beside him.

“Holy shit,” he said, grinning. “You’re sitting next to me?”

“That’s right,” I said, smiling. “I want to be near you.”

His face said it all, his happiness was contagious. So much so, I felt it radiating through me the entire day.

We ate and ordered drinks nonstop, and I could already feel the alcohol creeping in. So could he. We couldn’t keep our hands off each other. I’m pretty sure the server was at least mildly horrified by the public displays of affection but we didn’t care. I didn’t care anymore.

Somehow, I’m getting used to this. It’s becoming second nature to be with him like this, and honestly? I’m loving every second of being Josh’s boyfriend.

The check came, and then my card went with it. While we waited.

“Thank you,” he said. “Today was perfect.”

“It’s the least I could do for the perfect boyfriend,” I said. I leaned in close. “How about we go home and fuck all night?”

Josh smirked. “I’m ready. You deserve a good ass pounding. I can’t wait to stick my tongue in that sweet little hole of yours.”

The way he said it… So filthy and so romantic. It made my heart melt.

I grabbed his face and kissed him. I stuck my tongue down his throat but I was interrupted by some random person speaking behind us.

“What the fuck is going on here?”

The voice behind me was so familiar.

It was fucking Tyler.

The moment our eyes met, everything in me froze. I shoved Josh off me without thinking, my gaze locked on my brother like I’d just seen a ghost. An angry, confused, fire-breathing ghost.

His face…

His face was twisted in a mix of betrayal and rage.

I felt my soul leave my body. Whatever color I had drained from my skin. I must’ve looked like death itself. He stared at us, eyes darting between me and Josh, the warmth and affection we’d been wrapped in moments ago instantly replaced by ice.

The air turned suffocating.

I sobered up in an instant.

My mouth wouldn’t work. Not a single word came. Just silence and panic.

Josh was the first to speak, his voice low. “Tyler…”

He stood slowly, trying to reach out.

But Tyler didn’t want words.

He shoved Josh aside like he was nothing and stormed toward me. His hand grabbed my collar and yanked me out of my chair in one violent motion.

“Are you seducing my friend with your homo sickness?” he roared.

I braced myself for what I knew was coming.

Growing up, Tyler used to beat the living hell out of me. It was one of the reasons I’d always carried a deep resentment toward him. And this moment? It was no different.

His punch came fast, brutal.

The blow slammed into my face, knocking me straight to the floor. I landed hard on my ass, pain shooting up my spine. I already knew a bruise was blooming.

Then I felt it. Warm. Wet.

My nose was running.

I wiped it with the back of my hand. Blood.

A wave of nausea rolled over me.

Around us, gasps rang out. Someone screamed. Chairs scraped violently against the floor as people scrambled to get out of the way. But it all sounded distant, like I was underwater. My brain couldn’t keep up. I was still reeling, trying to process the chaos.

I snapped back into the moment.

Josh was standing over Tyler, his entire body shaking with rage. His fist was clenched, veins bulging across his forearm and neck like he was holding back a tidal wave.

I turned my head and Tyler was on the ground. Unconscious.

Josh leaned down and started hitting him again. Fist after fist. Over and over. He wasn’t stopping.

Panic jolted through me as I scrambled to my feet, heart racing.

Josh was going to kill him.

I grabbed him, pulling with everything I had. Three other people jumped in to help me. Nothing was stopping him. Until I said: 

“Babe, stop! Please! I need you! I’m hurt!“

That snapped him out of it. Tyler was a mess.

Josh turned to me, tears streaming down his cheeks.

“Baby… are you okay?”

I looked around. Everyone was staring. Terrified.

“I’m fine,” I whispered. “How’s your hand?”

Josh didn’t answer. He told the server to bring ice for my injury. Someone came to Tyler’s aid, some girl. Maybe his date but he wasn’t waking up.

The cops were called by the restaurant. We had to stay behind to give our statements. One of them asked if I wanted to press charges against Tyler. After all, he threw the first punch. I said no.

I’d imagined a thousand different ways Tyler might find out, each scenario messier than the last. But not this. Not blood on the floor. Not my blood. And definitely not Tyler being wheeled out on a stretcher.

Josh was pulled aside by the officers for questioning.

Is he going to jail?!

My mind spiraled, thoughts crashing over me like a wave. I couldn’t handle the idea of seeing him in handcuffs. I’d always pictured that in a much different context. Something involving cuffs and a bed, not cops and a booking station.

Somehow, Josh charmed his way out of it. That was his superpower. His infuriating, unfair, beautiful superpower. Usually, it drove me crazy how easily he got away with everything just by being likable. But today?

After hours of questioning, Josh and I finally made it back to his place.

Neither of us said a word.

The silence between us wasn’t awkward, it was heavy. The perfect day we’d started with had been swallowed whole by chaos.

I headed straight for the bathroom.

I hurled my guts out, and cried until I couldn’t breathe. Everything was overflowing out of me. Tyler. My dad. The anxiety. The pain in my face.

It all hit me like a freight train, every emotion crashing down at once. I couldn’t stop it. Couldn’t control it.

Josh stayed by my side through it all. Quiet, steady, there. He took care of me like I was something fragile he refused to let break.

I still couldn’t believe the night had ended this way.

Once I pulled myself together, I got an ice pack and gently pressed it into his bruised, swollen hand.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

He shook his head. “I should be the one saying that. I’m the guy who almost killed someone tonight. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“It’s not your fault either…”

“It was.” His voice cracked. “If only I’d stopped after the first punch. But I couldn’t. I just-” He paused, trying to breathe through it. “Nobody punches Baby into the corner.”

Even at a time like this, he was trying to make me laugh.

He’s surreal. What a fucking beautiful idiot.

I pulled him in and kissed him with everything I had. My heart felt like it was going to burst. It was heavy with pain, but overflowing with love.

And he kissed me back, vomit breath and all. If that’s not love, then I don’t know what it is.

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