6

"So, what do you do when you're not teaching?" Darnell asked, making Jared raise a brow at him. "I mean, you must have things you like to do, right?" Darnell asked, still getting silence from Jared.

"Come on, don't be boring," he said, pouting before resting back on the sofa. "Let's talk," he insisted, taking his hands from under his shirt before folding them over his chest. Jared could feel a smile tugging at the corner of his lip. He laughed, covering his mouth with his hand to stop himself. Darnell was just adorable and hilarious.

"I like collecting china cups if you want to see—"

"I said don't be boring," Darnell said with a dramatic sigh, startling Jared. He didn't know if he should feel offended or not. Was Darnell insulting him?

"I'm just teasing you," Darnell said after a while, probably noticing how quiet Jared had gone. "I'm sorry," he properly apologized, making Jared sigh as he held his hands together. It was a little embarrassing to have Darnell realize how sensitive he was in real time. He couldn't take jokes because half the time when people made snide comments like that regarding his hobbies, tastes, and looks, they weren't joking. They were just being cruel.

Jared opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. He bit down on his bottom lip, looking from Darnell who was giving him a worried look to the work he had in front of him.

That had gone South really fast.

He worked, trying not to think much about it, but be looked up in surprise when he heard someone settling down beside him on the sofa.

"Sorry," Darnell said, wrapping his hands around Jared's shoulders and burying his head in the man's shoulder. "I didn't mean it," he insisted, making Jared sigh before dropping his pen and easing into the hug. Darnell hummed, kissing his cheek before burying his head in his shoulder again.

"I'm just stupid. I can't tell what's a china cup and what isn't," Darnell explained, removing his head from Jared's shoulder. he two stared at each other, Darnell reached out to take Jared's hand before giving it a squeeze. "What about music? You sing very well," Darnell said, changing the topic. Jared's face warmed up. He didn't think he sang well. He had an interest in music, but his stage fright and anxiety around people made him not to sing much in front of other people. So, he had no idea how he sounded.

"Hmm?" Darnell asked, raising a brow as he waited for Jared to say something.

"Yeah, I have some collections from back in the day—" Jared started but paused. "Are you too young for videotapes?" Jared asked, making Darnell roll his eyes. Jared laughed, amused by the young man's reaction.

"I know songs from as far back as the 50s. My mum used to be a jazz singer, test me," Darnell insisted, bringing his feet up on the sofa before hugging his knees to himself. It wasn't something Jared liked people doing, but if Darnell was doing it, it was alright with him.

"Okay," Jared said, getting up. "I have them in a box in the basement. I'll bring them up," he said, looking over at Darnell. "Can you help me put those papers aside?" he asked Darnell, watching as the man gave him a thumbs up and started doing in immediately.

Jared was about to leave for the basement before he remembered something and turned back to face Darnell. "You haven't eaten breakfast, you can have something while I'm in the basement. It'll take a while," Jared said, watching as Darnell nodded at that. Jared left for the basement afterward, and it took him a while to find the box of old videotapes and the music player he bought from a vintage store over five years ago. He carried everything up, raising a brow when he smelt eggs as he climbed up the stairs to the living room. Darnell was sitting on the sofa with a mug of beverage in his hand while another cup was on the small table in front of him with a plate filled with eggs and bacon.

"Thought you'd want something too," he said, licking off the little foam that had stuck to the top of his bowed upper lip. Jared nodded, putting the box on the table before taking a seat beside Darnell. Maybe it was the sofa's cushion that sunk and brought Darnell a little closer or maybe the young man had just shuffled closer. Either way, it made Jared's stomach fill up with nerves.

"When are you going back? You know you can ask me to drop you," Jared said, picking the cup of cocoa Darnell had made him. He just realized Darnell might be waiting because Jared was supposed to tell him when to leave or offer to drop him off.

Darnell seemed to tense up as his smile curved downwards. He pushed some of his curls behind his ear, tightening his jaw before he spoke up. "I wasn't planning to leave before Sunday evening if that's okay with you," Darnell said, playing with the spoon in his cup.

"Oh." Was the only thing Jared said in response. He had expected Darnell to come over have sex with him and disappear the same night, but it seemed he was wrong. "It's okay with me," Jared muttered, making Darnell grin. The younger man had nice gummy teeth.

"It's a relationship."

Jared remembered the words Austin had told him. Of course, he had been skeptical then. Sugar baby, Sugar daddy relationships weren't real relationships, but Jared had to admit that what he was doing with Darnell; having breakfast and talking felt extremely close to one. Darnell was spending two nights in his house and was engaging with him like he was worth it. It felt good — extremely good. Jared had to make out time to treat Austin out for lunch. He was glad he had convinced him to do this.

Darnell shuffled closer, gesturing to the box of dusty videotapes with the music player lodged somewhere in pile. "Play something," he said, looking over at Jared as he cuddled up to him. Jared took in a deep breath, nodding before setting things up and flipping the switch on the music player after selecting a tape.

The two talked about mundane things as they ate breakfast and hummed along to old school music.