aggedy_ann Posted July 19, 2020 Share Posted July 19, 2020 (edited) Tim and Ethan’s third date....and yes there will be a 4th date written at some point “Hey there, how are you feeling? You up for our date tonight?” Came the text from Ethan. Tim hesitated before responding. It was their second date, and he was still fighting the cold he’d had on their first. Well, second if you counted the failed first date where he’d been allergic to Ethan’s cologne, and they hadn’t even made it to dinner. “To be honest, I’m still really wiped out.” He typed. “I hate to cancel…” Ethan had been so sweet over the past week, calling him and texting him, even offering to bring him groceries when he was at his worst. “Babe, if you’re sick, you’re sick. I mean, I want to see you, but if you’re not up for it, I understand.” Tim hesitated again. He wasn’t sure how Ethan would feel about this idea…maybe it was too soon. Taking a deep breath, he returned the text. “I know it’s soon, but I was gonna make soup this weekend. Maybe you could come over, and I could make it tonight…” This time, the pause came from Ethan. A 30 minute pause to be exact. Then: “Sorry, off lunch, with a patient. I think I’d like that. I miss your face.” Tim grinned. “I miss you.” He sent over his address. “7? I’ll be out of here at 6.” “Perfect!” Ethan texted back. Ethan didn’t want to seem overly eager to see Tim, so he waited until 7:03 to knock on his door. Tim was anxiously waiting by the door and opened it immediately. Ethan was pleased to note Tim didn’t look too bad…nose was red, and he looked tired. But all in all, Tim seemed to be getting over his cold. Tim coughed roughly into his shoulder. ‘Ok, that didn’t sound great,’ Ethan thought, as Tim greeted him with a kiss to the forehead. “If I didn’t give you this last week, I don’t want to do it now,” he explained. Ethan leaned up and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Fair.” Three weeks in and no real kiss yet. Failed date: Tim couldn’t get near him without sneezing due to his cologne, date 2: the start of this cold, and now, date 3: the end of it. He was beginning to wonder, despite the fact that he really liked this guy, if this relationship was doomed. “I’ve just started the soup. It won’t take long.” Tim invited him into the kitchen. “Have a seat. Tell me about your…” Tim paused, nose and eyes scrunching. He turned away, bringing the collar of his shirt up to his nose. “Ruhhshoo…huhhruhhshoo!” “Bless you.” Tim went to the sink and scrubbed his hands. “How was your day?” He punctuated the question with a sniffle and stirred the chicken pieces frying on the stove before turning back to Ethan. Ethan slid the tissue box on the table over to Tim who wiped at his nose. “Long day.” Ethan sighed. “One of the other educators called in, so I had to try to squeeze in a few extra patients. Puts me behind which I hate. Had to eat in my education room. But I only finished a little bit behind. And I’m here with you now.” He grinned up at Tim who was scrubbing at his nose again. Ethan pulled a bottle of hand sanitizer out of his pocket, passing it over to Tim. “Here; save you from running over to the sink every five minutes.” Tim nodded his thanks, hazy expression taking over his face again. He turned away from Ethan, covering his face with his arm. “Huhshoo, huhhyuhhshoo.” “Bless you again.” Tim headed back to the sink, then over to the chicken. Ethan noticed Tim was paler than on his arrival. He cleared his throat. “Want me to make supper?” Tim hesitated. “I, uh, don’t have a recipe.” Ethan crossed the kitchen. “Be the recipe. Just tell me what to do. You sit down and rest.” It took a minute but Tim agreed and began talking Ethan through the recipe stored in his head. 20 minutes and six sneezes later, soup was cooling on the stove and he was telling him where to find dishes and silverware. Ethan set the table, then looked at Tim. “Can you tell me where your restroom is?” He asked softly, picking up his backpack. “Down the hall. Only door on the right.” Ethan slipped into the bathroom, checked his blood sugar and took his insulin, then headed back out to find Tim dishing up soup. “Looks like you did a good job.” Tim sat back down, placing the tissues next to him. “That was the first time I ever made soup,” Ethan admitted shyly. “Really?” “I don’t really cook; just rotate the same things over and over. I’ve had people try to teach me, but…” “And I’ll be t-thhee ehhshoo, hehheckshoo, ugh, sorry. I’ll be the next to try.” “You can try. I think I’m hopeless at this point.” Ethan took a bite of his soup. “Hey, this is good.” “And you cooked.” Ethan laughed, then twisted away, bringing his elbow to his nose. “Hatshoo!” Ethan let out a powerful sneeze that rivaled Tim’s in volume. “Bless you.” “Thanks.” Ethan picked up his spoon and then noted the worried look on Tim’s face. “What’s wrong?” “I completely forgot to ask. You’re not allergic to cats, are you?” Ethan shook his head. “Nope. Not allergic to cats,” he reassured Tim. “Just a sneeze. I sneeze all the time.” At Tim’s disbelieving look, “Trust me. You just haven’t been around me enough.” Tim relaxed. “Mind if I let him out of the bedroom after supper? I put him in there just in case…or if you weren’t a fan.” “Of course you can; I’d like to meet the little guy.” “It’s nice to finally date someone who sneezes at least as loud as I do.” Tim remarked. “Equally nice to date someone who doesn’t comment on how big my sneeze is for a small guy.” Tim laughed. “I promise never to do that.” He paused, grabbed a tissue and turned away again. “Hahahtshoo, ahhshoo.” He sighed. “I promise we will have a date where I’m not sneezing my head off.” “Are you sure? I’m starting to expect it. And bless you.” “You might want to hold off on those bless yous. Looks like you’ll be saying it every 10 minutes.” Ethan chuckled. “I’ll try.” He finished his soup. “And you sure there won’t be another allergic reaction the next date?” He said, teasingly. “Only if you wear that cologne again…or a feather boa. And please don’t. I prefer the dates where we can talk.” Tim took his empty soup bowl and reached for Ethan’s, putting them in the sink. He led Ethan to the living room, then let Cashew out of the bedroom. The cat immediately began investigating Ethan. “This is Cashew.” “He’s a cutie.” Ethan dropped his hand down for Cashew to nose, then petted him when Cashew rubbed against his legs. “I like cats. Always wanted one.” “Never had one?” “Never had pets, really. I mean, I had a goldfish, once, but that it. My sister’s allergic to cats; I’m allergic to dogs. Mom said no to everything else. After college, the friend I lived with was allergic to cats, and now, my building doesn’t allow pets. Closest I’ve come to a pet is boyfriends who had them. Works better when they don’t have dogs.” “Glad I own a cat. We’re already off to a tough start.” He joked. Ethan laughed. “It’ll get better. I won’t wear that cologne…”. He paused. “Or a feather boa.” He teased. “Appreciated. I won’t get a dog.” “Also appreciated.” Tim opened his mouth to say something, then brought his shirt collar up again, pulling his shirt up enough to give Ethan a view of his flat stomach. “HahChusshoo, UhhChushh.” Ethan started to bless him, but Tim gave a barely noticeable shake of his head and continued sneezing. “Huhhkushh, uhhkurshhoo…uhhrshoo, huhhruhhshahh. Ughh.” He groaned. “Excuse me a minute.” He disappeared down the hall where Ethan heard the faint sound of him blowing his nose. “Sorry.” Came his apology on his return. “The dayquil’s worn off, and I’m not ready for the NyQuil. If you want to leave, I understand. Having to listen to this…” He coughed. Ethan shook his head. “It’s just sneezing. Wait til spring.” He promised. “Trust me, I’m just as bad.” Tim nodded. “You said you had bad hay fever in the spring after our first attempt at a date. Anything else I need to know…so I don’t, you know, accidentally poison you or something?” Ethan laughed out loud this time. “Hay fever in the spring and fall, but it’s nowhere near as bad in the fall. I’m allergic to dogs, like I said, dust and penicillin. And you’re just my cologne and feathers, right.” Tim nodded, coughing harshly. Ethan got up and grabbed his glass of water from the kitchen table. Was it his imagination, or did he hear Tim wheezing? “I’ll be right back again.” Tim excused himself, returning a few minutes later. Ethan could no longer hear a wheeze, so he chalked it up to his imagination. “You ok?” Tim nodded. “Yeah. I’m alright. What else should I know about you?” Ethan hesitated. He didn’t want to overwhelm Tim, but it looked like this guy would want to cook for him, so he should know sooner rather than later. “I’m diabetic.” He said softly. Tim nodded. “So I gotta be careful about what to feed you.” “Yeah, that’s one thing.” “So you won’t be eating the lemon meringue pie in the fridge?” “That’s a solid no. I typically don’t eat dessert at all.” Ethan paused. “Ah-AhChoo!” “Bless you. You sure you’re ok with the cat?” Tim fussed. “I’ve sneezed twice. Trust me, if I were allergic, with no antihistamines in my system, I’d have sneezed a lot more than that by now.” Tim looked mostly convinced but not quite. “I seriously sneeze like 20 times a day, at least. More if I’m overtired.” Tim relaxed. “I almost never sneeze unless I’m sick or it’s an allergic reaction. Sometimes the sun gets me though.” He inhaled sharply and turned away. “HuhAhshoo, Ahtshoo.” “What do I need to know about you, other than you get terribly sneezy colds, and you won’t blow your nose in front of me?” “You heard.” “Shared wall.” Tim flushed crimson. Ethan handed him the tissue box. “Blow if you need to.” He instructed. “What else should I know? In case I find you lying on the floor?” He said teasingly. Tim coughed. “I have asthma. It’s honestly hardly ever a problem…unless…” He coughed again. “It flares up when you’re sick?” Tim nodded. “I thought I heard you wheezing.” Tim gave him a surprised look. “You’re dating a nurse, remember.” A smile from Tim. “This cough will be the last thing to go.” He warned Ethan. “I think I can put up with it.” He noticed the sneezy expression take hold of Tim’s face again and handed him a tissue. “Th-thanks.” Tim managed, wrapping it around his nose. “Huhehshehh, ehheckshehh.” Ethan frowned. “Those are sounding worse.” “Always get worse at night. Until I take the NyQuil. Then I’m knocked out.” “How long before it knocks you out?” “Hour. Maybe a little more.” “Go take it. You need it. I’ll go home.” Tim’s face fell. “At least stay until I start to get tired.” Ethan nodded. “Where is it? I’ll get it for you.” “I’ll get it. It’s in my room, which is kind of a mess.” He hadn’t felt up to keeping it picked up this week, and as a result, it was littered with clothes and tissues as the wastebasket had overflowed. Ethan watched him take the pills, and they resumed conversation, this time about Tim’s job, his day, how much harder his cold was making work, especially when his coworker brought out the bleach wipes to sanitize the office. “Eventually, they make me sneeze, then she uses them more, and I sneeze more. It’s a vicious cycle.” He groaned. “I’ll add that to the list of things not to use.” Ethan promised. “At least not every 10 minutes.” Tim continued to tell him about his day, then Ethan talked more about what exactly he did. As Tim started yawning more and sneezing less, Ethan encouraged that he should go. “I know it’s been a wonderful night, at least for me, but you’re starting to fall asleep, and I need to eat something soon. When do you want to get together again?” “I have food here.” Tim said sleepily. “What do you need? We can plan out next date while you eat.” Ethan smiled. “Cheese and crackers are good. And maybe a bite of pie?” They sat in the kitchen where Tim set Ethan up with cheese and crackers and gave him the first bite of his pie. They settled on Tuesday for their next date. “This was nice.” “I was afraid you wouldn’t want to come. Early in the relationship and all.” “I missed you.” Ethan plucked a tissue out of the box Tim had carried with him to the kitchen. “Hatshoo!” “Bless you. I think you actually sneeze louder than I do.” Ethan blushed slightly. “Probably.” He sighed. “It’s always loud. The only way I can quiet them is to bury my face in a pillow.” Tim laughed. “Same. Can’t stop ‘em, can’t stifle, can’t hold ‘em back very long; if I do, I’m rewarded with a whole fit.” “I can’t even hold them back. If I have to sneeze, I’m gonna sneeze…there’s no stopping it.” Tim nodded, raising his arm to his face. “Huhshoo, huhyuhshoo.” It was followed by a yawn and a noseblow. “I think I’m starting to fade.” He admitted. “I can tell. I’ll see you Tuesday.” Ethan planted a kiss on Tim’s forehead. “Go to bed.” “Dishes…” Tim yawned. “Can wait till morning. Bed. Nursing order. I want to finally give you a proper kiss on Tuesday.” Tim laughed. “Same.” He coughed, getting up to walk Ethan out. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The two texted through the weekend. Sunday night, Ethan went to bed with an ominous sign: an earache in his right ear. He groaned. Hopefully, his date with Tim wasn’t in jeopardy. Maybe this relationship really was doomed. Edited July 20, 2020 by aggedy_ann Link to comment
MyOwnPrivateSFC Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 BOYS! (Sorry, I feel like I keep saying that! But they’re just so...*shrugs, smiles goofily, makes grabby-hands at her screen*) Link to comment
sprinkles287 Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 Oh, now I need to see Tim trying to build back!!! This was so sweet. Link to comment
riverevanss Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 It was so perfect, i love these boys. ❤️ Link to comment
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