Only You by Jerry Cole (the top 100 crime novels of all time TXT) 📕

“You know what I mean!”

“I do. I just don’t agree with you.”

Sherman wanted Bradley to move in with him. Bradley thought that was ‘too fast.’ Although he loved living so close, and spending nearly every night and day together, he hypothesized that if they moved in now, they would get sick of one another and destroy the relationship before it even begun.

“I like you too much to risk that,” he had explained emphatically. That was three days ago, as the deadline grew nearer.

“What a ridiculous argument,” Sherman had responded with clear disdain. “You like me too much to live with me?”

“Yes!”

To be fair, Bradley did have a point. Although the two were as close as they had ever been, moving in might just be the straw that broke the camel’s back. Sherman had never lived with anyone before and wasn’t sure how it would go down. He would have hated if he grew to resent Bradley, or if he grew bored of him, or if they fought but were then stuck together. Anything that might destroy the relationship should have been a big no.

But... but... but two whole months! Sherman didn’t think he could go that long again. Especially seeing as Bradley now, finally, lived so close!

And so, the two argued. Every day leading up to the lockdown, the two fought over whether or not to move in together. Sherman was clearly on the side of ‘yes,’ while Bradley was a big ‘no.’ But that no was waning, weakening, breaking a little more each day. Now, the day before lockdown started and Sherman was sure that his boyfriend would break.

And if he didn’t? Well, Sherman actually had one final argument in the bank that he could use if he wanted to. He didn’t want to use it, as it was a rather low blow. But he would if he needed to. There was no way that Bradley wasn’t staying with him through Covid. It’s as simple as that.

“And the drugs?” Bradley pivoted. He was out of the fridge now, leaning against the kitchen table, his palms flat on the surface. He looked weak, tired, like he was breaking.

“What about them?” Sherman asked innocently.

“Are you still – I mean, I know you are. But will you quit them? I don’t want to be in a house for two months with a drug addict.”

“I’m not an addict.” Sherman actually felt a little offended. Yes, he did hard drugs often. But an addict? He certainly didn’t see himself that way.

“Tuesday,” Bradley asked simply. “What were you doing when I came back to yours?”

Sherman’s face dropped and he felt himself get a little angry. “I’d just found out my company was probably going to go under,” he snapped. “Excuse me if I needed a release.”

“And after two months locked inside?” Bradley pushed. “You don’t think you’re going to need a release then?”

Sherman’s nostrils flared, but he took a deep breath. “It’s a moot point, anyhow. My dealer has gone underground for Covid. Even if I wanted to buy, I wouldn’t be able to – and I don’t want to, by the way. I’m over all that.”

That was technically a lie. Curly hadn’t gone underground at all. In fact, for reasons that Sherman didn’t know, the large biker had been texting him non-stop over the past week. He was yet to return the texts, but his stash was running low so he was pretty sure he would be soon enough. But Bradley didn’t need to know that.

“I just...” Bradley was weakening. He could see it in his posture, the way he slumped forward. “... two months,” he sighed. “I don’t like it either – you know I don’t. But I’m scared.”

Sherman saw his chance. In a flash he was around the counter, arms wrapped around his boyfriend in an act of comfort. “I know you are. Me too.”

“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” he continued softly. “Not about us,” he then hurried. “I mean... with this role I just got, and my apartment – even if Covid only last two months, I don’t even think I can afford to keep paying...” he trailed off, refusing to look at Sherman.

As awful as it might have sounded, Sherman felt a small thrill. He worried that he was going to have to tell Sherman that he was paying half his rent and that he owed him; a sort of last attempt to get him to move. But this... this would work much better in his favor.

“Don’t worry about that...” Sherman cooed.

“How can I not —”

“Because.” He held Bradley close, refusing to let him go. “I’ll cover your rent until this whole thing is —”

“No.” Bradley tried to pull way, but Sherman didn’t budge.

“Yes,” he pressed. “You know I got a huge payout last week – more than enough. And with us just hanging out for two months with nothing to do... why not put it toward your rent?”

“I can’t ask you to do that.”

“You’re not asking. I’m telling.” He gave Bradley’s shoulder a squeeze. “I want to help.”

Bradley hesitated. “You’re sure you can afford it....”

Sherman tried not to smile. He had him. “Easily. And besides, once we go back to normal and you start working, you can pay me back. I insist you do, in fact.”

He had him. Even without Bradley saying anything else, Sherman could feel him melting under his embrace. Really, Bradley had no choice but to accept. If not, he would go bankrupt and be forced to move out. Obviously, Sherman would never let that happen but there was no need for him to say it.

This way too, Bradley was now bound to him. Not only was he going to be paying his rent, but they were going to be living together for two whole months. It was