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

“That it does – now, unpack, shower and do whatever it is you need to get ready. I expect you seated here in ten minutes for lunch. No exceptions.” He pointed toward the bedroom like an army drill sergeant.

“Yes, sir.” Bradley saluted and then marched in the direction of the bedroom; he could hear Sherman giggling as he went.

Yes, things had changed quite significantly between the two men since their fight roughly five weeks ago. When that fight broke out, the two themselves were at breaking point; the house was a warzone with neither willing to give any ground. Now however, they had slipped into a routine that seemed to suit them both perfectly. There was no more fighting, no arguing, no pettiness or hiding from one another or anything silly like that.

They were, quite possibly, the happiest they had ever been.

A big part of this was Bradley’s leaving the house every other day. Even before his show was officially greenlit, he’d gotten into the habit of meeting the cast and some of the crew on most days for rehearsals. The days were long and grueling; they ran lines, they worked through the logistics of certain scenes, broke down characters, and discussed stunts, costumes and really anything and everything. It was tough work, but it’s what Bradley lived for.

Being able to leave the house was key, as it gave he and Sherman a little time apart. Not that he relished being away from Sherman, but it was necessary. Even couples as strong as they were risked breaking into tiny little pieces when forced together for so long. It just wasn’t natural.

Sherman, and his new-found lease on life, was another reason that things were going so well for the two. Honestly... it was the biggest reason, bar none. That fight they’d had had triggered something inside of Sherman, and after he had come back with his tail between his legs, he’d endeavored to change himself as much as he could.

Well, he’d done that. So much so that he was almost a new man.

Firstly, he wasn’t anywhere near as possessive or annoying. He didn’t try and keep Bradley from getting out of bed every morning or complain when he left the house all day. He didn’t make jokes about how lonely he was, or how Bradley was ignoring him or anything like that. He just acted normal, which Bradley was beyond grateful for.

Secondly, he had started actually helping around the house! It began with little things, like taking the trash out or sweeping the floor. But then he started doing the dishes, washing clothes and he even began to cook! Better too that this was something Bradley had to teach him, which gave the two something to do together rather than have sex and watch television.

“But... if boiling water makes eggs hard, why does it make pasta soft?” Sherman had asked, dumbfounded, during one of their first lessons.

“Huh?” Bradley had blinked back his surprise. He understood the question perfectly... he just hadn’t known how to answer.

“Am I the only one that doesn’t get it – like, I’m not an idiot, am I?” Sherman had been holding a handful of raw pasta in his hand, ready to throw it into a pot of boiling water.

“Just toss the pasta in, will you,” Bradley had laughed and shook his head. “Unless you want to just eat it raw?”

His cooking wasn’t great. When he cleaned, he more often than not missed giant patches. And for some reason, he insisted on doing all laundry on the ‘delicates’ setting, which left their towels and sheets still dirty. But he was trying his best, and that’s what mattered.

And he was getting better! The stir fry he made them for lunch that day was proof of that. The two men settled in across from one another at the dining room table, a bowl each of stir fry sitting in front of them. Lunch time. And with the stir fry smelling the way it did too, even Bradley was looking forward to it.

“I added egg to it,” Sherman explained excitedly as he pulled his chair in. “I was reading on Jamie Oliver’s website that egg thickens it up... or something like that? Don’t know what it means, but figured I’d try it.” His expression was eager as he scooped up a forkful of veggies and gave them a blow.

“You looked it up?” Bradley asked with an impressed smile. “In advance?”

“Yeah,” Sherman frowned. “How else would I do it.”

“You make a good point.” Bradley shook his head to himself and stuck his fork into the bowl, skewering a piece of chicken and broccoli. “I’m just surprised, is all.”

“Why?” Sherman asked accusingly.

“No reason.” Bradley shrugged and took a large bite off his fork. To his delight, it was better than nice. It was absolutely delicious.

There was a moment then. It might have been a second long. It might have been half of that. But in that moment, the two men looked at one another and smiled. Really smiled. They smiled with their mouths, with their eyes, and with their hearts. It was a tiny moment, but Bradley felt it deeply.

Neither man had said ‘I love you,’ yet. Bradley almost had a few months ago, before lockdown, but that had felt too soon. Then during lockdown, with all that drama, it just never felt right. But now... was this the moment to say it?

Another second and the moment passed like it had never been. The two men went back to eating and that was that.

Bradley had thought Sherman would say it first. He thought he’d felt it coming several times already, only for it never to arrive. It was such a silly thing too, and so insignificant that it hardly seemed worth worrying about. But even still... he couldn’t help but wonder why not. In regard to both he