Chapter 284: There’s Only One Bed
When lunch finally ended and the last of the plates had been cleared, the trio slipped away into one of the guest rooms. Jacklin closed the door firmly behind her and turned around, arms crossed, eyes sharp. "Spill everything you know!" she demanded, her foot tapping the floor with impatience.
Emile sat on the edge of the bed, arms spread behind him. "Alright, alright, don’t get too excited." He exhaled and began recounting everything he knew. From the moment Micah and Clyde first met, to the absurd story of Micah stealing Clyde’s horse, and the way their uncle had reacted with surprising patience, and even more surprising protectiveness. "He didn’t even give him that special scary look we all know too well! Uncle just gave another horse to Micah and went on a stroll with him like nothing happened. Then came back and wrapped Micah in a blanket! What the hell."
Dean sat cross-legged on the floor, nodding along. "Yeah, and did you see how Micah reacted? He turned bright red."
Jacklin furrowed her brow, pacing back and forth as she listened. "Uncle told me earlier not to mention Asena around Micah. He was really firm about it."
That made all three of them stop.
The three exchanged glances.
"It’s too fishy!" Emile said first, brows drawn together. "Why would Uncle care about that?"
"Micah is definitely interested in Uncle," Dean cut in, eyes wide. "I even felt he used me at the range to get Uncle jealous. And the way he outright refused Uncle to join us... It was super obvious there was something between them."
Jacklin threw up her hands. "That doesn’t make sense. I saw how Uncle looked at Asena before! He was smitten." She paused before beginning to talk. "Maybe Uncle is just being careful not to hurt his feelings. Micah is technically related to Asena, right?"
"So he is nice to him because he pities him? Uncle? That stone-faced block of concrete?" Emile asked incredulously.
"Then what? He’s never even glanced at Ramsy’s heir before Asena came into the picture." Jacklin argued. She halted mid-pace and tapped her chin thoughtfully. "No... something’s off."
"Ahh... what is it, then?" Dean let out a groan, frustrated.
Jacklin snapped her fingers. "Let me test something tonight."
"You have a plan?" Both boys perked up instantly.
Jacklin smirked. "Yeah. Even though Uncle said not to talk about Asena in front of Micah, he didn’t say we couldn’t mention her to others, right? And you two bring Micah there to overhear it accidentally. Then watch how he reacts."
Dean’s eyes lit up. "Oh, like baiting him into showing his true feelings?"
"Yeah," Jacklin nodded. "If he really doesn’t care, he’ll stay calm. But if not... he’ll react. Trust me."
"Yeah. That’s a good plan." the other two agreed.
*****
Meanwhile, in the suite, Micah shoved open the door with a grunt and marched inside. His glasses were slightly askew, and his cheeks still a little flushed from lunch. Clyde followed behind him in silence, hands in his pockets, gaze unreadable.
Micah stormed straight to the bed, threw his glasses on the nightstand and collapsed face-first onto it with a dramatic groan. "I hate you..." He mumbled, voice muffled against the covers.
Clyde blinked, then sat down slowly in a chair beside the dresser. He rested his arms on the armrest and tilted his head. "Why?"
"You ask why? Seriously?" Micah shot up, wild-haired and glaring.
He jabbed a finger at Clyde. "I made a total fool of myself in front of everyone, and it was your fault."
Clyde’s lips twitched. A faint smile escaped before he could stop it.
Micah saw it and exploded. "Ah! I hate that smirk!"
He threw a pillow in Clyde’s direction, which Clyde caught easily with one hand.
"Why did you even follow me? Get out! I want to be alone!"
"This is my room," Clyde replied, voice flat.
Micah paused. "So where is mine, huh? I’ll leave."
"Technically, this is our room."
"Huh?" Micah froze. His eyes darted to the queen-sized bed under him. Then to Clyde. "Hold on. There is only one bed here!"
Clyde nodded, deadpan. "Yeah. The other bedrooms have multiple singles. But this suite is meant for me. Just one."
Micah stood up so fast the bed creaked. "Fine. I’ll go sleep with Emile."
"Dean’s bunking with him," Clyde said calmly.
"You mean to tell me there is no other vacant space for me?" Micah demanded.
"Unless you want to sleep with one of the girls," Clyde replied, raising an eyebrow.
Micah gawked at him. "You scheming, manipulative, sly fox!"
"You flatter me," Clyde smirked.
Micah folded his arms. "Fine, I’ll sleep on the couch." Then he grumbled. "You dragged me here, dropped me in the middle of your friends and niece and nephews, and now you’re making it look like we are sharing a bed? What will they think? Huh?"
Clyde chuckled. He stood up and walked to the wall, opening a side door with a click. "Relax. I was just teasing."
Inside was a second room with another queen-sized bed, neatly made.
"This condo was built for my grandparents. They preferred to sleep alone."
Micah stared, stunned. "You..."
Micah couldn’t take in any more. He stormed toward him and punched Clyde’s arm. "You are such a jerk!"
Clyde winced slightly but didn’t move away. His lips curved up again, softer this time. Teasing Micah was really fun. He reached up and patted Micah’s head gently, fingers brushing through his hair. "Sorry," he said, voice low. "I went overboard..."
Micah’s fist dropped. His shoulders slowly loosened. He knew Clyde would never pull tricks or manipulate him.
But for a split second, when he thought they might have to share a bed...
It didn’t scare him... it made him feel flattered.
Oh shit.
His face burned again. Why did that thought make his heart pound?
He was really falling, wasn’t he?
Was it skin hunger? Longing? Something worse?
Why did he want to stay close to Clyde?
Everything felt too new. Too raw. Too confusing.
He didn’t know how to process it. And Clyde... that bastard probably knew.