“What are you doing?” Tim stared down at Ethan who was staring up at him.
“Appreciating you in that tie.” He fumbled in the blankets for the tissues.
“This cold’s not appreciating it.” He coughed, tugging at his tie. Sensing Ethan’s confusion wasn’t just stemming from the cold medicine and the migraine Tim suspected he was faking as an excuse to not go to the benefit, he clarified. “When my asthma’s touchy, I don’t like anything around my neck.”
Ethan rubbed his temples, figuring he better play up the migraine before Tim yanked him out of bed. Tim had his own cold to deal with so he wasn’t going to coddle Ethan’s.
“Yyiihhhshoo, hayyyihhshoo!” Tim doubled over, and Ethan enjoyed the view wrapped in Tim’s dress pants.
“Bless you. Are you sure you have to go?” He clumsily tossed the tissues over.
“I’m being bid on, since you know, technically a bachelor.” A rough cough followed. “I’m sure I’ll be the sexiest one up there tonight, what with the coughing and sneezing…” He paused to take care of his running nose. “All this snot.”
Ethan’s laugh quickly became a cough, followed by a wince as he rubbed his forehead and closed his eyes.
Tim grabbed a couple travel packs of tissues and stuffed them into his suit pants with his inhaler. “I feel like I’m going to a middle school spring dance again,” came the irritated mutter. “Ahhyehhshoo, ehhshehhh. I’ll switch you from the dim to the dark now.”
“Dim is ok. I can get the lamp when you leave. Don’t want you walking into the wall.” He gave Tim an up and down look. “You look damn good. Wish I was gonna be there with-Hatchoo!…ugh…remind me not to do that.”
“Like you have a choice.”
“Can I bid for you over the phone?”
“I don’t think so.” Tim swallowed. He didn’t see that look in Ethan’s eyes too often. Ethan was jealous. “AhhhIihhshoo, Yyyihhhshuu! God, I hope I get this out of my system before I’m on stage.”
“I’m sure it will.” Ethan reassured, rubbing his arm. “You’ll probably get all the girls just dying to take care of the hot sick bachelor.” He coughed. “There’s a nurse that could do a better job, though.”
“Oh?” Tim raised an eyebrow. “I thought between your cold and your migraine, you weren’t up t-to Tahhshoo! tehhhrahhhoo! To doing anything tonight, since, you know, you can’t go to the benefit.”
“Migraine meds need time. And stop tugging at your tie.”
“Don’t like it. It’s gonna strangle me.”
“You look good with it. Keep it on. Even after you’re back home.”
Tim grumbled, but gave Ethan a look. Ethan gave him a look back before curling up as he sneezed. “AhShoo!”
“Bless you. Do I even want to know what you’re thinking? Are you going to try to be the naughty nurse again? Because, that was just too hilarious to be sexy.”
Ethan pouted for a second. “I think the well skilled nurse needs to make sure that his poor sick businessman’s tie isn’t too constricting. Or anything he’s that wearing.”
“You’re up for that?”
“You go, I’ll sleep and the meds’ll kick in. Oh, yes.”
“Feel better. I’m gonna be late.” He switched off the lamp and hustled out of the room, pausing in the doorway. “HuhhChessshoo! Chhhusshhuhhh! Fuck this!”
“Bless you.” He heard Ethan mumble sleepily as he made his way out the door.
Aggedy Ann 