Jock Next Bed (BL)
Chapter 131: Which friend?

Chapter 131: Which friend?

"What do I have to do to have him for myself?" a girl at the next table murmured to her friend, her tone wistful. Chris didn’t need to ask who they were talking about.

He wished he could join their table so they could brainstorm together and get an answer for himself.

He was sure Sky knew he was there. The deliberate way he didn’t look in that direction made it all too glaring that the boy was avoiding him.

Well, no one used and dumped Christopher Owen. He wouldn’t allow it happen.

"Did you fight?" Gary asked, breaking the silence at their table.

"Fight? Why would I fight?" Chris asked, a little lost at what he was being asked since his brain had been spiraling.

"I mean did you fight with Sky?" Gary asked.

"No. What gives you that impression?" He shot back, perhaps almost too quickly.

Gary shrugged. "I don’t know. Just a vibe."

Rachel continued to give him an unreadable look. But it was clear she had a lot to say, though she hadn’t said anything for almost a week. The last time they talked about Sky was when she informed him of a get-together at Sky’s place. And if she wasn’t commenting at all on Sky’s entrance, look, or simply his existence, then something was amiss.

But that wasn’t his problem for now. He had bigger things to worry about.

Chris couldn’t take it anymore.

He’d been okay—or as close to okay as he could manage—these past few days. He’d been waiting patiently for Sky to show up, but this? This was torture. Showing up like that, looking like that—it felt like punishment.

For the rest of the day, he couldn’t focus. He counted down the hours even when he was in class. He knew where Sky would be today.

He would be at the gym.

So when the class ended, he decided that would be his direction.

He lingered around until 5 p.m., waiting for the final class of the day to end, and after that, he waited for more students to leave school.

Maybe he was procrastinating. A part of him was delaying meeting him.

What if Sky shut him down? What if he decided to be an asshole and cut Chris off entirely?

Eventually, he steeled himself, shoving his doubts aside.

Get it together, Chris.

When he arrived at the gym, the last thing he expected was to bump into Rain as soon as he stepped inside.

Her startled expression mirrored his own.

"Chris?" she asked, her tone laced with surprise—and something else he couldn’t quite place.

Well, this was awkward.

Bumping into the girl he had subtly rejected while in a hunt for her twin brother.

"I don’t suppose you’re here for me," Rain teased, slinging a small towel over her shoulder.

She was dressed in a loose tank top over a sports bra and leggings, her skin glistening with a light sheen of sweat. Her hair, pulled into a ponytail, was slightly messy but only added to her effortless charm.

"If I knew you were here, I’d have run here faster," Chris shot back, his tone playful.

She laughed softly. "Well, I was just about to leave."

Chris’s eyes scanned the room. Seven guys and two girls occupied the gym—one on the treadmill, the other on the cycling machine. Sky wasn’t in sight.

Three of the guys stared at him, their expressions openly hostile, and Chris couldn’t help but smirk inwardly.

"Why are you leaving?" he asked casually. "You’ve got quite some suitors here."

Rain leaned closer, lowering her voice. "Those stupid jocks? I wish they could be cancelled from coming here. They probably just see this place as a chance to flex their muscles and flirt with girls half-naked. They don’t even care that Sky’s right here and try to hit on me."

She ranted.

And she looked obviously displeased.

However, his stomach twisted when she mentioned Sky.

"Do you need any help?" he asked, for good measure.

She shook her head. "I’m done for today," she answered.

He hadn’t planned to ask about Sky so soon—didn’t want to seem desperate—but the hope that Sky was just in the back mixing protein shakes kept him grounded.

Feigning nonchalance, he asked, "Where’s Sky?"

Rain gestured toward a door at the far end of the room—the one Chris knew all too well. "He’s in there. Went in earlier with a friend."

Chris frowned. A friend?

"Oh, Noel’s here?" he asked, hoping to steer the conversation naturally for her to mention which friend he was meeting in there. "I wanted to meet him too."

Rain shook her head, amused. "Noel’s not here. That guy probably has a secret girlfriend somewhere—he’s been sneaking around a lot lately."

So, not Noel.

But wait... secret girlfriend?

He would have to think about that later.

"Henry, then?" Chris ventured, still trying to sound offhand.

Rain opened her mouth as if to answer, then paused, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. "Are you trying to figure out who he’s in there with?"

Chris forced a laugh. Well, she caught him. "Can’t say I’m not. Sky isn’t exactly the... friendliest guy. Makes you curious who he actually tolerates." He said it lightly to not draw further suspicion, and Rain seemed to buy it because she laughed.

"It’s one of those athlete jocks." She turned toward the exit, raising a hand for a high five. "Be good, alright? I’ll see you around."

"Sure." Chris clapped her hand lightly, watching her walk away.

As soon as she disappeared, his smile vanished. His jaw tightened, and his mind raced. Who the fuck was in there with his boyfriend?

Ignoring the irritated stares from the jocks and the curious glances from the girls, Chris strode toward the restricted area with single-minded determination.

The closer he got, the more impatient he was since he could clearly remember the last time he was there and how a guy had been hitting on Sky. Plus Sky also mentioned it happens.

Just how many people who was supposed to fight against?