Jock Next Bed (BL)
Chapter 166: Flirting with mother-in-law

Chapter 166: Flirting with mother-in-law

While the three were busy organizing the pack of old music tapes in the living room, they paid attention to the discussion happening in the makeshift ’baking’ room beside the dining table.

This... this was not how Sky had imagined his morning.

Chris... completely comfortable with his mother, to the point where he was happily flirting with her.

Earlier.

Sky had been too distracted to think straight, but he knew he needed backup. Without wasting time, he grabbed his phone and made a group call.

"I need your help. Can you come over?"

Noel answered first, sounding like he’d just been dragged out of a coma. "What now? Did you set your house on fire because someone looked at your pretty boy again?"

Sky scowled. "I know you’re mad at me. I’m sorry. I’ll properly apologize later."

Fair. He had run off on them yesterday without warning. Not his finest moment. But he’d been overwhelmed, and now things had snowballed into something worse. He just needed his friends to bear with him a little longer. He knew he was being a very selfish and annoying person to them right now, but he was just having a really tough time, and he hoped they would be a little patient with him.

Henry, on the other hand, was the opposite of grumpy. "What’s wrong? You sound—Wait. Are you panicking?"

Sky inhaled sharply. And then he dropped the bomb.

"Chris... is in my house. My mother invited him to stay over for Granny’s memorial."

Silence.

Then Henry practically yelled, "Wait—Granny’s memorial?! That’s today?! Are you okay?"

Yes, his friends knew. His Granny’s memorial was always a difficult time for him. His mental and physical health suffered during this period every year since she died. During this period, he always withdrew from everything and everyone. And yet, this year, he had completely forgotten.

Noel, however, had priorities. "Hold up. Why is Chris at your place first thing in the morning? And why did your mother invite him? Did you tell her about him?"

"What? No! Of course not." Sky hesitated before adding, "...He slept here."

Silence.

A long, judgmental silence.

"Slept... in your house?" Noel finally asked, slow and deliberate.

Henry cut in, sounding just as lost. "Wait. How did we go from you fighting with Rain yesterday because of him, to you meeting up with Chris, to him spending the night at your place? What aren’t you telling us? What are we missing here?"

Again, Sky wanted to remind him that the fight between him and Rain yesterday wasn’t just all about Chris. It was something deeper. But for now, that wasn’t important.

"It’s a long story. But right now, I’m desperate. Rain is going to be here. With my parents. It’s going to be awkward—I’ll die." Sky’s voice was strained.

Henry sighed. "Damn. Okay. Uhm... I’ll be there in twenty minutes," he said immediately. "You coming, right, Noel?"

"I mean, free food and pastries from his mom? Plus, just in case a fight breaks out between the siblings? Of course, I’m coming." Noel sounded far too entertained by the idea.

Thirty minutes later, Henry and Noel were in the apartment.

As usual, Sky’s mother had greeted them with warmth, asking about their exams and their well-being. And, of course, she had to throw in: *"Why haven’t I been seeing Collins around?"*

The room went silent. Even Chris—who was in the middle of wrestling with an apron, his hands covered in flour—paused to glance at them.

Sky wanted to help him. Chris looked ridiculous, fumbling and spinning around as the fabric swayed with every move. It was funny. It was cute. And Sky wanted to step in and fix it for him. But he stayed where he was, forcing himself to keep his attention on his mother.

"He... he’s been busy with stuff," Sky muttered.

His mother sighed. "I miss that boy. Remind him that I’m still alive, would you? He should come over and tell me about his weird books again."

Meanwhile, Chris was still spinning in an attempt to get the apron to sit right. Henry, watching this train wreck unfold, finally had enough. With an exasperated sigh, he walked over and adjusted the apron for him.

Meanwhile, Chris was still turning in circles, trying to get the apron under control. Henry, watching the ridiculous scene unfold, finally sighed and stepped forward to adjust it for him.

Sky clenched his jaw as he watched them. Henry was laughing at Chris’s struggle, and Chris, grinning, let him fix it with ease. It wasn’t that big of a deal. It was just a stupid apron.

But Sky hated that he hadn’t been the one to do it.

"Go get busy," his mother suddenly said, giving him a pointed look.

Sky turned on his heel and left.

Now, the three of them were busy with other tasks, occasionally overhearing bits of conversation from Chris and Sky’s mother.

"For real, I think this is either just too easy, or I might just be a natural," Chris said smugly, holding up a cupcake that looked like it had barely survived a natural disaster.

Sky’s mother chuckled. "Sure. But you might want to work on the presentation. Looks matter."

Chris grinned. "Come on, Miss Sato, take a look at me. You think anyone’s gonna care what my baking looks like? They’d eat whatever I shit—." He caught himself. "I mean—uh, they’d eat whatever thing I make."

The three friends exchanged knowing glances.

Sky’s mother, however, arched a brow. "’Miss’?"

Chris, without missing a beat, flashed a charming smile. "I mean, you look like you could be Sky’s younger sister, so why not?"

Sky tried not to roll his eyes at the cringe.

Meanwhile, his mother laughed—the kind of laugh women give when an attractive guy tosses them a compliment after years of being compliment-starved.

"You sure know how to flatter a woman," she said, shaking her head, clearly amused. "I hope you don’t have too many girlfriends."

Chris tilted his head, eyes gleaming with mischief. "Would it make you jealous if I did?" He threw in a wink for good measure.

She playfully slapped his arm. "Behave, you rascal."

The three friends looked at each other again, this time with visible alarm.

Even Sky could hardly believe what he was witnessing. His mother was always warm and kind, but laughing this loudly? Blushing this easily? With one of his friends? Unheard of.

Chris chuckled. "For the records, I sadly don’t even have one girlfriend."

"Really? Why? No girl from around here caught your eye? Not pretty enough?"

Chris gasped dramatically. "Come on! The girls here are gorgeous! But none of them compare to you."

Sky and his friends nearly choked on air.

His mother waved him off with a scoff. "Pfft! Like you haven’t seen my daughter. But I doubt Sky would let you date his sister. You know how boys are, with their deep, overprotective voices— ’Stay away from my sister, you bastard." She dropped her voice into a low, exaggerated growl.

All of their jaws dropped.

Even Chris looked momentarily stunned—before his expression lit up with delight. He looked way too impressed to hear Sky’s mother swear.

Sky, on the other hand, looned traumatized.

Chris continued. "True," he mused, nodding. "Sky is a very protective... brother." He said with a chuckle. "So, with Rain off the list... that only leaves you with one child, doesn’t it?."

Was he saying what they thought he was saying?

Noel leaned toward Henry and whispered, "He is insane."

Then, with a casual confidence that sent a ripple of tension through the room, Chris turned to Sky’s mother and asked, "So, can you give me Sky instead?"

Silence.

Sky’s breath hitched. His eyes widened slightly.

Then, his mother laughed.

"Sorry," she said with an amused shake of her head. "But you already met Mei, and she’s a lovely girl."

Chris snorted. "Tough luck." As he handed her a cupcake he had just finished decorating. Somehow, the icing made it look even worse and uglier than before.

She took a bite and hummed thoughtfully. "It tastes good. But if you’re going to make pastries this ugly, tell no one you learned from me. I refuse to let my reputation be tarnished."

Chris chuckled. "I’ll do my best to protect your legacy. It’s the least I can do after all the nice meals you’ve sent me."

She grinned. "Isn’t two times a bit much to call ’a lot’?"

Sky stiffened.

Chris stilled. His smile didn’t waver, but something shifted in his expression, like a realization. "Two times, huh?"

Then, ever so slowly, his gaze slid to the area the other guys were for the first time. His eyes immediately found Sky.

And Sky knew.

Knew exactly what was going through Chris’s mind. Because of course his mother had only sent food twice. And yet, Chris had been getting meals several times and saying it was from his mother.

Chris’s lips curled into a knowing smirk.

Sky looked away. Fast.