Chapter Text
Andrew had a strange pressure in his chest, one he had never felt before. It started after an innocent text from his best friend - I have a boyfriend! - that quickly resulted in a phone call.
"What the hell, Garr?"
"I know!"
"W-who is it?"
"Remember that guy I told you about? The one I was considering not ghosting? Well..."
"You didn't ghost him," Andrew had guessed correctly, his lips tingling. Now he was sitting in his lonely apartment, dumbfounded, his phone laying onto the ground after it had fallen from his grasp.
He couldn't quite wrap his head around it. Garrett had a boyfriend? Garrett had a boyfriend? Garrett I-ghost-people-for-fun Watts had a boyfriend? And he didn't?
Girlfriend, that was. Didn't have a girlfriend. He, a sensible guy who just wanted someone to hold him and cuddle with, couldn't get a girlfriend but Garrett motherfucking Watts got a boyfriend? It was blowing his mind.
Not because he thought Garrett didn't deserve a boyfriend. Of course he did. He was an amazing person. And he was attractive and funny and sweet and just all around a lovely human. Andrew knew all that very well. But the fact that there was someone who could convince such a free spirit to settle down was something he never really expected to see, if he was being totally honest.
So sure, maybe he was a little upset, given all these very valid reasons. So what if he did want to scream a little bit because Garrett was finally off the market? Yeah, that was a good thing, of course, and Andrew was happy for him. But god was it infuriating. Since they were both single, they both often lamented to each other about being in this market of loneliness, but at least they were there together. Now, Garrett had found someone and left him stranded. And being alone, without Garrett...it was not a good feeling.
An alarm shook Andrew out of his feelings long enough for him to realize he had to go to work. He packed up his equipment and sternly told himself that he couldn't bring this negativity to Shane's house. Did he even have a reason to be so upset? Yeah, definitely, but also not really. So he shoved it deep down just in time to knock on Shane's door.
Luckily the workload wasn't too strenuous today. They were just going through hours of footage and figuring out what to keep and what to cut out. Andrew was certain he was doing just swell, but after an hour or so Shane finally asked him what was wrong. Andrew quickly denied anything was bothering him and he resolved to be less obvious for the rest of the day.
By the time they had finished, Morgan dropped by with fast food, which everyone was grateful for. They congregated in the living room to eat together and watch Youtube videos to wind down for the day.
"Where's Garrett?" Morgan asked before they got too deep into the first video. Andrew felt a pang of sadness at the reminder; Garrett usually came with him just to hang out with him and Shane. But now he was probably too busy sucking face with his new boyfriend.
"Probably off sucking face with his new boyfriend," Shane answered nonchalantly.
Everyone gasped; Morgan and Ryland were surprised that Garrett was no longer single and Andrew was shocked that Shane knew.
"He has a boyfriend?" Ryland screeched, eyebrows raised in disbelief.
Andrew hardly heard him. He was busy thinking too deeply about the situation again. How long did Shane know? Did Garrett tell him first? The thought almost angered him. Of course Garrett and Shane were friends, but Andrew knew Garrett typically would have told him before he told Shane, because he was less likely to say anything. Shane on the other hand...
"Yeah. Wonder how long that'll last," Shane muttered.
"I hope you didn't tell him that," Andrew cut in. "He was really excited when he told me this morning," he told him, a little defiantly.
Shane didn't take the bait and give any clues about when Garrett had told him, much to Andrew's disappointment. "No, of course not," he said in such a way that made Andrew feel bad for assuming he had.
Morgan's mouth was still hanging open from when Garrett's new relationship status was exposed moments before. "Wow. I can't believe we're the losers in this, Andrew."
"Oh that's right!" Shane chimed in. "You guys are the only single ones in the group now. Guess all that left is for you to date."
Morgan screeched with laughter. Andrew felt his cheeks warming.
"Shane!" Ryland squealed, looking horrified.
Shane eyes widened as he realized what he had just said. "That's not what I meant!" he insisted. "I meant now you two need to go date, like, in general! Separate partners."
"Agreed. I just need the good lord to send a man my way," Morgan quipped.
"I'll pray for you," Shane declared in mock seriousness. "And for Him to send a good girl for Andrew, too."
Andrew didn't engage. Even as a joke, he knew he should appreciate Shane's concern, but for some reason it was making him feel uncomfortable. Trapped, even.
"Ooh, once no one is single, we'll have even more friends to hang out with, Shane," Ryland cheered.
"Oh, are we hanging out with Garrett's boyfriend now?" Morgan asked.
"He'll have to introduce us first," Shane commented almost snidely.
"And who knows when that will happen," Andrew cut in, presumably finishing Shane's thought for him. "Can we finish watching this video?"
Shane pressed play, but not before giving Andrew a curious glance that made him look away in embarrassment. He needed to chill.
Several videos and a full bag of food wrappers later, Shane paused what they were watching once again. "Hold on, I have to shit," he declared. No one said anything as he left the room, used to his crassness.
"While we're paused, I'm gonna get another drink," Ryland mused to himself, standing up. "Drinks?" he remembered to offer right before turning the corner.
Andrew and Morgan both nodded before pulling out their phones to wait. There was nothing new on Andrew's phone. He went to his conversation with Garrett, thinking maybe he just didn't get the notification somehow. But no, he didn't get a message at all. It had been hours and nothing? Andrew sighed heavily. Did Garrett already forget about him, too caught up with this other man?
"I still can't believe Garrett has a boyfriend," Morgan commented casually.
"Me neither!" Andrew all but exploded. He cleared his throat and scratched at the back of his neck, embarrassed at his outburst.
Morgan giggled, not seeming to notice. "Not that I don't think he should have one!" she quickly added.
"Oh, yeah. For sure."
"He should definitely have one."
"Definitely."
"I mean he's a good looking guy."
"Yeah. And very sweet."
"Hilarious."
"Respects all living creatures."
"Fun to be around."
"Dependable."
"And with those big hands....Imagine what he could do with those." A strange lump forming out of no where in Andrew's throat prevented him from continuing their banter. Where was Ryland with those drinks? Morgan sighed, oblivious. "If he wasn't gay, I might be interested."
Andrew's eyes widened. "Morgan!"
Morgan snorted with laughter. "I'm kidding! And I said might!"
Andrew pursed his lips, knowing that while she was obviously joking around, there was bound to be some truth to it. "Mmhmm."
This resulted in another bout of giggles from Morgan. "Please don't tell him I said any of that."
Andrew shook his head disapprovingly, but he was unable to hide his grin. "Fine, but only because I like you."
Morgan shot him a grateful look. "You know, you're a lot like him."
"Am I?" Andrew's brow furrowed. He didn't really see it. Yeah, they had the same sense of humor and they meshed really well together, interacting like they had known each other their whole lives, and they could finish each others sentences and always knew what the other was thinking. But he never realized other people thought they were "a lot" like each other.
Morgan smiled sincerely. "Yeah. I wish all my friends were like you guys. And a boyfriend like you is, like, probably the dream."
Andrew didn't respond. His mind was being barraged with memories. Just now: Morgan saying that she would date someone like Garrett and then proceeding to say he was like Garrett. Hours before: Shane accidentally suggesting that he and Morgan should date. Earlier that day: Garrett excitedly telling him that he had left him behind for a boyfriend. His whole life: loneliness.
Shane suddenly reentered the room and asked where Ryland went. Andrew was too in his own head to respond, but it was okay because Morgan was quick to tell him that Ryland must have gotten lost on his way to the kitchen. With and exaggerated sigh and twirl of his robe, Shane went to seek him out. Morgan returned her attention to her phone, unaware of the plan forming in Andrew's head.
Andrew slowly turned his whole body toward Morgan, who didn't look up. His took in a deep breath to steady his nerves. He was never great at this part. "Maybe we could grab dinner or something tomorrow?" he suggested as casually as he could.
Morgan glanced up. "Yeah, that sounds nice. I'd like that." Before Andrew could respond, her face lit up. "Ooh, then we can talk about the woes of being single without these bozos laughing at us." Morgan nodded toward the kitchen, where Shane and Ryland seemed to be having a heated discussion about asking before eating the last of something.
The whole situation made Andrew feel more nervous than before. Morgan really wasn't getting what he was trying to ask, and could he really ask her out while her brothers were right there? If he didn't now, though, he didn't think he'd be brave enough to try again. "I was thinking it could be like a date," he ventured tentatively.
Morgan chortled, obviously thinking he was still in a joking mood. "A date! Andrew, you're so funny," she sighed out with a grin.
Andrew grimaced as he watched her. He already knew, of course, but in that moment it dawned on him again that she was beautiful when she smiled. He just wished she was smiling for a different reason.
This smile dropped as Morgan took in Andrew's expression. "Oh," she exclaimed, realization setting in. "You're serious."