What's Wrong With Being An Omega Nanny?-Chapter 149: Saucy!

Jace watched as Elias placed the chicken bag on the small table near the bed and grabbed a plain t-shirt from his dresser. The room was cosy, with soft lighting from a lamp on the nightstand casting a warm glow over the simple furniture—a bed with rumpled sheets, a desk cluttered with books and a laptop, and posters of medical diagrams on the walls.

Elias’s back was turned, his skin still slightly damp from the shower, and Jace felt his pulse quicken. He just couldn’t bring himself to look directly at Elias until he was fully dressed... the sight of him shirtless had caught Jace off guard, stirring up feelings he’d tried hard to push down over the past weeks. His heart was pounding as it had back in school when he’d first realised his crush, and he kept his eyes on the floor, tracing the pattern of the centre carpet to distract himself. The threads wove in and out in a simple design, but it was enough to focus on instead of the way Elias’s muscles moved as he reached for the shirt.

Elias pulled the t-shirt over his head, the fabric settling comfortably against his skin, and turned back with a casual smile that made Jace’s stomach flip. He opened the bag, and the spicy aroma of fried chicken filled the room immediately, making Jace’s mouth water even though he’d bought it for Elias.

"Man, this smells good," Elias said, his voice light and genuine. "Haven’t had fried chicken in forever." He sat on the edge of the bed, pulling out a piece and taking a big bite, chewing happily. Sauce got on his fingers, and he licked it off without thinking, savouring the flavour.

Jace finally looked up, managing a small smile as he leaned against the wall near the door, his legs feeling a bit weak.

"Yeah? I’m glad you like it. I remembered you mentioning it once."

Elias nodded, his mouth full for a second before he swallowed. "It’s perfect. Hits the spot after today." He took another bite, then paused, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "So... what are you doing here? How’d you even find this place? It’s not exactly public knowledge."

Jace shifted his weight from one foot to the other, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, feeling the heat in his cheeks linger. "I came with Ethan. Viktor called him for some meeting... about the war stuff, I guess. I tagged along because... well, I wanted to see you. It’s been a while since we talked properly."

Elias paused mid-bite, raising an eyebrow with a hint of amusement.

"Tagged along, huh? That’s a bold move, coming to Viktor’s house uninvited. He didn’t give you a hard time?"

Jace chuckled nervously, glancing at the door as if Viktor might burst in.

"He did at first. He said no outright. But Ethan pleaded, and I guess he relented. I’ve got just thirty minutes, though. Maybe less than that." 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Elias laughed softly, setting the chicken piece down for a moment. "Sounds like Viktor. Protective mode is on full. But hey, you made it in."

Jace nodded, relaxing a little at Elias’s easy tone. "Yeah. Lucky, I guess."

Elias wiped his hands on a napkin from the bag, his expression softening as he looked at Jace more closely. "How are your parents doing? It’s been a while since... everything."

Jace looked at him for a long moment, searching Elias’s face for any sign of resentment. The memory of that day at his house. The way his mom had sent Elias out... still haunted him.

"You... you’re not angry? About what happened? My mom... sending you out like that? It was rude, and I just sat there and did nothing."

Elias chewed another piece slowly, thinking it over with a casual shrug. "Angry? Why would I be? It’s not like your mom did anything wrong. She was looking out for you, protecting the family. I get it."

Jace sighed, sliding down the wall to sit on the floor, pulling his knees up and resting his arms on them. The tiles were hard under him, but it did little to ease the knot in his chest. "I’ve been feeling guilty about it ever since. That’s why I’ve been avoiding you at school and everywhere. I just sat there that day... said nothing while she kicked you out. I should’ve spoken up, defended you or something."

Elias licked sauce from his finger, shaking his head firmly. "You didn’t have to. It wasn’t your fault. And your mom? Like I said... she was just doing what she thought was right for the family. Don’t beat yourself up over it... It’s not worth it."

Jace finally met Elias’s eyes fully, his voice quieter, almost vulnerable. "But I did nothing. I let it happen. You were my friend, and I..."

Elias wore a small but genuine smile, setting the chicken aside for a second to lean forward. "Jace, seriously... let it go. I’m not mad at you or your mom. Life’s too short for holding grudges over stuff like that. We’re cool, okay?"

Jace felt a weight lift a little from his shoulders, the guilt that had been eating at him easing just a bit. But it lingered in the background, a dull ache. He watched Elias eat for a moment, the comfortable silence broken only by the sound of chewing and the occasional crinkle of the bag. Then he noticed a bit of sauce on Elias’s lower lip, a small red smudge.

Without thinking much, Jace leaned forward from his spot on the floor and reached out, wiping it away with his thumb. Elias didn’t pull back or react strangely... he just paused chewing, watching Jace with a curious look.

Jace realised what he’d done a second too late, his thumb lingering on Elias’s lip before he pulled it back and, without thinking, licked the sauce off his finger. His face burned red immediately, hotter than the spicy chicken. "Uh... sorry. Habit from... never mind. Just... sauce."