Chapter 9 Austin
NINE
AUSTIN
It was the monthly trivia night at the Stag and Lantern, and the place was packed.
Maisie was with Giselle and Henrietta. Last month she’d been upstairs, but his daughter had taken a shine to her new aunties.
Austin had now arranged for a childminder to collect Maisie from school every day and stay with her until he got home, and it had been working well, but their arrangement didn’t stretch into evenings like this.
Work had really ramped up over the last few weeks. He was seeing out his commitments on the design work, but planned to let that go soon. It was still something he could fall back on if needed, but he wouldn’t take any new commissions for the time being.
Word of mouth had gotten out about his business, and he was booked solid until the end of April.
He’d been hiring some freelance labour to support him on jobs.
It was good to be busy again, doing what he loved.
The last year had felt like he was in limbo, but he’d needed time to heal after Ellie’s death and to build the different relationship he now had with Maisie as a single parent.
Moving back to Heartwood had definitely been the right move.
Maisie had an unlimited number of surrogate uncles and aunties, and seeing his lifelong friends all the time was something he hadn’t realised he’d missed.
There was just one thing playing on Austin’s mind: Liam.
It was Thursday night, and he didn’t know how Liam’s meeting had gone on Monday.
When he’d gone into the bakery on Tuesday, he was told Liam had stayed in London overnight at his flat.
Austin knew he still had a room there, but wasn’t sure why he hadn’t mentioned he was staying over in London.
Not that he owed Austin an explanation, but he’d felt a genuine breakthrough with Liam on Monday morning.
It was obvious he feared taking the next step, even though it was clear they both wanted each other.
Austin didn’t know Liam’s previous relationship history, but suspected it wasn’t good.
Staying in London for a night was nothing, but Austin had been in the bakery every day this week, and he’d gotten the same answer.
The range of food on offer was limited as Chloe wasn’t at the level of baking that Liam was.
There were rumblings on the gossip grapevine that Liam had moved back to London for good, but Austin didn’t believe it, or was he just trying to convince himself that all wasn’t lost?
By Wednesday, he’d texted Liam a few times to check he was okay. He’d not received a response. Earlier today he’d called him three times, and Liam hadn’t answered. Austin was self-aware enough to know if he did any more, he might come across as obsessive, but he was worried.
“What’s up with your face?” asked Tony.
He was up for a long weekend, which would be nice. They had plans for the weekend with all of them. Gerard was the MC for trivia night, and Kevin was in the kitchen. They had time off on Saturday afternoon together, so they could do something, and there were no festivals, so even Michael was free.
“My face is perfect, thanks.”
“Normally it is a very pretty face, but now it looks like a smacked arse. Who’s pissed you off? Do I need to hire a hitman?”
Austin snorted. Tony said that a lot, not that he would hire a hitman, but it played on the fact his friend would never get his own hands dirty for anything.
He once paid a handyman two hundred quid to change a toilet seat out of hours because he couldn’t wait until Monday morning to call someone.
It’d had to be done immediately, even though the original wasn’t broken, and it was just an impulse purchase.
That was Tony. There were no problems, only a price which hadn’t been negotiated yet.
“Nothing’s wrong, Tony. I’ve just been busy.”
“I think it’s about Liam,” said Nathan.
Tony whooped as if it was the best thing he’d ever heard.
“Nathan! What happened to you being the quiet one of the group?”
As soon as Austin had spoken, he regretted it. Nathan’s shoulders hunched, and he looked at the floor. Austin glared at Tony and moved, so he was sitting next to Nathan.
“Hey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap. I’m preoccupied. You’ve done nothing wrong. I know you were just being helpful.”
Nathan nodded, but kept his head bowed.
“Can I give you a hug, Nathan?”
He nodded. Austin put his arm around his friend’s shoulder and pulled Nathan close to him.
He turned and reciprocated the hug. Austin felt like shit.
He knew how sensitive Nathan could be, especially when it was one of his family who upset him.
And he regarded everyone at this table as his family, as did Austin.
“Can I tell you something, Nathan?”
They pulled apart, and he nodded.
“I’m worried about Liam. It looks like he’s moved back to London, but he didn’t say anything, and he’s not answering my calls or replying to my texts.”
“I need more data.”
Austin chuckled. It was Nathan’s stock response if you were being too vague. He told him about their journey on Monday, and how he’d left the ball with Liam in terms of going on a date.
“I don’t think it is about you,” said Nathan.
“What do you mean?”
“I think it might be about his job. Look at the data. He’s required to go into the office on Monday, and then he stays in London.
He didn’t say he was staying in London. The bakery had to change the menu.
This says it wasn’t planned. He may have been required to be in the office again, perhaps even every day.
This could be from his new boss. That’s why he’s had to stay in London. It makes no sense to travel every day.”
Nathan picked up his glass of Appletiser, and took a sip before putting it back down.
He said nothing else to Austin, just looked at him, waiting for him to respond.
Austin thought Nathan was onto something, as he always was.
He didn’t know what it would mean for Liam and everything he had to juggle right now.
But if he was just thinking of this logically, like Nathan had, it was a strong possibility – apart from one thing.
“Why is he ignoring my calls, then?”
“It’s not about you.”
“What do you mean?”
“If Liam had told you all these problems, what would you have done?”
“I’d have tried to help him.”
“There’s your answer.”
“Huh?”
Nathan just smiled at him and took another sip of his drink. Before he could say anything else, Michael hurried up to their table, all flustered.
“Sorry I’m late. It’s been a fucking nightmare today,” he leaned forward and whispered. “This village is full of moaning cunts.”
Austin snorted, and even Nathan chuckled. Tony was gone . . . somewhere. He must have left while Austin was speaking to Nathan.
“It doesn’t start for another ten minutes. You’re all good,” said Austin.
“I know. I just hate being late, and we said seven o’clock.”
“Austin,” said Tony, walking over. He had a serious look on his face.
“What?”
“You might want to do something about your boyfriend.”
“I don’t have a boyfriend.”
“Well, the one you’re besotted with.”
“Liam?”
“I knew it!”
“For fuck’s sake, Tony, what’s going on?”
“He’s in the bar, completely wasted.”
Austin jumped up without saying another word and rushed to the bar. He found Liam, sitting on the stool – well, he was more slumped. Austin went over to him.
“Liam?”
He looked up; his eyes were glazed over. Yes, he was wasted. When he saw who it was, he gave a huge smile, which made Austin’s heart flutter.
“Austin. Ooh, you’re showing off your tattoos tonight. Can I touch them?”
He chuckled, and before he could respond, Liam was stroking his forearm with just the tip of his finger, tracing over the design.
Austin felt his whole body thrum with electricity just at a simple touch from this man.
But Liam could barely focus his eyes, so Austin needed to do something.
How long had he been here? Had Austin missed him when he arrived half an hour ago?
He hadn’t come into the bar, as trivia night was always hosted in the restaurant.
You got finger food alongside your tickets in a package deal.
“How long has he been here?” Austin asked the barman.
“A couple of hours. We cut him off twenty minutes ago.”
“Liam, do you want me to take you home?”
He was still stroking Austin’s tattoos and smiling. “What did you say?”
“Can I take you home?”
“I don’t think I have condoms.”
Austin laughed, but felt his face heat at the same time.
The barman gave an amused smirk. Liam had blurted it out so loudly that other people had to have heard.
That would definitely be part of the gossip grapevine tomorrow.
There was nothing Austin could do about that now, but he could get Liam out of here before he said anything else.
“Can you lean on me, Liam?”
Austin put his arm around Liam’s waist and manoeuvred him off the barstool.
He stood upright, which would make things easier.
Austin walked Liam slowly out of the pub towards his truck.
Part of him wanted to take Liam home with him so he could be sure he’d be looked after while he was in this state, but he still had to pick up Maisie and she would have questions.
He didn’t have any issues in answering them, but he knew it would make Liam uncomfortable.
He opened the passenger door for Liam, who got himself in. Austin got him buckled up before getting in the other side.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
Austin had been drunk enough times in the past to know sitting in a moving vehicle for a prolonged period could end in disaster, but he needed to get Liam home.
It was only a three-minute drive. Most places were in the village, but it would have taken them a lot longer to walk, and it was dark and cold.
“Why do you have to be so perfect?” asked Liam.