Chapter 11 Austin
ELEVEN
AUSTIN
The week had dragged like a bitch. Saturday couldn’t come soon enough.
He was forty years old and more excited about this than his actual first date.
Austin had been floating when he’d left Sylvie’s Slice on Friday, but he had gone back on Saturday to talk to Liam and be sure he hadn’t just said he was ready for a date because he was emotional and hungover.
Why he’d done that, he wasn’t sure. What would he have done if Liam had taken it back?
Thankfully, he didn’t. He also seemed the most relaxed Austin had ever seen him.
Letting his city job go must have released an immense burden off his shoulders.
Learning more about Liam’s work, what he’d achieved at his age, and how he’d negotiated a deal putting himself first, made Austin fall for him a bit more.
There was no doubt in Austin’s mind that he was falling fast for Liam.
Now he had this date, he couldn’t fuck it up.
“I feel very insulted that you’re not bringing him here,” said Gerard. “I could have gotten Kevin to make you something off menu.”
“That’s probably why he didn’t ask, my love,” said Kevin, looking adoringly at his husband. “And we don’t do special requests, especially on a Saturday night.”
“We do for family.”
Austin was always touched when Gerard referred to him that way. It was also a reminder that Gerard’s family had disowned him years ago, but he more than made up for family on Kevin’s side. The man was one of seven siblings, and they were a very loving bunch.
They were in the Stag and Lantern. It was mid-afternoon on Thursday.
Austin had finished up a job and had stopped in to grab something to eat before he picked Maisie up from school.
Gerard had ordered him to sit down, and then Kevin brought out fish finger doorstop sandwiches for them all.
Everything in them was homemade, even the bread.
The man was a wizard in the kitchen. It had tasted incredible.
“I wouldn’t bring him here anyway,” said Austin. “And you know why. I want us to enjoy this date without the entire village watching and gossiping about it the next day. The last thing I want is for him to say no to a second date.”
“He’s hardly likely to do that when you show him all your moves,” said Gerard, wiggling his hips, making his husband smile.
“I’m not sleeping with him on the first date. He’s not just some quick fuck to me, you know, Gerard.”
“I know that, Austin,” he said, his smile disappearing and being replaced by his auntie face. “You just might want to set that expectation clear with Liam.”
“What do you mean?”
“The two times I’ve been in the bakery with you this week, Liam has looked like he wants to climb you like a tree.”
Austin smiled at the thought, and his dick twitched. But he would hold his ground on this. He’d said to Liam early on that he wanted to woo him, not just take him to bed. That hadn’t changed, so he shared that with Gerard and Kevin.
“Haven’t you already been sort of dating him for months, in a roundabout way?” asked Kevin. “Liam might have expectations that things will progress quickly, and let’s be honest, gay men don’t woo guys.”
“Yeah, but Austin’s one of those bisexuals,” said Gerard, which made them all laugh.
“I can make it clear at the start of the date, so he’s not upset when things don’t go that way.”
“You are at least going to kiss him, aren’t you?” asked Gerard. “I mean, give the poor guy something.”
Austin wanted nothing more than to kiss Liam. He had a feeling that their first kiss wouldn’t be something quick, and he wanted to be somewhere he could savour it, but he didn’t want to build it up too much in his head. It added unnecessary pressure.
“You can’t tell him that at the start of the date,” said Kevin.
“Why not?”
“Thank you for joining me for dinner. By the way, I’m not going to fuck you.”
Austin snorted. He had a point.
“And what if he’s cleaned out ready for a dicking and you pull the no cheek clapping card over the appetisers? I’d be telling you to get fucked about a second date if that was me.”
They all cracked up laughing.
“Fine, I’ll talk to him beforehand and make things clear to him.”
“Can I be there when you have that conversation?” asked Gerard.
“Can you fuck!”
They all laughed again.
Austin walked into the bakery on Friday morning for his coffee before heading to work.
He was finishing a patio for one of his neighbours today.
Hopefully, he could get it finished, or he’d have to work tomorrow as well.
His date with Liam wasn’t until the evening, but he wanted the whole day to prepare.
Austin wanted it to be perfect. Any fuckups, and he might not get the chance with this guy again.
“Morning, Austin,” said Chloe. “Your usual?”
“Yes, please.”
The door from the kitchen opened, and he smiled until he saw it was Callum. He was a nice guy, kind of cute, but not who Austin wanted to see. He looked back at Chloe, who was smirking at him.
“He’s not here today,” she said.
“Oh, okay,” he said, trying to hide the disappointment in his voice. “Will he be here at all today? I wanted to talk to him about something.”
She started laughing before walking backwards to the kitchen.
“Liam, your boyfriend’s here,” she said so loudly that the noise in the bakery stopped.
Liam came rushing out. There was a dusting of flour on his cheek. He had a hairnet on, and his apron was covered in flour.
“Why are you shouting?” he glared at her.
When he saw Austin, he broke into a big smile and went to put his hand through his hair, which was a tell that he was nervous.
He pulled at the hairnet, then looked down at himself, and his eyes widened.
Before he said anything, he rushed back into the kitchen, causing Chloe and Callum to laugh.
Austin scowled at them both, but it just made them laugh even more.
“Sit down, Austin. The boss will bring your coffee over when he’s made himself look gorgeous for you.”
“He’s always gorgeous,” he said without hesitation.
“Wow. Okay, well, now I’m jealous,” said Chloe.
Austin chuckled and went to take his table in the corner.
It was a few minutes before Liam came over with his coffee, and one of his own.
He also had what looked like a cupcake in a bag.
Liam was now minus the apron and the hairnet, but the flour smudge was still on his cheek.
Austin couldn’t help but lean forward, using his hand to cup Liam under the chin and his thumb to brush the flour away.
He saw Liam’s cheeks go pink, and could feel them heat under his touch.
“You missed a bit,” he said with a smile.
“Thank you. So, how was work yesterday?”
“Good. I love being busy again.”
“I prefer to be less busy.”
“Yeah, but you weren’t just busy, you were being five people busy.”
“It’s been so different this week.”
“I bet.”
“Are you going to bring Maisie in tomorrow?”
Austin loved that Liam was so fond of his little girl. She adored him as well, but then she had impeccable taste.
“Should be able to. If I can get this job done today, then we’ll definitely be here.”
“I’ll make the cupcakes for her, and you can just pick them up if you can’t bring her.”
“You don’t have to keep making her cupcakes, you know.”
“I enjoy doing it, and I only do two now, so she isn’t overdosing on sugar.”
“Well, at least let me pay for them.”
“No. It’s my gift for her. It’s not really any of your business.”
Austin chuckled. He was feeling nervous, but he knew he had to bring up the expectations for their date tomorrow so everything was clear.
The last thing he wanted was to be a disappointment.
He had thought about fucking his plan off and taking Liam to bed.
The guys would have Maisie for him, because he’d need a lot of time for everything he wanted to do with Liam.
Austin wanted to spend hours exploring his body and discovering what turned him on.
But he wanted a relationship with Liam, so he knew it would be even better if they waited. He just knew they’d be very compatible.
“I wanted to talk about our date tomorrow,” said Austin.
Liam visibly tensed, and Austin immediately took hold of his hand.
“Nothing to worry about, I promise. It’s just –”
“Dad?”
Liam stood up, but kept their hands connected.
Austin looked around, and there was Martin Wells.
Apart from the funeral, and from a distance, Austin hadn’t seen him in years.
He was rarely front of house in the bakery, as that was Sylvie’s domain.
He was a similar height to Liam and had the same eyes, but Martin had a thick head of hair which was mostly grey.
Martin was still a handsome man and looked to be in good shape.
If that was what Liam was going to look like in his sixties, then wow.
There were some good genes in the Wells family.
“Son, I thought it was time I came to see how the place was doing.”
Liam rushed to his dad and pulled him into a hug. Austin felt himself get choked up and looked around at other customers who were wiping their eyes as well.
Austin didn’t want to intrude on this moment, so he picked up his coffee.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Liam.”
He pulled out of the hug and smiled at him. He’d been crying, and Austin wanted to comfort him, but wasn’t sure what the right thing to do in front of his dad was.
“Dad, this is Austin.”
“I remember you as a boy,” said Martin, holding out his hand and smiling.
Austin shook it. “Pleased to meet you again, Mr Wells.”
Liam snorted. “Just call him Martin.”
“I like Mr Wells. It shows he has manners. You should lock this one down quickly, son.”
“Dad!” said Liam, blushing.
Austin felt his own cheeks heating, but loved seeing a father support his son so openly. He’d had that himself, but knew it wasn’t common.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Liam.” He leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek.