Chapter 19 Austin #2
Austin grumbled. She wasn’t wrong. Tony had no filter, even in front of his daughter. When she’d repeated the word at four years old, Austin had been mortified. What had Ellie done? Pissed herself laughing for half an hour. Wasn’t it women who were supposed to hate that word?
“How about we get Uncle Kevin to make you a dessert to have upstairs,” said Gerard.
Maisie squealed. Between Kevin and Liam, his daughter would have a sugar addiction in no time, but she didn’t have it every day, and he wouldn’t be one of those parents who denied his child one of the few pleasurable things in life.
He could teach her moderation, he just couldn’t practice it himself, especially with Liam’s muffins.
He snorted at where his brain went. Gerard gave him an amused smirk, as if he could read his mind.
He gave Maisie a hug before she left with Gerard, and Austin made his way into the bar area to wait for Michael. Callum was working behind the bar.
“A man of many talents, I see,” said Austin.
“Hi Austin, what can I get you?”
“Just a Diet Coke, please.”
Callum went off to make his drink, and Austin wondered if Liam had talked to him yet about doing more hours at the bakery.
Callum is working behind the bar tonight xxx
Liam
I offered him more hours, and he wants to stay working there as well. Something to do with his music xxx
Liam
Don’t get too drunk with Michael. I plan to go for a ride later! xxx
Austin felt his cock swelling, so he replied with a few aubergine emojis – because he was a forty-year-old teenager – and pocketed his phone as Callum put his drink in front of him.
“How’s the music going, Callum?” he asked, tapping his card to pay for the drink.
“I’m writing a lot of stuff, but most of the performing is online.”
Austin had seen some of his videos. The young man was incredibly talented with a guitar, and had a phenomenal voice.
“Would your brother not let you perform in his pub?”
“I don’t need any help from my brothers.”
Austin said nothing more on what was clearly a sore point.
He only knew snippets from Liam, but Callum was the only one of his brothers who hadn’t gone to university.
They all owned businesses in Roseville, but Callum was only twenty, he had years to figure things out.
Austin was an only child, so he had no idea what it was like to have older siblings, but given there was twenty years between Dominic – the eldest – and Callum, and all the others were in their thirties, it would probably feel like having extra parents.
“Maybe Gerard and Kevin would let you play here.”
“You think?”
“Can’t hurt to ask. They’ve had performers here before.”
“I didn’t know that. I’ll ask them. Thanks, Austin. Oh . . . hello, Michael.”
Austin turned to see his friend looking like he’d had a day of it.
“Would you like your usual?” asked Callum, his voice a little shaky.
“Thank you, Callum.”
The young man blushed, which Michael seemed oblivious to. It looked like his friend had an admirer. Not that it would make a difference to Michael; the man was married to this village. Callum quickly returned with Michael’s beer, and Austin paid for it.
“Shall we grab a table, or do you want to stay at the bar?” asked Austin.
“Let’s talk somewhere more private.”
They grabbed their drinks and took a table in the corner. The bar wasn’t overly busy, as it usually picked up later in the evening. Many people worked outside the village so came in after dinner.
“What’s wrong, Michael?”
“I’ve booked the surgery.”
Austin had to think for a second. “In Turkey?”
“Yeah. In August. I thought I could squeeze it in between festivals.”
Austin snorted, but then looked at his friend. He couldn’t see any doubt on his face.
“What do you need from me?”
“I don’t want the others to know about it.”
“Why not?”
“Because they’ll try to talk me out of it.”
Austin went to argue, but then stopped himself.
Michael was right. He could hear them now.
Gerard was a drama queen and would think of the worst-case scenario.
Nathan would present detailed research on everything that could go wrong, and Tony .
. . he’d go ballistic about Michael going abroad to have surgery on his own.
“I’ll go with you,” said Austin.
“What?”
“It’s the summer holidays. I can bring Maisie, and we can make a holiday of it.”
“Isn’t that the peak business period for you?”
“It’ll only be a week, won’t it?”
“Three days in hospital and then home.”
“Well, you can stay in the hotel with us for the rest of the week, in case you need anything more from the hospital. Give me the dates and I’ll just block the time out.”
“You don’t have to do that, Austin.”
“I know, but if we’re saying nothing to the others, I’m at least going to make sure you’re not on your own.”
Michael teared up, and Austin instinctively put his arm around him. He glanced over at the bar and saw Callum looking at them with a concerned frown.
“I think you have an admirer,” said Austin, to change the mood.
He knew Michael didn’t like people getting into his personal business, which was impossible in this town. If people saw he was upset, they’d be gossiping and word might get back to the other guys.
“Who?” asked Michael.
He nodded at the bar. Michael looked over, which startled Callum, who suddenly tried to look busy. Austin chuckled.
“He’s a baby.”
“Twenty isn’t a baby.”
“He’s half my age.”
“You’ve always said it’s the age of the mind which matters most.”
“Yeah, but within reason. Not someone in their twenties. That’s just wrong.”
“Excuse me?”
“Liam’s different. He’s more mature that most of us.”
“That’s fair,” said Austin with a chuckle.
“There’s no way Callum’s interested in someone like me. And regardless, his brothers would break my legs if I even considered looking at their baby brother like that.”
“Again, fair!”
They both laughed.
“How are things going with you and Liam?”
“Didn’t you get a full update from Giselle earlier?”
“Of course, but I’d like to hear the proper story.”
“He’s . . . fuck, Michael. I’m in deep. I just can’t believe how lucky I am.”
“Wow. Have you told him how you feel?”
“No, but I will. I just don’t want to scare him off. You know how intense I can be.”
Michael nodded, looking thoughtful. “Don’t take too long to say anything, though. If he doesn’t feel the same way, better to know now rather than get hurt.”
“Don’t say things like that, Michael. If he doesn’t feel the same way, I don’t know what I’ll do.”
“I don’t think it’ll be a problem. Based on the way his face lights up whenever your name is mentioned, I know he feels the same way.
He might just think the same as you and be worried his feelings have developed too quickly.
But you guys practically edged each other for three months before your first date. ”
Austin chuckled. He’d been right to wait until Liam was ready.
There had been too much on his plate at the beginning of the year, even if Liam didn’t see it himself.
The difference in Liam over the past few weeks had been remarkable.
He smiled more, and those dark circles around his eyes were gone, so he was clearly sleeping better.
Austin almost felt guilty about keeping him up late whenever he was in his bed, but Liam never complained.
Austin would tell Liam how he felt soon. He’d know when the time was right.