Chapter 20 #2
They’d gotten a table. Well, Hassan had sorted it.
He knew the manager, Eric, who was also the owner’s brother.
Hassan just had a way of getting people to speak to him, and usually spill all their secrets.
It had to be a doctor thing. The bedside manner trick.
He’d make some guy happy one day, although Liam wasn’t sure what his type was.
There was nothing similar in terms of looks about the guys Liam had seen coming out of his room over the years.
They were of all ages, shapes, and sizes.
The one night they’d slept together had been fun, and the guy knew what he was doing.
Definitely on the bossy side, but it had been a one-off.
Liam hadn’t known he’d also slept with Kieran at some point.
They’d kept that quiet, or had thought it obvious so it didn’t need mentioning.
“What time are we going to Mickey’s?” asked Liam.
“The show finishes at midnight,” said Kieran. “So after then, probably.”
“After midnight,” said Liam and Milo together.
“Just because you’re both dating old men doesn’t mean you need to become one.”
Liam was about to protest that Austin wasn’t old, but that wasn’t the point Kieran was making. He looked at Milo, and there was a silent agreement between the two of them. They were both going to show Kieran that they could still keep up with anyone else in their twenties.
Liam was convinced he’d died and woken up in hell. That explained how he was feeling. It took him a few seconds to realise he was in his old room at the flat. He’d moved all his things out already, so apart from the bedding covering him, there was nothing else here.
He groaned as he rolled onto his side, the devil’s daggers stabbing into his skull.
There was a recollection of doing shots, and a faint memory of him dancing with his shirt off.
That wasn’t unusual for him to do on a night out.
He had an impressive body and was insecure as fuck; it was a simple decision that he’d flash some skin in order to get attention.
Not that he needed that sort of attention now he had Austin.
A flash of memory hit him, the kind you get the morning after you’ve done something embarrassing and are flooded with shame.
Cringing, he reached for his phone, which he’d thankfully put on charge before passing out. There was a notification that he had a message from Austin, causing his heart to beat faster and him to feel nauseous. Before he could overthink it, he opened the message.
Austin
Haha. Sounds like you had a great night. I’ll answer all your questions when I see you on Sunday night xxx
The message had been sent at six o’clock in the morning. It was almost nine, and based on the timestamp, he’d last messaged Austin at four.
In bed now, stroking my cock and imagining you fucking me until I can’t breathe
That was cringy, but was something he would probably say to Austin’s face. He realised it was one of ten messages he’d sent Austin over the space of four hours. Hopefully, the fact he hadn’t replied until the morning meant he hadn’t woken the guy up.
I wish you were here. Would you like to lick all this sweat off my body?
When are you going to fuck me against that tree in the woods like you promised?
We should get tested so I can have your cum in me while I’m baking your chocolate orange muffins!
Would it be weird for you to eat chocolate orange muffin batter off my arse? It would be like your two favourite foods being combined!
If you had to give up eating chocolate orange muffins or my muffin forever, which would it be?
Okay. That one was embarrassing. He kept scrolling.
I bet you couldn’t make me cum five times in one night. Do you accept the challenge?
He was sure Austin would accept, but Liam wasn’t sure he’d be able to move for days once the guy was done with him.
Could we get a mould of your dick made, and then I can experience it from both ends at the same time?
You know you’ve ruined me for other men, and not just because you have a horse cock, but because you’re the most wonderful man I have ever met. And it doesn’t matter about other men, because you’re it for me!
That was far too soppy, and thankfully Liam had made no big declarations, but that was very close to it. I mean, what more could he say other than the L-word. He wasn’t ready to say that out loud yet. Hopefully, the last message hadn’t backed him into a corner.
Don’t have a wank whilst I’m gone. I want to drink all your cum as soon as I get back
Okay! He wasn’t sure what to think of that one, but he made a mental note that if he ever had a night out like this again, he was giving his phone to Milo. Before he got out of bed in search of painkillers, he replied to Austin.
Please ignore all the previous messages. Somebody stole my phone, but I have it back now xxx
Austin
I’ve not ruined you for other men? xxx
That one was me, but the rest were person or persons unknown xxx
Austin
Do you know who the guy is that wants me to fuck him against a tree and bake me chocolate orange muffins with my cum inside him? xxx
No comment! xxx
Austin sent back a string of laughing emojis, which made Liam groan again with embarrassment.
They were followed by a row of hearts, which made Liam feel too many things.
His body, brain, and heart were all feeling different things.
His dick was hard. He wanted to die of embarrassment, and he wanted to rush home and tell Austin how he felt about him.
There was only one thing he could do before he got back to Heartwood.
He rolled onto his stomach and ground against the mattress, feeling a jolt of pleasure through his body with the friction.
His head was still throbbing, and not just the one he gripped with his hand.
He snorted at his own corny joke, and then almost had a heart attack when there was a loud knock on the door.
“Breakfast will be here in twenty minutes,” shouted Kieran. “Hurry up and finish yourself off.”
Liam felt his face heat. Had he been making a noise, or was Kieran just incredibly perceptive?
Probably the latter. The guy was incredibly sex positive, and considering some of the shit he’d been through, it was admirable.
Kieran could be a pain in the arse, but he was still someone Liam had a lot of admiration and respect for.
His hard-on, was now a semi, so he gave up on the idea of doing anything about it.
Maybe he should save things for Austin as well.
His boyfriend was a bit of a cum whore after all.
Pulling himself out of bed slowly, so he didn’t keel over, he pulled on a T-shirt and opened his bedroom door.
Based on the voices coming from the living room, he was the last one up.
“He lives!” said Milo, far too loudly.
“Here,” said Hassan, passing him pills and a bottle of water.
“Is this the good stuff?”
Hassan nodded with a smile. Liam downed the pills with a swig of water.
“All of it,” said Hassan, with his stern doctor frown.
Liam downed the rest of the bottle, realising he was a lot thirstier than he thought. Hassan took the bottle off him and passed him a glass of orange juice with another stern look. Liam couldn’t help but snort.
“Have you all had this?” he asked the others.
They both nodded. Hassan was such a fusspot about them looking after themselves. The guy had been just as drunk as the rest of them last night, but looked like he’d just come back from a month-long holiday.
“How do you look so healthy?”
“I’m good at prep.”
Milo snorted. “Sorry, intrusive thoughts.”
That made them all crack up laughing. Liam downed the orange juice and was then given a cup of sweet tea.
By the time he’d drunk that, breakfast had arrived, and after scoffing down a double sausage and egg McMuffin, more orange juice, and water, he was feeling semi-normal.
After a shower, he was sure he could function like a human again, until Milo said something that made his head throb again.
“We’re going out for lunch. Just the two of us. There are some things we need to talk about.”
That’s what everyone wants to hear from their best friend, isn’t it?
They were having lunch at Knights Corner. A new queer restaurant bar that had recently opened in the city. It was the first LGBTQ+ space in the square mile. At the weekend, the city was usually deserted, but Knights Corner was not only open but busy.
The hot guy, Langdon, who used to work at Madame Hoes, was one of the owners of Knights Corner.
He was wearing a branded polo shirt that pulled perfectly across his sculpted physique, showing off his inked arms. Liam may have tugged a few out over the hot bartender in the past, but the guy was loved up with Eric now.
They weren’t that far apart in age, with Langdon only being a few years older than Liam.
He’d always felt like he’d end up with an older guy.
It was something his mum had always believed as well.
Given she knew Austin and his parents, Liam liked to think his mum would have been happy with how things had turned out.
Liam knew he was already getting ahead of himself, but that was just who he was.
He couldn’t change the fact that he fell hard and fast. Hopefully, this time it wasn’t with the wrong guy.
“Enjoy, lads. Someone will be along in a minute to take your order. Just let me know if you need anything,” said Langdon as he left them at their table.
They both thanked him and watched him walk away.
“Is it just me, or does that guy get hotter each time I see him?” asked Milo.
Liam chuckled. “You’re not wrong. But look at us, both with men in their forties.”
“And how’s that going?” asked Milo with a grin.
“Ugh. Walked into that one, didn’t I?”
“You seem happy, Liam.”
“I am happy.”
“Have you told him yet?”
“Told him what?”
“That you’re in love with him.”
“What do you . . . no . . . no, I haven’t said anything yet. We’ve only been together for a month.”
“And three months of foreplay beforehand, don’t forget.”
“That was me just playing hard to get.”
“No, that was you protecting your heart, which you’re still doing now.”
“Can you blame me with my history?”
Before Milo could respond, their server appeared to take their order.
Liam hadn’t even looked at the menu, but went with the burger on Milo’s recommendation.
He’d already been here a few times, as he used to work nearby before he’d quit his job when his relationship with Edward had been exposed to the press.
The guy had been through a tough time recently, and here was Liam being selfish.
“I should ask how you’re doing,” said Liam.
“Subtle, Liam. I’m all good, so let’s get back to you and Austin.”
“There’s nothing to talk about. He treats me like a prince. The sex is amazing. His daughter is adorable. What more do I need?”
“Are you ready to be a parent?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked, prickling.
“Don’t kick off. Out of the four of us, you’re the one I saw having kids, it’s not that.
I’m just worried that you haven’t stopped since your mum died.
You dropped everything to move home. You’ve had to run the bakery because your dad needed time to grieve.
The way you left your job was abrupt, and they treated you like shit.
Now you’re in a relationship where there’s a kid, who will always come first.”
“I don’t understand what you’re getting at, Milo. You make it sound like I had a choice in any of that.”
“You’re missing my point, Liam.”
“Stop messing about and just tell me.”
“It’s April, Liam. Your mum’s only been gone for four months. Have you stopped and given yourself time to grieve yet?”
Liam felt his eyes fill. “I miss her every day.”
Milo grabbed his hand. “I know you do. It’s just, you’ve been there for everyone else these past few months, and now you’re in a new relationship.
I’ve known you a long time, Liam, and I don’t think you’ve properly grieved yet.
I know many people say they understand what you’re going through, and a lot of it feels like platitudes to make themselves feel better, but I do know what you’re going through. ”
Liam couldn’t stop the tears from falling.
Milo had lost his mum when he was a teenager, but it didn’t really hit him until they’d been at university together.
Was it going to suddenly hit Liam down the road?
He missed his mum every single day. Whenever he was baking in that kitchen, he thought of her, and he’d cried plenty when she died and after the funeral.
He didn’t want to think of things getting more painful.
“Have you talked to Austin about it?” asked Milo gently. He’d moved over to Liam’s side of the booth and had his arm around him.
“We talk about her all the time. He knew her when he was a kid himself, and his mum was friends with mine.”
“I mean, have you talked to him about what it’s like to lose a parent?”
“No. We’ve talked about his wife, though.”
“That must have been a cheery date.”
“Piss off,” he laughed. “She’s Maisie’s mum. Of course we’re going to talk about her.”
“Have you said to Austin, ‘I miss my mum. Can I have a hug?’”
He shook his head, getting choked up again.
If he said that to Austin, the man wouldn’t hesitate to pull Liam into his arms and let him cry on his shoulder, just like he had on the night of the funeral.
So why hadn’t he leaned on his boyfriend in that way?
That was a question he wasn’t sure he could answer.