Chapter 37
THIRTY-SEVEN
LARS
Lars set the last stack of plates in the cabinet before shutting it and the dishwasher.
He grabbed his water and headed toward the oddly quiet living room.
His mom had taken Maddie and picked up the girls from school, claiming she wanted their help baking.
But he had a feeling she was just trying to give him and Mel time to figure things out.
Mel was still at work though. Their small company was planning a wedding that took place next weekend, so it was getting down to the wire, and things were a bit hectic for them at the moment.
Primarily for Mel and Shauna since they did most of the labor.
He honestly didn’t know how they were going to handle everything once Mel left.
Since she was at the office and the other two girls were at school, Lars had the house to himself. He still hadn’t talked to Aaron. It had been days, and he missed him. But every time Lars started to text him, he stopped because he didn’t really know what to say.
Aaron hadn’t messaged him either. Lars knew him well enough to understand it was because he felt like Lars and Mel needed time and space. But Lars wanted Aaron here with them. He wanted Aaron to come home. It felt wrong not to have him staying here.
With a sigh, Lars sat in the recliner and started scrolling through movies and shows on various streaming platforms. Nothing caught his eye though.
He was just about to give up when someone knocked on the door.
A sudden burst of hope filled him, and he practically jumped up to open it, thinking it was Aaron.
It didn’t occur to him until he was nearly there that Aaron never knocked.
Lars's smile fell when he found a young woman he didn’t know on the other side instead.
“Lawrence Spencer?” she asked.
“Yeah…” His brow furrowed.
Until she passed over a sealed envelope. His stomach dropped. He didn’t hear anything else she said as he took it. Closing the door, he went and sank onto the couch.
“No,” he whispered to himself. With trembling fingers, he slowly opened the envelope and removed the papers from inside.
The divorce papers from Melanie.
He couldn’t breathe. The world was closing around him. His vision blurred, making it impossible to read the words that would put an end to everything he’d known for the past seven years. The life he’d built for his family would crumble to pieces.
He wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but then someone was there, gripping his face.
“Lars,” Mel said loudly, making him wonder how many times she’d already called his name. “Look at me. Take a deep breath.”
Opening his mouth, he tried to ask how she could do this, but nothing came out. She took the papers from him and set them aside before holding his hands.
When he continued to sit in silence, she grabbed her phone and headed into the other room. Lars leaned forward, burying his face in his hands, bracing his elbows on his knees. He didn’t bother fighting the tears.
The front door burst open again minutes later, smacking against the wall, and two strong arms wrapped around him as the couch cushion dipped next to him.
“Lawrence,” a deep familiar voice said.
Aaron. He’d come. How had he known to… Lars lifted his head and looked from him to Mel, who stood a few feet away, watching him with clear concern.
“I called him,” she said, as if reading his mind.
Aaron gently put a palm against his cheek to turn his face. Holding his gaze, Aaron whispered, “It’s okay. Just keep breathing.”
“I tried to get here before the papers,” Mel said.
Lars kept his eyes on Aaron, focusing on him and his breathing, trying to mirror the rise and fall of his chest.
“I don’t think he even read the papers,” she went on. “Otherwise he wouldn’t be freaking out this bad.”
At that, Aaron turned his head. “What do you mean?”
Leaning over, Lars rested against Aaron’s shoulder.
He tried to calm his racing heart and not throw up on his…
boyfriend? He didn’t even know what to call Aaron at this point.
But what he did know was that Aaron would take care of things.
He would talk to Mel for Lars, straight it all out.
And Lars trusted him to do so on his behalf.
Aaron knew him better than anyone; he knew what Lars would want and need.
“It’s asking for joint custody,” Mel said. “I’m not fighting to take them away from him. These divorce papers are just what we’d been discussing for the past year. Nothing more.”
Lars slowly lifted his head to look her way. “What?”
“I’m not trying to take the girls, Lars.
I know you think I’m a selfish monster for ruining your life and stopping you from following your dreams, but I’m not that cruel.
” She sighed and took a seat in the adjacent armchair.
“I love you; I don’t want to hurt you. And I sure as hell don’t want to hurt the girls. ”
“You’re not trying to take them?” he whispered, processing her words.
Mel shook her head. “We still need to figure out what to do about the job, but no. I don’t want to destroy our family.”
He sucked in a deep, shaky breath. Aaron moved closer, kissing the side of his head as he hugged him tightly. Lars leaned into him again, grateful for his presence.
“I’m sorry,” Mel said in a soft tone. “I wanted to be here when they came, but I got stuck at work.”
Aaron ran a hand up and down Lars’s arm. “Where are the girls now?”
“With his mom; I asked her to pick them up.”
Lars took another deep breath, slowly feeling better the more they talked. After a moment, he interrupted. “You called Aaron.”
Mel met his gaze with a small smile. “Even before, he was the one person who could always get through to you. I haven’t seen you that bad in a long time.
I was worried and knew having him here would help.
” She reached for his hand, and Lars gave it to her.
“I’m sorry about my reaction last week. I was just…
shocked, and I couldn’t get the thought out of my head that you two had been sneaking around all this time. ”
“We weren’t,” Lars started.
She shook her head. “I know.”
It was Aaron who asked, “What made you change your mind?”
“Our chat, honestly.”
Lars looked at Aaron in question, but the man just gave a little smile and nod.
“You were right; I know you two. I’ve known you most of my life, and I love you both.” With a smirk, she added, “But you two are not clever enough to keep up something like this for a long time. You would’ve been caught before now.”
Lars narrowed his eyes, and she chuckled.
“You’re also just not those guys.” She shrugged and added, “Plus, I talked to Charlie about it to see what she thought, and she wholeheartedly believes you two.”
Looking at Aaron again, Lars said, “Remind me to thank her next time we see her.”
“Will do,” he whispered before brushing a kiss against Lars’s lips. Then, he pulled back to glance at Mel. “Sorry.”
“Oddly enough, you two make sense together.” Releasing Lars’s hand, she stood. “I’m happy for you guys, and I honestly don’t mind seeing this.” She pointed a finger back and forth between them. “But I would like to keep it from the girls a little longer.”
Lars opened his mouth, but she quickly continued.
“At least until after we tell them you and I are separating.” She sighed. “And maybe after I settle the job situation. Just so we know what exactly to tell them when they ask about who they’re going to live with and stuff.”
“I was going to say the same thing.” Lars smiled genuinely for the first time in what felt like days.
“Thank you for coming,” Lars said, opening the door to the spare room. Aaron followed, just as he always did. “I know you have better things to do, and after what happened…”
The sound of the door shutting behind him made Lars turn around. Aaron stood with his back against it, slowly shaking his head. “I’ll always come, Lawrence.” He pushed off the door and walked closer. “And what happened that would make you think otherwise?”
“I shouldn’t have let you leave like that,” Lars said with a sigh. “I should’ve stopped you.”
Aaron put a hand against his chest. “I had to take Bri to school—”
“You left so that we could have time together as a ‘family’, but you’re part of this family, Aaron. I should’ve made that clear.”
“I actually had a really good chat with my mom and Charlie after that,” he said, guiding Lars to sit on the edge of the bed with him.
“Because I wanted you to ask me to stay too.” Lars started to apologize again, but Aaron cut him off.
“That wasn’t the time though, and we both know that.
It’s okay. But with their advice, I need to tell you while we’re both completely awake, sober, and clothed… ”
Lars chuckled, pulling one knee onto the bed to face him. But his heart raced as he waited. He really hoped this was going where he wanted it to.
“I love you, Lawrence, and I’m really all in. I want to give this a go.”
“You know,” Lars took one of his hands, “I actually called you my boyfriend in my head earlier. I don’t know if we’re there, but it just felt right.”
Aaron’s grin widened. “I’m good with that if you are.”
With a nod, Lars closed the remaining distance between them. He kissed him over and over, falling backward and bringing Aaron with him. For several minutes, it was just them, their hands exploring, lips tasting. But they didn’t have time to do everything he wanted right now.
“Mel will be home with the girls soon,” Lars said with a chuckle. They sat up again, straightening their clothes. “Will you stay for dinner?”
Aaron stood, clearing his throat and scratching the back of his neck. “Um, I can’t. I’m actually having dinner with my dad and Bri.”
Lars’s eyes widened. “Voluntarily?”
With a breathy laugh, Aaron nodded. “Yeah, so… we have more to discuss. I kind of went to see Mel the other day at work, then I went to talk to my dad. She made me realize I needed closure. He and I ended up talking, and I agreed to get to know each other.” His head lowered.
“He’s really sick, Lars. Like really, really sick. ”
Lars got to his feet and went to him, drawing him into a hug. Aaron explained all the conversations he’d been having with people the past week, and by the time the girls got home, Lars felt like things were almost back to normal. He felt a flicker of hope that everything might work out.