CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Aiden
We spentthe evening all stretched out on the sofa together, playing video games and watching play-through clips on YouTube while Hunter tried to teach me how to crochet. Bailey and I made dinner together as he walked me through their nutrition plan, answering my questions about their favourite foods and how their plan worked and changed over the season. Hunter kept coming to check on us and eventually asked if, next time I had a kitchen, I could bring him a couple of white chocolate sprinkle cookies because he’d really liked those when Jonny had taken some to training.
I’d smiled and nodded, telling him I’d bring him whatever he wanted and casually mentioning the cookies would freeze if that helped.
I’d still been wearing Hunter’s rugby shirt, since we’d avoided getting cum on it, and a pair of shorts I’d borrowed from Bailey that I’d had to tie tightly around the waist because they kept slipping down off my hips. I could see the satisfaction onboth of their faces every time they saw me, pleased I was here, in their space, wearing their clothes.
Possession had never been my favourite thing, but on them I found it amusing rather than annoying.
The whole night was surprisingly soft and domestic. It didn’t even occur to me to be afraid of it until I crawled into bed and by then it felt too late to be scared. The evening had happened, I’d enjoyed it, and that was okay.
I slept in Hunter’s old bed because as much as I liked the idea of sharing with my boys, it wasn’t going to happen with their current arrangement. I liked my space, hated getting too hot, and I woke up early. And I didn’t think I’d get much sleep with Hunter sprawled across me like a starfish. For one thing, he was a foot taller than me and I’d end up getting squashed. And I was an absolute bastard when I was tired. Both Jonny and Bacon would attest to that.
Hunter and Bailey had seemed a bit reluctant the first night when I’d insisted on sleeping apart, but now it was part of the routine we’d suddenly slipped into. Another thing I wasn’t thinking too much about. And sweetly, I could sometimes hear them talking softly through the wall. It didn’t make me feel lonely. It made me feel…
Something beginning with L and ending with E. The one thing I refused to consider as an option.
At least out loud.
The bubble popped the next morning when I was stood in the kitchen in an old T-shirt of Hunter’s that I’d nicked, sipping a mug of tea I’d stewed for so long you could practically stand a spoon up in it. My phone buzzed on the counter and I frowned as I picked it up, not recognising the number calling me. But I was still waiting to hear from my insurance, who’d been delayed coming out to see me due to staff shortages, and the building management about my rent queries.
“Hello?” I asked cautiously, mostly expecting to hear some machine voice.
“Hello, is this Aiden Gregory?”
“Speaking.”
“My name’s Jeff. I’m from Insurety. I’m wondering if you’re around for me to come and look at your commercial kitchen this morning? I’ve got another job to do in the morning, so I can pop by afterwards.”
“Er, yeah. What sort of time?” I asked, trying not to let panic rise in my chest. I was over an hour away, not dressed, and half my shit was still at Jonny’s. Fuck it, as long as I had clean underwear and my keys, I’d probably be okay.
“Should be about eleven. Can I confirm the address with you?”
“Yeah.” I listened to him read off the address and confirmed it was right, then double-checked what I needed to bring before I hung up. “Shit! Shit! Fucking shit!”
“Everything okay?” Bailey asked, sticking his head around the kitchen door with his bag in hand. The two of them were getting ready to head to training. I was glad I’d gotten the call now at least. Then I wouldn’t have to leave them with nothing but a message dropped in the group chat, explaining what had happened.
There was an uncomfortable, gnawing sensation in my stomach as I looked at Bailey’s worried face. We’d spent two nights together, and I’d been careless enough to slip into something comfortable with them. But now it was time for me to get back to reality, and I didn’t know when I’d be coming back.
I had a kitchen to clean, a business to rescue, and a life to sort.
I couldn’t stay here, living in a fantasy. No matter how happy it was making me.
“That was my insurance,” I said before draining the last of my tea and putting the mug in the sink. “Someone can come and look at my kitchen today.”
“Shit. Talk about last minute.”
“Yeah, they’ll be there about eleven.”
“Do you need anything?”
“Clothes,” I said. “Then, I don’t know, I can grab breakfast on the way. Lunch too. I’ll probably spend the rest of the afternoon cleaning the kitchen, once I know what I can do. Then I can go shopping this evening.”
Bailey nodded, uncertainty on his face. I knew what he wanted to ask, the question hanging in the air between us like a neon sign. “Are you planning to stay there then?”
“Yeah, I’ll go back to mine,” I said. It wasn’t what he wanted to hear but I didn’t have a choice. I couldn’t afford to commute from Lincoln every day. And it was way too early in whatever this was for me to live with them. I wasn’t going to live with Jonny and Devon either, because as much as I loved my brother, neither of us would survive more than forty-eight hours in the same house.
