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“You’ll find what you need in there, I would imagine. Do you want me to wait for you?” The coat Ashok wore wouldn’t keep him warm for five minutes, let alone an hour.
“No, it’s fine. Just give me the address, and I’ll make my way to the studio when I’m done.”
Ashok held out his hand to Hayden. He looked at it and frowned. What did he want? His puzzlement must have been apparent.
“Give me your phone. I’ll put my number in, and you can text me the address. I can Uber to you.” Ashok sighed, rolling his eyes.
“Oh, right. Of course.” Hayden unlocked it, passing it to Ashok, completely forgetting about his screensaver. A picture of him, his sister and his parents’ dog.
“Nice pic. Cute dog.” Ashok’s voice softened.
“It’s Quinn and my sister, Vic.”
“You have your sister’s picture as your wallpaper?” Ashok asked as he typed away on his phone.
“Technically, I have a dog’s. She snuck in the picture right before I took it.” Hayden loved his sister. He protected his sister. She was a couple of years younger than him and had Down’s Syndrome. She was the light of his and his parents’ life, and she adored Quinn.
He couldn’t wait to see her in a few weeks. Her face could light up the darkest of nights. She was just so happy all the time. Never once complaining about her life. It was a good one, though. Hayden’s parents owned a farm, although they rented out most of the fields these days. They had a small cottage industry, making and selling ice cream. Vic loved it there. She helped where she could, especially in the farm shop. It was the best environment for her. She got to meet people and talk. Boy, could she talk!
His parents had encouraged him to go to university so he could come back and help run the business, but it wasn’t what he wanted. He needed to move away and make his own way in life. Many would have jumped at the chance to run an already successful business, but Hayden wanted to do it the hard way, and that’s how he ended up where he was, running his own, now successful, coffee shop.
“Well, it’s cute anyway. So is your sister.” Ashok handed him back his phone and opened the car door. “I can get most things here?”
“There’s a grocery store right around the corner and whatever else you might need. Homeware, clothes. You name it, you can get it here. You might want to think about getting a new coat. You’ll freeze to death in that one.”
“I don’t need your advice, Hayden. I’m a big boy. I can look after myself.” He slammed the door and strode away into the computer store. Hayden watched him go, admiring the grace with which he moved. He knew Seb and Dom had it too, but Ashok seemed to glide effortlessly across the floor. He really needed to get laid.
Maybe that night out needed to be sooner rather than later.
Chapter Eight
Ashok
AshokhatedthatHaydenwas right. He hadn’t realised how cold it actually was and wished he’d brought his bigger coat with him. No point in buying a new one, but he could buy something else to stave off the cold.
After he bought his laptop cable from the computer store, the rest of his shopping trip went off without a hitch. He got what he needed from the grocery store, and after a couple of hours, he was warming up nicely in the back of his Uber. He’d bought another hoodie, not that he needed any more, but at least he was warmer than when he’d left the house.
He recalled the picture he’d seen earlier on Hayden’s phone. It was obvious he loved his sister and the dog, Quinn. Ashok dug his phone out of his pocket and looked athislock screen. A black-and-white silhouette of him dancing that his mother had taken at a show he’d done a few years back. Some said he was vain, but it reminded him of his goals in life and his absolute love of dance.
Ashok looked around, remembering where he was, and soon they pulled up outside the coffee shop. He paid his driver and let himself into the shop, laden with bags of food.
“Here, let me help you.” Hayden rushed over to him and took the bags from his hand, leading him to a table by the window. “Can I get you anything? Green tea?”
“Erm, yeah, that’d be great.” He sank into the comfortable chair, happy to take the weight off his feet. He could dance for hours, but walking around, shopping? His feet were killing him, and he sighed as he kicked off his trainers, massaging them through his socks.
He looked up as Hayden sat down opposite him, placing his tea and a granola slice in front of him.
“I thought you might be hungry. These are homemade, nothing artificial, no added sugar, and they’re vegan.”
“Thank you,” Ashok said, a little surprised. “I’m sure I’ll enjoy it.”
“Did you get everything you wanted? I’m not even sure what’s in the cupboards at home. Likely not enough to cook a meal, that’s for sure.” Hayden chuckled quietly. “I’m not big on cooking, more of a takeout guy.”
“I kind of noticed, but yes. I got enough to cook us a good meal later. It’s the least I can do for putting me up for a couple of nights.” Ashokwasgrateful to Hayden for letting him stay. “Is it OK if I leave my stuff here while I go next door?”
“Of course, you can put them in the office. They’ll be safe there. Actually, you sit and finish your tea, and I’ll take them.” Hayden stood and picked up the bags before heading through a doorway at the rear of the shop. Seems both their tempers had calmed. He knew he’d been irrational, but that was him, sometimes far too quick to anger.
He turned to see two women watching their exchange with interest. One appeared to be in her forties; the other was maybe a little younger than him. They quickly turned away, but he’d seen them. Hayden went straight to them when he returned, and whatever the older lady said to him, he blushed like a bride on her wedding night.
