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Ashok heard a commotion in the background and his mother shouting to someone.
“I have to go, Ashok. Your father is here. Take care, sweet boy.”
And with that, she was gone.
Ashok felt so emotional today. Leaving home, moving into this place, and now hearing his mother’s voice. It was all too much.
Sorrow and relief coursed through his body, and fat tears rolled down his cheeks. Whimpers became loud sobs until he couldn’t get his breath, so strong were his emotions on everything that had happened over the past twenty-four hours.
He knew his reasons for leaving were valid. His bruised face was evidence of that, plus the continued verbal abuse he’d endured every fucking day. His only solace was his mother and the youngest of his three brothers, Manvik. The other two could go fuck themselves, along with his father. The vitriol that spilled from their mouths on an almost daily basis. It surprised Ashok, but he hadn’t had the nerve to move out sooner. He’d feared for his mother’s safety, though, and it appeared she’d been doing the same thing.
Perhaps things were finally taking a turn for the better for them both.
Maybe now was his time to fly. But first, he had to deal with his landlord.
Chapter Five
Hayden
BythetimeHaydenarrived home, it was almost seven in the evening. It’d taken him ages to cash up; there had been a mix-up with card receipts and cash, and nothing was tallying up. Angela was at a loss as to what had happened, and they put it down to Bonnie, the newest member of the team. She was eager enough, but her inexperience had caused more than a few errors to creep in. She was a nice girl, though, and he was prepared to give her a chance. The customers loved her, and she was easy-going.
The house was not only silent but in complete darkness, and he wondered if Ashok had decided not to stay after all.
He wouldn’t have blamed him. He hadn’t exactly been welcoming, but something about the other man just yanked his chain, threw him off kilter, whatever you wanted to call it. Hayden just felt odd. It was the only word he could think of. He wasn’t a man of many words. Like Joe, he was a man of numbers and had moved up here from his hometown just outside Birmingham to study Business Management, only to find that he hated learning more than he hated the family business. He'd dropped out, but not before finding an alternate line of work, The Coffee Mill.
He'd come across the property while driving around one weekend, debating his life choices. Something about the place made him stop and look. It was already a cafe run by an older couple who were looking to retire. A little modernisation, a few stylistic touches here and there, and Hayden could see the potential. The couple were happy to talk to him about selling. They didn’t do brilliantly but didn’t do too badly either. After promising to think about it, he went back to his dorm and worked out some numbers. He spoke with his parents and told them his plan.
Anticipation led to excitement and soon, Hayden had a business plan and his parents agreed to put up some capital for him to get him started. They supported him in everything he tried, never once complaining about his lack of focus in finding something to do.
He’d had the coffee shop seven years now and had seen other places come and go but was happy to see his friend’s dance studio be one of the ones that stayed.
His professional life was a success so far. Pity the same couldn’t be said of his personal life. Oh, he had friends, but more and more of them were settling down. Seb and Dom, to mention but a few. He was finding it increasingly difficult to find any single friends to go out with and socialise, and he was fucked if he was going to sign up to dating apps.
If it was meant to happen, it would. He was a big fan of fate and karma. He just hoped his actions as a young man hadn’t doomed him with the bad kind of karma. He’d made amends, had tried to redeem himself with his volunteer work… That had to count for something.
Not wanting to shout out, just in case Ashok was still there, he quietly shut the front door and made his way to the kitchen to boil the kettle. He might work in a coffee shop, but he didn’t actually drink much of it while at work, preferring to sit down at the end of a long day with a cup of his favourite Jamaican blend, Blue Mountain. It wasn’t cheap, but he loved savouring a cup while he wound down, just plain black—no creamer, no sugar.
He sat at his small table and kicked up his feet on the other chair, sighing deeply as he closed his eyes.
What a fucking day!
He was knackered and about ready for his bed.
The sound of a shuffle and a small cough and his eyes flew open to see Ashok standing at the table. Jesus, look at the size of the bruise on his face. He didn’t remember seeing it earlier. Had he hurt himself while he was here?
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt,” Ashok said quietly.
Hayden put his feet down, pushing the chair towards Ashok.
“Please, sit down. Can I get you anything? Coffee? Tea maybe?” He jumped to his feet, ready to get whatever he needed.
Ashok shook his head. “No, thank you, just water for me, but I can get it.”
Hayden sat and watched as Ashok opened a couple of cupboard doors before finding a glass. He was too stunned to direct him to the right one, admiring his physique in the tight leggings he wore. He was used to seeing Seb and Dom in their dance gear, but the muscles on Ashok were impressive, moving with an elegance and grace that Hayden had failed to notice earlier.
Before Ashok could catch him staring, he turned away, giving his coffee mug all his attention.
“So, how is this going to work?” Ashok sat on the offered chair, sipping his water.
