Read Online Heartsville 03 - Another Shot (J.H. Knight) by Heartsville - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Heartsville
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I’m pretty lucky.”
“Yeah, ya are. But so am I. Because I got to know you, and I let all that crap go a long time ago.”
“I love you, sis.”
“I love you too, dickhead. Now call Brad and let him at least explain himself. Or I’m telling all my lesbian friends what a jerk you really are.”
He did laugh then. “If they boycotted me, I’d be ruined.”
“I know.” Her smile was clear in her voice, but she sounded firm too. “Call Brad. He really seems like a nice guy. There has to be more to it.”
After they ended the call, Aaron looked at his phone for a long moment. It had been twenty minutes since Brad had texted him and the guy had probably given up on a response. Maybe he deserved to sit there and sweat about it, but Mandy had a point, and he hoped she was right. More to it would be good, right? He almost wanted to invite Brad over or just call him, but his head was throbbing and he was exhausted. In the end, Aaron thumbed out a simple text.
Bookmarked, 8pm tomorrow night.
Could he really feel the relief in Brad’s answer, or was it just in Aaron’s head?
Thank you. I’ll be there.
Chapter Eleven
Why had he agreed to meet Brad after a ten-hour day? Nothing went right at the shop. He’d finally managed to hire another barista, but the best thing he could say about Evan was that he was punctual. A very punctual walking disaster. Aaron, Simon, and Clara had everything behind the counter down to a pleasant little dance. They moved around each other with ease. Evan tripped over his own feet and usually knocked himself into Aaron. Because of this, Aaron burned the hell out of himself on the espresso machine—steam is hot, apparently—and nearly sliced his finger off during the lunch rush. Not to mention the stack of cups and saucers he knocked over when Evan crashed into him. The dishes all shattered, because of course.
When Aaron walked into Bookmarked at a quarter to eight, all he wanted to do was collapse into a chair and put in his earbuds. He needed to collect himself before seeing Brad.
Unfortunately, Brad was already there.
As Aaron found a spot and took a seat, Brad crossed the floor with a tentative smile on his face. “I was afraid you’d bolt if you got here before me.”
Aaron had sagged so low in the cushy chair, he was almost lying down. “Do I look ready to run anywhere?”
Brad scooted an ottoman closer until Aaron lifted his feet and stretched out his legs on it. “Actually, you look like you’ll need to be carried home.” He sat across from Aaron, his smile seeming less terrified, and asked, “Rough day?”
“How’d you guess?” Aaron almost huffed a laugh. Almost. Instead, he sat a little straighter—as straight as his tired muscles would allow—and said, “I’m here. Explain.”
“You don’t beat around the bush.”
Brad didn’t sound like he was complaining, but Aaron could tell he’d hoped for a little more banter before moving onto the “Sorry I was a dick” conversation.
“Sorry, but not tonight,” Aaron said as he lifted his head. “I’m exhausted and all I want in life is a hot shower and clean pajamas, but I thought it would be shitty to reschedule you when you’re… well, when this is obviously a thing for you, ya know?”
Brad arched a brow. “If this weren’t still a thing for you , you would’ve let me explain yesterday.”
“Fair point.” Why lie? “All that bullshit—twenty years in the past or not—still rankles sometimes, okay? And finding out the guy I… well, that sucked too. So did not hearing from you for days after you made your great escape.”
“Yeah.” Brad let out a long breath and then said, “I could’ve handled it better. Then and now, but….” When Aaron didn’t say anything, Brad went on. “I was on Yearbook. I was out taking candid shots and I saw you. I didn’t even know your name, but I thought you were really cute. I was totally in the closet, barely admitted to myself that
“Yeah, ya are. But so am I. Because I got to know you, and I let all that crap go a long time ago.”
“I love you, sis.”
“I love you too, dickhead. Now call Brad and let him at least explain himself. Or I’m telling all my lesbian friends what a jerk you really are.”
He did laugh then. “If they boycotted me, I’d be ruined.”
“I know.” Her smile was clear in her voice, but she sounded firm too. “Call Brad. He really seems like a nice guy. There has to be more to it.”
After they ended the call, Aaron looked at his phone for a long moment. It had been twenty minutes since Brad had texted him and the guy had probably given up on a response. Maybe he deserved to sit there and sweat about it, but Mandy had a point, and he hoped she was right. More to it would be good, right? He almost wanted to invite Brad over or just call him, but his head was throbbing and he was exhausted. In the end, Aaron thumbed out a simple text.
Bookmarked, 8pm tomorrow night.
Could he really feel the relief in Brad’s answer, or was it just in Aaron’s head?
Thank you. I’ll be there.
Chapter Eleven
Why had he agreed to meet Brad after a ten-hour day? Nothing went right at the shop. He’d finally managed to hire another barista, but the best thing he could say about Evan was that he was punctual. A very punctual walking disaster. Aaron, Simon, and Clara had everything behind the counter down to a pleasant little dance. They moved around each other with ease. Evan tripped over his own feet and usually knocked himself into Aaron. Because of this, Aaron burned the hell out of himself on the espresso machine—steam is hot, apparently—and nearly sliced his finger off during the lunch rush. Not to mention the stack of cups and saucers he knocked over when Evan crashed into him. The dishes all shattered, because of course.
When Aaron walked into Bookmarked at a quarter to eight, all he wanted to do was collapse into a chair and put in his earbuds. He needed to collect himself before seeing Brad.
Unfortunately, Brad was already there.
As Aaron found a spot and took a seat, Brad crossed the floor with a tentative smile on his face. “I was afraid you’d bolt if you got here before me.”
Aaron had sagged so low in the cushy chair, he was almost lying down. “Do I look ready to run anywhere?”
Brad scooted an ottoman closer until Aaron lifted his feet and stretched out his legs on it. “Actually, you look like you’ll need to be carried home.” He sat across from Aaron, his smile seeming less terrified, and asked, “Rough day?”
“How’d you guess?” Aaron almost huffed a laugh. Almost. Instead, he sat a little straighter—as straight as his tired muscles would allow—and said, “I’m here. Explain.”
“You don’t beat around the bush.”
Brad didn’t sound like he was complaining, but Aaron could tell he’d hoped for a little more banter before moving onto the “Sorry I was a dick” conversation.
“Sorry, but not tonight,” Aaron said as he lifted his head. “I’m exhausted and all I want in life is a hot shower and clean pajamas, but I thought it would be shitty to reschedule you when you’re… well, when this is obviously a thing for you, ya know?”
Brad arched a brow. “If this weren’t still a thing for you , you would’ve let me explain yesterday.”
“Fair point.” Why lie? “All that bullshit—twenty years in the past or not—still rankles sometimes, okay? And finding out the guy I… well, that sucked too. So did not hearing from you for days after you made your great escape.”
“Yeah.” Brad let out a long breath and then said, “I could’ve handled it better. Then and now, but….” When Aaron didn’t say anything, Brad went on. “I was on Yearbook. I was out taking candid shots and I saw you. I didn’t even know your name, but I thought you were really cute. I was totally in the closet, barely admitted to myself that
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