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He frowned as he walked up to closed doors. After a daily scrap run, the coffee shop he got a pick me up at was closed. Aaron sighed and tapped on the door, but it was dark inside. There was no sign or anything to explain why it was closed. He sighed and decided he'd just head back to his truck. It wasn't like he needed the coffee or a biscuit. He just liked it. It was a habit. And now, he felt out of sorts.
He turned and saw a sign on the sidewalk.
We serve coffee.
Someone knew the coffee shop was closed. He followed the arrow and found himself walking into what seemed to be a sweet shop. There was candy everywhere, those also cakes and cookies. And there were chairs, and he recognized a few faces drinking out of brightly colored cups.
It was different. But why not, he guessed, and he found his way to the counter. There was no one there, but he glanced around, and the place was busy. Someone was bound to turn up — he glanced around, looking for a menu.
He found a list of milkshakes and speciality coffees — chocolate and sweets added into them. He frowned a bit. He just wanted coffee, plain coffee, with maybe a bit more sugar than most. Aaron frowned and wondered if maybe he should just head out anyway.
"Sorry, be with you in a second."
Aaron sighed. He'd been seen.
"Sorry about that…" the voice said again, and a tall man appeared in front of him. Seemingly out of nowhere and Aaron blinked at him. He wasn't really stunned often by men. Attractive to them, sure, but stunned, not usually. But he felt his throat go dry. There were attractive men, and then there was this man…
He swallowed. "Don't worry about it. Not sure you have what I want…." And now he felt like he'd just lied.
The man laughed, a deep, genuine chuckle, and Aaron felt his cheeks heat. "Let me guess, regular at the coffee shop?"
He nodded.
"Yeah, they have some huge electrical issue. Won't be fixed for a bit. So, well, I'm trying to steal business… Easter is almost here, but candy generally is seen as a treat."
Aaron found himself nodding. "Do you have just plain coffee?"
"I can do that… but you sure you don't want to try one of the mochas?"
"Uh…"
"I make a mean one. Cinnamon too… if you like that?"
Aaron shrugged. "Yeah, fine, whatever."
"Wow, sound excited…" he shook his head. "Sorry, don't know why I said that."
But Aaron laughed. "I could do with a brownie…" he muttered, pointing at a case.
"Good choice…what's your name?"
"Aaron."
"Aaron…" the man said, dragging out the vowels.
Aaron turned, afraid his red cheeks would be spotted. There was a queue behind him, so he found himself a table, sat down, and fiddled with his phone while he waited.
He was in the middle of answering a text about the yard from Adam when he noticed a shadow. He looked up, and the man was right there at his table. He placed a bright purple mug down on the table and a plate with the brownie.
"Ta," Aaron said.
"Yeah… I'd say since it seems to be on the house."
Aaron blinked.
The man laughed again, and Aaron felt like it curled up in his chest. "Don't worry about it. We'll see if I can make you a mocha convert."
Aaron bent down his head as he shook it and hoped his smile wasn't too obvious.
The man seemed to be pausing by his table. Aaron eventually found himself making eye contact and hoping his stunned attraction wasn't too noticeable… it wasn't like he was counting freckles. He felt like he was waiting for something.
The man opened his mouth.
"Robert!" someone yelled.
The man sighed and turned. "What, Vic?"
"Your lemon curd is curdling."
"WHAT?" he glanced at Aaron. "I have to go save my pie."
Aaron just nodded and found himself murmuring the name Robert to himself. He picked up the mug of mocha and took a sip, expecting it to be too sweet or too heavy on the chocolate. But it wasn't at all, and there was this nice touch of cinnamon that seemed to bring out the coffee more than anything. And he found himself taking a bigger mouthful and telling himself he was not at all a convert…
He may have almost moaned when he bit into the fudgy brownie on his plate.
Before he knew it, he was done and running a bit later than usual due to the change in his habit. He sighed and glanced around. There was a short woman behind the counter… and Aaron hoped it wasn't his wife…
He shook his head at himself.
He felt wrong for not paying, so he walked up to the counter. "I uh, didn't pay earlier."
"You didn't?" she blinked at him.
"Yeah, uh, he said it was on the house, but I don't feel…."
"He said… Robert? Blonde, this high, smug face?"
"Uh….yeah."
She shook her head. "Well, if he gave it to you on the house, it's on the house, don't worry about it."
"I just…"
"No, really, it's fine. Hope you liked it and maybe will come back to Sugden's Sweets."
He nodded and turned. Telling himself, he probably wouldn't.
~~~
He frowned as he stood in front of Sugden Sweets.
The coffee shop was still closed.
He was just trying to stick to his schedule.
He wasn't thinking about the stunningly handsome blonde, freckles, or the that weird in-between blue or green shade of his eyes. Aaron rolled his eyes at himself, bit his lip, and walked into the shop. He spotted a few others who'd taken to coming here in place of the coffee shop, chattering at the tables drinking out of the bright-colored mugs.
He looked around and noticed things were a bit… Rabbity. And there were chickens. Candies, chocolates, pastels, and gift baskets. Easter was coming up, he supposed. He never paid much attention to it…
Though his mum was talking about doing an Easter Egg hunt that Woolpack this year — for Eve, really, and as a way to try drum up more business. He wondered if she had the candy-covered….
He walked up to the counter and spotted broad shoulders. It was him, and he trailed his eyes down his backside and bit his lip as he hit his arse. He was being a ridiculous muppet…
He didn't do this.
He just pulled and forgot.
It was easier that way.
He didn't pick men up at their place of work. Or whatever. He was probably with the woman.
"Just a sec…." The guy stopped short. "Oh, hey."
Aaron nodded.
"Um…" the man put down the boxes he'd taken out of a cupboard. "Another mocha?"
"Yeah, ta… I'll pay this time."
The man laughed and glanced to the left. "I haven't heard the end of it for letting you not."
"I didn't get you trouble…."
"Oh no, not what I…. I'm Robert Sugden. I own this place."
Aaron nodded.
"My sister, she just thinks I'm a greedy sod…. I never give away freebies."
Aaron felt confused.
"Why did I make an exception?"
"I mean, I guess it's a question…" he felt himself stammer.
"Yeah…I uh, like your eyes…" his voice lowered.
Aaron knew his face was red.
"I um…you're not gonna punch me, are ya?"
"Uh, no….No." Aaron forced himself to meet his eyes.
Robert grinned, and it was stunning. Again.
"How about you pay by giving me your number?"
Aaron laughed and shook his head. How as that smooth.
Robert placed one of the cards for his shop on the counter and a pen.
Aaron picked it up and quickly scrawled his number on the back.
Robert pressed his lips together and picked it up. "Go on, I'll bring you a mocha and a brownie?"
Aaron nodded.
~~~
He tried not to think about it.
He failed.
But he tried not to think about it.
That Robert had his number. That Robert had asked for his number. It all felt a bit surreal. He'd just walked into a sweets shop because he wanted a coffee…
And now he was likely addicted to that mocha and maybe wanted to be addicted to a man who made it.
Aaron felt like his whole body was on fire from just thinking it.
He sighed and kicked off his boots. He was home. Finally. After a long day. He walked straight to his refrigerator and pulled out a beer. He glanced at his gaming system but yawned. He wasn't awake enough. He'd stick on the telly.
He was on his couch, sipping beer and channel surfing, when his text message went off. He put down his beer and the remote. And told himself it was going to his mum, Paddy, or Adam. It wasn't going to be him, because it hadn't been him all day and it was past ten at night now…
It was his mum.
He picked up the phone.
It was a text from an unknown number.
He opened it. Expecting some sort of spam.
R: Is this too late? It's Robert.
Aaron licked his lips.
It took him far too long to type.
A: No.
He bit his lip, afraid his phone would remain silent.
But a text came back quickly.
R: Night owl?
A: No.
He groaned a bit as he sent it.
R: Huh… what do I need to do to get you to say yes?
Aaron rolled his eyes.
A: Ask better questions.
R: Tough audience. I can work with it.
Aaron tried to fight his smile.
R: How about I'll be blunt. Drinks this Saturday?
He felt queasy. Nervous. He felt relieved. And it took him a bit too long to type.
A: Yeah.
R: I'll text you the details. Goodnight, Aaron.
A: Yeah, you too.
~~~
"I need to borrow a shirt."
Adam blinked at him. "What?"
Aaron just hurried into his mate's flat and went to his bedroom. He frowned at the mess of it but walked to the closet anyway.
"What are you doing? No, actually, mate…who are you?"
"Shut up…" Aaron muttered as he tried to find a nice shirt. "Don't you have better clothes than this?"
"Again, who are you?"
Aaron frowned as he pulled out a black shirt. "Is this dirt?"
"I think I spelled sauce on it once."
Aaron dropped it to the floor.
"Hey."
"Like your floor isn't already covered with clothes."
"Those are dirty."
"So's that, mate."
"Once again, why and how are we having this conversation?"
Aaron just shrugged and looked at down what he was wearing. His one good shirt was white, ironed, and he was in court the last time he wore it. He felt like he was presenting a lie or something wearing it.
"Aaron?" Adam sounded worried.
"Just, I have a date."
"Ok?"
"I want to…." Aaron ran his hand down his face and wondered if he should have shaved for the billionth time. "Look good."
"Uh…ok. Normal, innit?"
"Not for me… you know what, forget it…." Aaron sighed. "I'll just cancel."
"Whoa…whoa…" Adam grabbed his phone. "No way you're canceling."
"What, why?" Aaron tried to grab his phone.
"Because you're in a worried state, you must like this bloke. Who is it?"
"I don't even know him…." Aaron muttered.
"Aaron? I know you. Come on?"
"I have this routine, right?"
"Uh, ok?"
"I do the scrap run on Wednesdays, I stop at this place in Hotten for a coffee and a biscuit, and I get back here around four."
"Yeah…"
"It closed, the coffee shop and I went into this other place, and he… was there."
"And you liked him?"
Aaron just nodded.
"A lot?"
"Maybe, don't know… he kept letting me eat for free."
"So mutual."
Aaron nodded.
"MAAAATE. Stop stressing and go have fun."
"I look stupid."
"You look like you're going to court…."
"Fuck this…" he tried to grab his phone again.
"Wait, wait…" Adam went to another door in his room. "This is where I keep my pulling clothes."
"You have a different place…."
"Well, yeah, can't toss these in wily nily…." Adam pulled out a nice black shirt. "Here, this will work… and let me find a tie."
"A tie!"
"Aaron?"
Aaron sighed and changed into the black shirt. It was a lot better.
Adam handed him a green tie.
"Really?"
"It's my most expensive."
Aaron nodded and put it on.
"Great, no go….where are you meeting him."
"Someplace in Hotten."
"Alright, have fun…."
Aaron nodded and headed out.
"Mate, breathe!"
Aaron gulped air.
~~~
Robert looked stunning, and Aaron wondered if he'd ever used the word before — because he certainly couldn't use it elsewhere now. It belonged to Robert. His throat was dry as he walked toward them, just inside the bar Robert had chosen.
"Wow, you look amazing," Robert said.
Aaron stopped himself from snorting and wished he could say it back, but the words got trapped behind his teeth.
But Robert smiled at him and tilted his head. "Pint?"
They sat down in a corner across from each other, and Aaron felt his nerves rise up again. What would they talk about? Would they have anything to talk about? What if he bored Robert…
Robert frowned and put his phone on the table. "Sorry, uh, I have to answer this."
Aaron just nodded.
Robert clenched his jaw and drank his beer to try to wet his throat.
"Um…could you just… I have to call my sister."
"Oh…" Aaron frowned as he watched Robert walk away. Was this an escape call? Was he already bored? Had he already messed this us? He could taste the disappointment, and he felt dumb and stupid, and he wasn't even wearing his own clothes…
He pulled at the tie and stood up.
"Aaron…"
Robert's voice stopped him short from just walking out of the bar.
"What… are you leaving?"
Aaron shrugged. "What you want, innit?"
"No…" Robert stared at him.
"You didn't fake that call?"
"What?" Robert sighed. "No, no…not at all…. Do you, do you want to leave?"
He wanted a hole to swallow him up. He felt red and stupid. Foolish. And scared. He was scared. Because the last he wanted to do was leave. He didn't even know Robert, but he wanted to be near him — and the idea he wouldn't want that too felt like too much to handle.
"No," he said, somehow.
Robert's mouth twitched into a small smile. "Back to that, are we?"
Aaron shrugged.
"I like it…." Robert motioned for Aaron to sit back down.
Aaron sat down.
"Losing the tie was an improvement…."
Aaron snorted.
"What shade of green was that supposed to be?"
"Wouldn't know it's not my tie…" he admitted.
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure you'd look great in a suit, but that not…." Robert shook his head. "That wasn't an extraction call. It was my sister, she's watching my son for me, and he got sick and wanted to talk to me."
"You have a kid?"
"Yeah…" he sighed. "That alright?"
"Don't think I get a say, mate…how old is he?"
"Five this fall."
"My little sister will be four this fall."
"That's an age difference."
"Yeah…my other sister is nearly twenty."
"You've met Vic… only family besides Seb who matters."
"Seb?"
"Sebastian…" he opened his phone and slid it across to Aaron.
Aaron looked at a little red-headed boy eating a large chocolate cookie.
"He's my best customer."
Aaron laughed.
"We good?"
Aaron nodded. "Yeah…yeah."
"Thank god…" Robert breathed before his cheeks went pink.
And Aaron realized he was nervous too.
~~~
Nothing had gone right.
He'd gotten home late.
He'd burned the chicken and destroyed what was meant to be the sauce.
He wasn't even showered or dressed, and Robert was due to show up in half an hour.
He sighed as he used his phone to order a pizza from the place closest to his flat and hoped Robert wouldn't be disappointed. That he wouldn't be disappointing. That his flat was…
He stared around his place. It felt too messy, though he'd spent the week cleaning it up and trying to make it…
Good enough.
This was their first real…
Something. He didn't know what to call it. So far, their relationship was a lot of texting, some phone calls, and drinks whenever they could manage to fit into their schedules…
Which meant kisses in carparks or leaning against each other's cars. Because Robert had to get home to his son. There weren't near him meeting Seb yet, were they?
He could taste how much he wanted that.
Because he wanted Robert.
He was in a constant state of fear from that.
He got the confirmation on the pizza, dropped his phone on a table, and focused on getting in the shower and getting dressed. Felt like he'd let Robert down. He'd promised dinner.
Dinner?
Who was he?
He sighed as he heard the buzzer the moment he'd pulled on his jumper. Of course, he was early. He laughed and told himself to add that to the flaw list he had in his head. Which was laughable. Everything on it he liked...
He liked how smug Robert could be.
He liked when he was an impolite asshole to strangers.
He liked when he went on about boring business details about his job — mostly because he loved his voice and the way he said certain words.
He liked he was bookish.
Clever.
A bit of a dork.
It was unexpected.
And he was brilliantly stunning when he smiled.
There was no flaw list.
He opened the door. "You're early."
Robert smirked at him. "I wanted to be here."
Aaron felt his cheeks heat, and he turned away and let Robert into his flat. "I meant to make chicken, but they burned, and then the sauce went weird, and I ended up tossing everything and ordering a pizza… which I didn't even think to ask what you like on it. We can call them back and change my order…."
"Aaron…Aaron…" Robert was in his space, and his hands grabbed his hips. He stared down at him, and Aaron found his hands landing on Robert's chest and stared up, and his breath caught.
"I don't care what we eat."
"No?"
"No… we could eat all my least favorite food, and I'd be fine."
Aaron snorted.
"I would."
"I can't cook," Aaron laughed.
"Then why'd you try?"
"It's you, innit?"
"What made me so lucky you walked into my sweet shop?"
"Bad, bad line, mate."
"Yeah, but you're swooning…." Robert's grin was smug.
Aaron shook his head and tried to bite back his smile.
"When is that pizza arriving?"
"Uh….soon."
"Hmm…better make it quick then."
"What?"
Robert's mouth was on his, and he felt himself curl toward him. Upon his toes, hands curling into the fabric of Robert's leather jacket — why was he still in his jacket? He felt thumbs pressing into his jawline and sighed as his mouth opened for Robert's tongue.
He gripped tightly as Robert started to pull back. His whole being screaming no at the idea. They weren't in public. They weren't saying goodbye — for once. This was a hello, wasn't it…
This was you are in my home.
Please stay.
He took control, and Robert moaned right into his mouth.
Aaron pulled at him, pulled him toward the closet piece of furniture. His couch and he was on his back before he knew it, Robert over him and plundering his mouth, hands tugging at his jumper.
They froze when the buzzer went off.
Robert laughed against his throat. "That wasn't quick."
"Wasn't long enough either," Aaron muttered as he hopped up to get the pizza.
He avoided eye contact with the delivery person and tried to catch his breath as he paid for and took the pizza box. He took a bit of an uneven breath, kicked closed his door, and turned around.
To Robert unbuttoning his shirt.
He nearly dropped the pizza.
Robert's face went smug. "I'm not hungry yet…want to help me work up an appetite?"
He dropped the box on the nearest flat surface, which was the floor. Then crossed the space between them and put his hands on Robert's skin, helped him take off the shirt, and felt cold hair hit his stomach as his own got pulled over his head.
Robert pressed a kiss on the side of his neck. "Where's your bed?"
~~~
They made very good use of his bed.
It felt like they always belonged in it.
Aaron couldn't stop smiling, and he was allowing himself to enjoy it.
He put cold pizza onto two plates and brought them to the couch.
Robert was leaned back in nothing but his boxers, and Aaron knew he could get used to that. To them. Just being. They'd already watched one movie. Robert insisted he pick — so he shared one of his favorites, Rocky. And now they were settling in for the first Lord of the Rings.
Aaron expected to fall asleep.
It was late.
But they'd planned for the night.
He sat down, and Robert's arm was immediately around him. And he nudged into him, and Robert took his plate. They settled down, eating in silence as the movie started…
It wasn't half bad.
"Been reading the books to Seb since he was born…."
"Bit over his head, yeah?"
"It's fundamental...it was the first book my mum gave me."
"Yeah?" Aaron noticed the crack in Robert's voice.
"She uh…loved Easter. Well, she loved candy. And sweets…"
"Family trait."
"Sorta… she was really my step mum, but that didn't matter. Vic was baking with us before she could walk…." Robert trailed off. "I um… I know you have your little sister's Easter egg hunt and all."
"Yeah."
"But if you could away at some point and come to mine?"
Aaron felt his breath catch.
"It'll be me, Vic, and my brother's family…it's not much. Andy and I will probably fight…."
"Family."
"Yeah… but um, I thought maybe you could taste all the things that are why I opened the shop. Mum's favorite candies, chocolates, and stuff. And meet Seb."
Aaron slowly nodded.
Robert stared at him.
Aaron kept nodding and hated he couldn't find the words.
"Yeah?" Robert whispered.
"Yeah…I can leave after I make sure Eve's hopped up on sugar."
Robert laughed. "I'd like to meet her, and Liv too. Even your Mum."
"You don't wanna meet me mum.'
"Sure I do…." Robert laughed. "I do really want you to meet Seb."
Aaron nodded again. "Think he'll like me?"
"I don't see how he couldn't."
~~~
He gripped the stuffed lamb he was holding a bit too tight and exhaled nervously at the door. This was his first time at Robert's place — and it was for Easter. His family was inside. All of them.
And his son.
And him.
His mum had given him the nth degree about Robert before allowing him to leave. Making him promise she'd meet this man soon since he seemed to have such an effect on her son.
Aaron had never been more nervous in his life. He'd thought that'd been their first date. But no, it was this… He needed Seb to like him. If Robert's son didn't like him…
He wanted a future with him.
It was terrifying.
He knocked.
Vic answered the door and grinned at him. He nodded, happy he at least… had met her. A few times at the candy shop, her behind the counter, yelling for Robert when he spent too long talking with Aaron…
"Aaron, hiya, welcome…" she smiled and waved at him.
The whole place smelled like chocolate as he walked in and waved over in a comforting wave. It was like the shop, where he always had his coffee now, and it was like Robert's arms around him and the scent of sugar that seemed to be part of him.
"They're in the kitchen making candy," she said.
Aaron gulped a bit but let her lead him there.
He stopped still watching the scene.
Robert was holding his son on his hip and letting him drop chocolate from a spoon into a mold shaped like a baby chick. The boy's face was covered with chocolate, and Robert wasn't better off…
He'd never seen him so messy.
Or smiling so much.
"Good job, Seb… these are gonna be the best ones."
"Of course, Daddy."
"Rob…" Vic said.
Robert glanced over, and his grin got impossibly wider, and Aaron felt himself match it and watched Robert move Seb, so he was sitting on the counter. "Hey, bud, I have someone I want you to meet…." He waved Aaron over.
Aaron stepped closer, and Seb's eyes went wide spying the lamb.
"Present!"
"Seb, that's not very polite," Robert said, but his voice was laced with amusement.
"Prezzie…" Seb said like that, excused it.
"It's for ya, yeah…." Aaron started to hand it over.
But Vic grabbed it. "Not until you aren't covered in chocolate, so use ruining it before you get to name it."
"But Auntie Vic."
Vic just kissed Seb and waved the lamb in his face. "It'll be with all your other presents, alright? Promise."
"With my trains?"
"Yes…" she kissed his cheek and came away with chocolate on her face. "Ugh... Rob, he's all sticky."
"It's Easter, Vic. Sugar's the point…."
Vic shook her head and left.
"Seb, say thank you for the lamb."
"Thank you."
"Aaron… His name is Aaron, and he's…um, very important to me."
Seb nodded and looked at Aaron, then his dad. "Ok."
Aaron breathed out.
Robert grabbed his hand and squeezed it. "We're making chocolate chicks. Want to help?"
Aaron nodded.
~~~
Aaron watched from the hallway as Robert tucked Seb into bed. He guessed it was far past his usual bedtime since it was far past his own. It was well past midnight, and Vic was the last of his family to leave. Aaron helped her clean up a bit downstairs as Robert wrangled Seb into a bath…
He'd found himself searching him out, though, once he was alone in his home. And now he was listening to that voice that made all of him vibrate tell his son a bedtime story. He didn't recognize it. He wondered if Robert was making it up as he went along…
He watched him kiss Seb's forehead, tuck the blankets around him and stand up. Their eyes met. Robert walked toward the door and closed it behind him. Aaron smiled, and Robert grabbed him by his belt and yanked him in, and kissed him soundly.
He hummed into his mouth and realized he'd wanted to do the same since he first saw him in the kitchen. His hands grabbed onto Robert's shirt, and he shook his head as they broke apart.
"Hi," Robert breathed.
"Hi."
"Are you staying?"
"Yeah, yeah… that'll be ok?"
"I want him to get used to you…we could maybe spend tomorrow just the three of us?"
Aaron nodded.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
Robert let an exhale of relief.
"I want this," Aaron admitted.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"Me too… it was my Easter wish."
"I don't think that's a thing."
"It should be a thing."
"It's not, though."
"You sure because you're mine, and here you are."
Aaron blushed and shook his head.
"Admit it. I'm smooth."
"You're a dork…." Aaron laughed and touched his cheek. "And you're covered with chocolate."
"Hmm… better help me wash it off."
"Come on…." Robert took his hand and led him to the bedroom.
And Aaron never slept anywhere else ever again.
And Easter became their day.
Forever.