Page 38 of Kiln Me Softly

Aiden hovered outside the cobbled stone walls of the Potter’s Arms long after his classmates had headed in to celebrate their free evening in Stoke-on-Trent.

The aptly themed pub spilled a buttery glow across the darkness as afternoon turned to evening.

He should have been looking forward to heading in, getting warm, eating whatever delightfully rich, home-cooked meal he could smell emanating from within, but instead, he clenched his phone in tight fingers, frozen against an avalanche of anxiety.

He’d been waiting for it to rear its ugly head all day, that familiar jitter steadily growing since the train ride. It was a silly thing to trigger all this, a reply from his dad. One he’d expected, no less, after he’d reached out to ask for help on Juniper’s behalf.

If you need my help, come home and see me like a man would, Aiden, Jonathan had written.

It was probably fair. Aiden didn’t feel all that ‘manly’ when it came to his father, though Jonathan’s regular intimidation tactics and general unapproachable demeanour seemed a deliberate attempt to make sure that stayed true. If that was manliness, Aiden wanted no part in it.

But he did want to help Juniper, so he could pretend. He would have to. Just as soon as he could feel his fingers and toes again, as soon as the world wasn’t caving in on him.

He stepped out of the way of two patrons emerging from the pub, a huddled couple giggling about the paint on their cheeks.

As well as food and drink, the wooden-framed chalkboard out front advertised pottery and painting sessions, something he might have loved to do with Juniper if it wasn’t already part of their daily routine.

There were too many things he’d love to do with her.

Things he knew he wouldn’t get the chance to if she lost her place at RACA.

He folded against the stone, trying to focus on the curling cloud of his breath in front of him, the way his knees still managed to hold him up.

He wasn’t dying, and this would pass. A mantra he’d told himself too many times before, and yet one his nervous system never seemed to believe.

‘Aiden?’ Luc’s head popped out of the doorway, and then the rest of them. ‘Are you okay? I saved a seat for you in there.’

Aiden nodded, though it felt like a lie. ‘Thanks. I’ll be in soon.’

They scrutinised him with careful eyes, then the phone in his hands.

He felt like he’d been caught doing something wrong, probably because he was.

He knew Juniper would never agree to his help, not in any way, shape, or form.

She’d almost thrown a fit when he’d bought Cerberus that toadstool earlier, like she was afraid that somebody doing things for her, helping her, made her weak.

In his eyes, it just made her cared for, and that was something he wanted her to be – even when she was a pain in the arse about it.

‘I’m fine,’ Aiden said when Luc remained unrelenting. ‘Just give me a minute, yeah?’

As much as he wanted to tell them what was happening, he knew it wouldn’t be fair to ask them to keep another secret.

Besides, he was still trying to let go of their conversation the other day, the fact that Luc hadn’t confided in him.

Maybe Juniper wasn’t the only one who didn’t want to appear vulnerable.

‘Aiden…’ Luc twisted their nose ring as though deliberating something. ‘You do know that I’m here for you, yes? I am your friend.’

Aiden’s sinuses stung. He hadn’t known that, not really. Luc was like Juniper: blasé, difficult to read. To hear it aloud meant more than Luc could know. ‘Thank you,’ he said gently. ‘I hope you know it’s reciprocated.’

‘I do now.’ Luc smiled. Aiden might have, too, if his phone wasn’t burning a hole in his hand.

He tried to collect himself just long enough to say, ‘I’ll be in soon. Promise.’

‘Okay. Sure.’ At that, Luc headed back in, closing the door on the chatter and music within. Aiden bit the inside of his cheek and finally forced his digits into action.

Are you free tomorrow at noon?

They were supposed to be visiting a few businesses tomorrow, but he didn’t have time to wait, and this saved a long train journey from London to Manchester.

He was surprised when the three dots popped up immediately, indicating that Jonathan was typing. It wasn’t like him to respond – quickly, or at all.

See you then. Lunch at our usual spot.

They hadn’t had a usual spot for years, but it would do Aiden no favours to point that out.

He tucked his phone back into his pocket, already rehearsing what he would say.

The girl I’m infatuated with needs you to put in a good word so she can get her bursary back.

Jonathan wouldn’t understand. He’d think it ridiculous.

But Aiden had to try.

He took another few minutes to collect himself, and then headed inside. The sight of Juniper laughing with Tilly over a colourful menu, dazzling and rosy-cheeked, was enough to cement that he was doing the right thing.

He could fix this.

‘What about that white-haired lady over there?’ Luc tipped their head towards a woman sitting on the other side of the pub, painting happily with a group of similarly aged women. Elderly women.

‘Luc, that white-haired lady is about seventy,’ Aiden retorted.

After eating a hearty, gravy-soaked meal of bangers and mash, which Luc unsurprisingly hadn’t enjoyed at all, they were back to helping Tilly find an eligible young bachelorette, mostly for lack of better things to do.

His classmates had already caused the pub to descend into chaos, with Tom and Amir currently wailing a duet of ‘Unchained Melody’ into the karaoke microphone, much to the discomfort of the old ladies trying to enjoy their peaceful evening of arts and crafts.

Luc shrugged. ‘Age gaps are popular these days.’

‘I’m not against an older woman, but I’m not sure I’m emotionally ready for a grandmother,’ Tilly said, rattling the ice around in her empty pint glass.

Juniper plucked a leftover chip from Aiden’s plate and said, ‘You’re all terrible at this, which is why I am the only elected matchmaker here.’

Aiden clucked his tongue. ‘If you’re so good, why haven’t you noticed the woman behind Owen over there?’

He gestured with his pint glass to a woman who looked to be in her late twenties, with glowy skin darker than Tilly’s, a kind, red-lipped smile, and long black hair twists that reached far beyond her shoulders.

She wore an eye-catching paisley-printed scarf around her neck and a tan coat that draped closer to the ground as she leaned her elbows on the bar to chat with a man.

They didn’t lean too close and had no visible chemistry bubbling between them, which Aiden found promising.

‘Oh, she’s stunning. Waaaay out of my league.’ Tilly shrank back against the burgundy upholstery, prompting Juniper to tut.

‘First of all, no. Second of all, I have my sights set elsewhere.’ Juniper glared pointedly at Aiden, and then subtly jabbed her thumb over her shoulder. ‘Autumnal goddess, nine o’clock.’

‘That’s not even close to nine o’clock,’ Aiden said.

‘That’s because you’re facing anticlockwise, obviously.’

He choked on his beer with a laugh that was half disbelief, half adoration. Still, Juniper was right. A gorgeous auburn-haired woman with their hair tied in space buns winced at Tom and Amir’s singing between scrolling on her phone. Her drink sat untouched on the table.

‘And it looks like she’s been stood up,’ Juniper said. ‘Perfect time for Tilly to swoop in and save the day.’

‘Mine is better. She looks like she listens when people talk. Isn’t glued to her phone screen.

’ Aiden didn’t know why he was so desperate to help Tilly, only that he couldn’t remember a time when he’d done something this normal.

If he could prove he was a decent wingman, maybe they’d keep him around.

Maybe he’d be better for more than just his money, and his friends would start seeing him as a real person.

Apparently, that wasn’t to be, because Juniper rolled her eyes. ‘If she looks so wonderful, why don’t you go and talk to her?’

He nudged her foot under the table. ‘Because I’ve set my sights elsewhere. No need to be jealous, Hodge. I’m all yours.’

‘Vom,’ Tilly said, pretending to retch. And then: ‘Actually, it’s cute and I want one. Not an Aiden. A Juniper, maybe.’

Juniper tapped Tilly’s hair, leaving her thick curls to bounce against her shoulders. ‘Trust me, you don’t want a Juniper, but I will get you someone far better.’

Aiden gasped dramatically. ‘I don’t like any of what you just said.’

‘Maybe you should get all this rivalry out of your system,’ Luc suggested. ‘Whoever gets their girl to talk to Tilly first wins.’

Tilly’s brows lifted. ‘Hm. I like it.’

Juniper jolted up in her seat. ‘What do we win?’

‘My eternal gratitude.’

‘And ice cream,’ Luc said, tapping a picture of a chocolate sundae printed on the pub’s menu.

‘Oh, you’re on. There is nothing in this world that will stand between me and ice cream.

’ Juniper rose from her chair, towering over Aiden with a wicked grin on her face, her hands planted on the table at either side of her so that he had a perfect view of her cleavage.

He was both intimidated and extremely turned on, eyes dragging down to her lips.

He hadn’t kissed them in so long. Too long.

‘We’ll soon see about that, Hodge.’ He tapped her nose as he stood, his height a great advantage. She didn’t back down from it, only redirecting her glower up instead of down. ‘May the best wingperson win,’ he decided, and then moved towards the bar to work his magic.