Page 97 of The Best of Times

The anticipation was almost killing Aron but he would keep the upper hand for once in his life. Something he’d sacrificed on more than one occasion to Paul Higgs.

He poured the coffees and placed them on the table.

“Let me feed Parkin too. There’s no point in him suffering needlessly.”

The tension in the room was a full strength as Aron got Parkin’s breakfast together. He could feel Paul’s eyes boring into him. He didn’t care. Aron needed to get his head sorted.

He put the full bowl down for Parkin who launched at it like he hadn’t been fed a ridiculous amount of tidbits the day before.

After making a great performance of sitting down, Aron stared at Paul.

“Are you ready now?” Paul asked.

“I’m all ears. Unburden yourself.”

“Wow,” Paul said. “Not making it easy then.”

“Nope. I think maybe that’s been my problem all along.”

Paul took a breath. “I’ve got a few different speeches rehearsed.”

There was a tremor in his voice that Aron had never heard before. Was he actually nervous?

“I lay in bed all night last night thinking about you,” Paul continued. “Every time I closed my eyes, I could see you laughing. By the time the morning began to dawn, I knew I couldn’t leave you again.”

Tears pricked at Aron’s eyes.

“Oh.”

“Can you ever trust me again?” Paul asked. “I love you, Aron. I have done for years.”

The words he’d longed to hear for so long were flowing freely from Paul’s mouth. Now they were finally at this moment, Aron didn’t know how he felt.

“Trust,” he repeated. “It’s a big word when you’ve been hurt.”

“I know it is and I have no right to even ask. I’m desperate, Aron. Give me one more chance.”

Aron sipped from his coffee.

“What’s changed?”

Two words he’d uttered with regularity this holiday. Perhaps he did need a week by the coast. Just him and Parkin. His brain needed a rest.

“What do you mean?”

“Just what I say.”

He realised how cold he was being but Paul had rocks in his head if he expected Aron to simply swoon into his arms. Things like that didn’t happen in real life.

“I guess I have,” Paul replied. “When I told you what happened, you didn’t blame me.”

“Youdid that enough for both of us.”

“Yes, I did. Not you. You’re the first person I’ve ever told the full story to. And you accepted me. Not even one question.”

“Paul. You have nothing to be blamed for,” Aron said. “It was a shitty situation that you didn’t choose.”

Paul grinned. “There you go again. Being perfect.”