by Shea Balik
Even though Jesse wasn’t there to witness his declaration, it didn’t change the fact that Aaron was more than aware of the feelings that had surged up within him for Kyler. He just wasn’t sure he wanted to have them. No. That wasn’t true. He knew he didn’t want them. Kyler wasn’t the man for him, no matter what the caveman that lived within him was trying to tell him.
“Hi, Aaron.”
The sound of Kyler’s soft voice next to him had Aaron groaning in dismay. He’d been so lost in his thoughts of Kyler that he hadn’t even seen him walk toward him.
Hurt and resignation flashed in Kyler’s eyes when he heard Aaron’s groan. Instantly he regretted making the sound, especially since the last thing he wanted to do was hurt Kyler.
“Sorry, I thought you were Jesse returning,” Aaron lied, hoping Kyler bought it.
“Yeah, sometimes Jesse can be a little much to handle.” Even though Kyler’s lips lifted upward, the smile didn’t reach his eyes, telling Aaron he knew he’d been lying. “Well, I’m going to get something to eat,” Kyler said as he started to move away.
Suddenly Aaron found himself ravenous even though he’d already had a hamburger when he’d gotten here. “Mind if I join you?” Even as he asked the question, Aaron was silently berating himself for not just letting Kyler walk away.
Kyler’s fake smile turned a little more real and suddenly pride that Aaron had done that filled him. “I’d like that,” Kyler said.
Unable to help himself, Aaron placed his hand on the small of Kyler’s back and led him to the tables loaded with all kinds of food. “They have hamburgers, hotdogs, and fish,” he told Kyler as he picked up two paper plates from the stack. “What would you like?”
Kyler stared at the various options. “The fish looks really good,” Kyler said.
“Do you want it with or without bread?” Aaron asked.
“Without please,” Kyler told him.
Aaron forked up a piece of fish and put it on one of the plates. Then he grabbed another hamburger for himself and put it on the second plate. Aaron held the plates with food on it as they went down the rest of the table, while Kyler scooped several of the side dishes onto them. Once they had all they wanted, Kyler grabbed two bottles of water from the cooler and Aaron led them to quiet area of the yard instead with the others.
He had no idea why he’d done that. It would have been safer to remain with the others, but he found it too difficult to deny himself the opportunity to spend time alone with Kyler.
“So,” Aaron started after they’d taken a few bites of food. “How do you like Cedar Falls?”
There was a genuine smile on Kyler’s face that had Aaron’s breath catching in his throat. How had he believed Kyler to be plain? All the man had to do was smile and the world turned a bit brighter. Aaron had to give himself a mental slap just to get his mind to focus on what Kyler was saying.
“Everyone here is great,” Kyler said. “I’m even making a few friends.”
A hot streak of jealously lanced through Aaron as he realized he wasn’t one of those friends. If he wasn’t careful, he was going to end up doing something stupid, like asking Kyler out on a date.
“Do you miss your friends back at the commune?” Aaron asked.
Kyler’s smile turned into a frown that made Aaron’s heart hurt. “I didn’t have any friends there,” Kyler told him.
That didn’t seem possible. “But I thought it was a small community where everyone knew everyone.”
Sadness crept into Kyler’s eyes as he spoke. “We did, but that didn’t mean they liked me.” Kyler said it so matter-of-factly, but it didn’t seem possible. How could anyone instantly not love Kyler?
“How could they not like you?” he asked, completely dumbfounded. Admittedly, Aaron wasn’t willing to get involved with Kyler, but that was because he was so innocent, not because Aaron didn’t like him.
“Hey, you two,” Flynn called as he, Jesse, Ethan, Vail, and Macon approached. “What are you doing over here by yourselves?”
Jesse rolled his eyes and sighed. “Just how hard did Jax paddle you for you to have to ask such a stupid question?”
A very happy grin appeared on Flynn’s face. “Hard enough that I’ll feel him for days.”
Macon threw his hands over his ears. “Seriously, I so don’t need or want to hear this.”
“Oh please,” Flynn said with a shake of his head. “Like Tyge didn’t do the same to you this morning. I’ve seen you grimace each time you sat today.”
Aaron glanced over at Kyler, unsure what he’d think about others talking about spanking each other. He feared Kyler would run screaming but he didn’t seem to be disgusted by the topic. If anything, he seemed fascinated.
Macon scowled. “That doesn’t mean I plan on discussing it with any of you.”
Macon’s cousin, Vail, gave a snort. “Why not? You’ve never had a problem telling me all about the way you love it when Tyge—”
Vail wasn’t allowed to finish as Macon slapped a hand over his cousin’s mouth. “Don’t you dare. We’re family. That’s different.”
“Dude,” Ethan said sounding offended. “You don’t think of us as family?” He put a hand to his chest. “I’m hurt. I thought we were closer than that.”
Macon’s shoulders slumped a bit at Ethan’s tone. Glaring at his cousin, he said, “I hope that bus you threw me under swerves and hits you on the sidewalk.”
Flynn and Jesse laughed, while Vail gave Macon a wide-eyed innocent expression, like he was trying to silently convey he hadn’t meant to cause trouble.
“What bus?” Kyler asked as he glanced toward the road as if somehow expecting a bus to suddenly appear. “How did he throw you under a bus and how are you still alive if he did?”
Everything with Aaron stilled as those doubts about getting involved with Kyler returned with a vengeance. Kyler’s statement only brought home just how naïve he really was. It wasn’t his fault as he’d grown up in a sheltered community, but it didn’t change the facts either. There was no way Aaron could get involved with someone like Kyler. He’d end up terrifying someone so innocent with the things he wanted to do to him.
Even as Flynn explained to Kyler what the expression of being thrown under a bus meant, Aaron stood up. “I’m sorry, but I need to go. Congratulations to everyone,” he said to those celebrating.
Then, without waiting for answer, Aaron left. He had to get out of there before he allowed himself to foolishly believe he could become involved with someone like Kyler. It would only lead to disaster. Aaron was better off staying with people who knew the score.
As he got into his truck, Aaron’s hand went to his chest to ease the ache there. Clearly, he’d eaten too much for he refused to believe his heart hurt because he’d walked away from Kyler.
Chapter Nine
“Hi, Aaron.”
Aaron jumped at the sound of the voice. He’d been so deeply engrossed in thoughts of Kyler he hadn’t even heard anyone come in. Turning to face the door, he smiled instantly. “Neil, my man. It’s good to see you. You ready to get to work?” he joked.
Neil laughed. “Funny.”
Even though he had been joking as it was nearly six at night, Aaron could really use the help cleaning up. He had a customer coming at eight in the morning to pick up the piece he was still trying to finish, and there was little chance of him having the time to clean when he wasn’t even sure he’d finish the piece even if he stayed up all night.
“I just came in to say hello and let you know I’ll be here in the morning,” Neil said even as he grabbed the big push broom and started sweeping a path from the door to the counter in the front of the warehouse Aaron worked in.
He would have preferred a more formal shop with a back room to work instead of it all being one big space, but it was all he could afford. Maybe one day, if Jesse actually managed to become mayor, he’d be able to work downtown. That way more people would see his sculptures.
“As you can see, I can r
eally use the help.” Even though Aaron chuckled as he spoke, he actually felt like crying. Well, he wouldn’t actually cry, but he would be tempted to have a good temper tantrum at his inability to concentrate on the task at hand.
There he was, hours from an order needing to be finished and yet he still couldn’t help but think of Kyler. It was getting to the point that Aaron was ready to say, “fuck it,” and give in to his desire to see Kyler. Who was he kidding? At this point, he’d be tempted to bend Kyler over the nearest flat surface and sink as deep as he could into his body.
He just wished he could stop obsessing over him. Kyler wasn’t his typical conquest. Normally, Aaron went after exotic, pretty boys who knew the score. Then again, maybe that was his problem. He kept chasing men who had no desire for anything more than a few hours of fun.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen this place such a mess before,” Neil said, startling Aaron.
Once more, Aaron had been lost in his thoughts of Kyler, forgetting everything else around him, even that Neil was there. “Yeah, I’ve been a little behind.” That was the understatement of the year. But Aaron wasn’t about to admit to anyone else, especially someone as young as Neil, what was really going on.
It didn’t take Neil long to make a decent enough path. Once done, he put the broom back and headed for the door. “I’ll try to come in early.” He paused after opening the door a crack as if he wanted to say something more.
“Neil, spit it out,” Aaron said when Neil stood there for a full two minutes without saying anything. “Whatever it is, you know you can tell me.”
In the past couple of years, Neil had been spending more and more time in Cedar Falls living with his aunt and uncle. During that time, Neil tended to hang out working for Aaron, at least when Aaron could afford to pay him. If he couldn’t, Neil still was often found in his Aaron’s shop, Chiseled Wood.
“I flunked out of college,” he whispered as if afraid to speak the words out loud.
Not all that surprised as Neil had never been that interested in school, Aaron still put his chisel down and went to where Neil stood. Taking the kid into his arms, Aaron enveloped him in a bear hug. “I’m so sorry.”
When Neil’s body started to shake, Aaron held on even tighter. There had been so much pressure on Neil to be the first in his family to go to college and make something of himself. The only time the kid ever got to just be himself was when he was living with Vincent and Andrea on vacations.
As the loving aunt and uncle they were, they had tried to talk to Neil’s mom about not forcing him to go to college when it was the last thing Neil wanted, but she refused to listen. His first year, Neil had struggled and just barely passed his classes. Apparently, he hadn’t been that lucky his second year.
“My mom kicked me out of the house.” Neil’s voice warbled as he tried to speak around the tears.
Aaron was surprised Vincent hadn’t let him know. “Do your aunt and uncle know?”
Neil stepped back from the hug and wiped the tears from his face. “Yeah,” he admitted glumly. “They offered to take me in until I figure out what I’m going to do.”
“What are you going to do?” Aaron asked, even though he already had a good idea what Neil would say. The kid loved working with his hands and had a way with crafting wood that surpassed many who’d been doing it for years.
Baby blue eyes that were filled with so much hope and doubt at the same time it broke Aaron’s heart, peered up at him through long, thick lashes. “I was kind of hoping that you might…um…maybe you would be willing to take me on as…” Neil sighed as he struggled to get the words out.
Aaron could have helped, but Neil was nineteen. Aaron may still think of him as a kid, but the fact was, he was an adult. As such, it was time for him to stand up for himself and ask for what he wanted. So Aaron waited for Neil to find the courage he knew he had.
It was obvious Neil was hoping Aaron would save him from himself, and when he didn’t, Neil blew out a long pent up breath and blurted out his request. “Would you take me on as an apprentice?”
Proud that Neil had managed to ask, Aaron clapped a hand on the kid’s shoulder and said, “I’d be happy to.”
The smile on Neil’s face could have lit up the darkest room. He pushed into Aaron’s body, throwing his arms around Aaron and squeezing tightly. “Thank you,” he whispered.
“Anytime.” Aaron held him for another moment before stepping back. “Be here by seven,” he said. “We have a lot of work to do to get this place ready for two people to work.”
Neil grinned up at him. “You got it, boss.”
The door shut behind Neil and something within Aaron shifted. He couldn’t explain it, but suddenly everything became clearer than it had been since the day he’d met Kyler. Talking with Neil had changed Aaron’s perspective. Aaron hadn’t been worried about hurting Kyler as much as he’d been worried about entering a committed relationship.
In the past, Aaron had only engaged in his darker sexual desires by going to Atlanta or Nashville. The distance meant encounters lasted at most the day or two he was there. Never once had he bothered to think in terms of forever. That was until Kyler.
It had taken Neil’s own life changing event of failing school and fearing his uncertain future for Aaron to understand that had been what was holding him back from pursuing Kyler. To be honest, until a few years ago, when Zane, Jesse, and Ethan moved to Cedar Falls, Aaron would have never thought the people of Cedar Falls would be so accepting of same-sex relationships, so keeping his encounters to nothing more than brief weekend interludes had suited him just fine.
But now that he’d seen the life his friends had with their husbands and boyfriends, Aaron’s views had changed. He just hadn’t realized it.
A smile formed on his lips. It was time to get his head out of his ass and do what he should have done from the beginning—woo Kyler.
Feeling a lot lighter, Aaron picked up the chisel once more and got to work. If he was going to court Kyler, he needed to get his work done. With a focus he hadn’t had since meeting Kyler, Aaron went to work.
Chapter Ten
“Okay, I get that working with flowers can be messy sometimes, but I have trouble believing it’s necessary to take off your shirt and pants,” Jesse said as he walked into the back room where Kyler was once more trying to bathe himself before he opened Nice ‘N Rosy for the day.
“What are you doing here?” Jesse was supposed to be at some committee meeting for the town’s festival this coming weekend. Normally the meetings were only on Mondays, but apparently there were a few changes and Ryder had needed some help with them so he’d called an emergency session.
Jesse nodded. “I thought I’d bring you along. It’s about time for you to get involved in our festival committee.”
So not what Kyler wanted to do. The guys he’d met may have been nice about his trouble with their sarcastic comments, but Kyler found the encounters nothing but frustrating. Apparently sarcasm was a way of life in Cedar Falls, and Kyler was hopelessly feeling left out.
“I’m not so sure that’s a good idea,” he hedged as he pulled his shirt and pants on, praying Jesse wouldn’t ask again why he’d had them off. “Besides, I have several orders to do this morning, not to mention I need to get to work on the displays for the festival.”
It was lame since he really couldn’t do much for the festival. It was still in three days and too early to do much more than make sure his supplies were all in order. Tomorrow would be when the real work would start.
Jesse waved him off. “Please. We both know that’s not true. Now let’s go.”
Kyler had just put his shoes back on when Jesse grabbed his hand and dragged him to the front of the store. He’d thought, maybe, Jesse wouldn’t say anything more about his bathing, but his luck had never been that good.
“And don’t think we’re not going to have a talk about the fact that I keep finding you washing yourself in my sinks,” Jesse said as he locked th
e door behind them. “But fortunately for you, we’re running late.”
Just like on that first day, Kyler found himself pulled across Main Street among blaring car horns and a couple of shouts out open car windows. Jesse just smiled at them and waved, but never even slowed down. How the man moved so fast in those platform boots, Kyler couldn’t figure out, especially since he’d often seen Jesse trip on air.
It was something he was learning about his eccentric boss. When Jesse was on a mission, he could do just about anything without trouble. Any other time, he seemed to attract problems like a magnet.
As they topped the stairs to Ryder’s office, Jesse entered the room with the same dramatic style Jesse tended to go through life. “Sorry I’m late,” Jesse huffed as he caught his breath from their mad dash from Nice ‘N Rosy. “But I didn’t want to come, so count yourself lucky I wanted to introduce Kyler to our little committee or I would have stayed home.”
Ryder glared at Jesse’s announcement about not wanting to be there but didn’t say anything about it. “As I was saying before being interrupted. We are having an issue with some of the tents as the rental company we use had a problem with vandals slashing some of them.”
“Oh no,” Danton said. “Was anyone hurt?”
Ryder shook his head. “No, but they had quite a bit of damage to their equipment, including the tents. I’ve called around but I’m not having any luck coming up with more. So I need suggestions.”
Kyler sat in one of the few chairs that were open and wondered what he was doing there. It wasn’t like he could help. He’d only just arrived in Cedar Falls. What did he know about obtaining tents?
“Anyone?” Ryder asked when the room remained silent.
Jesse gave a sigh that should have been in the movies. “Obviously, some people will have to go without tents. Problem solved.”
Ryder scowled at Jesse. “Are you volunteering to be one of those people?” Ryder asked before adding, “And remember there is a good chance it is going to rain this weekend.”
