Chapter Seven
Aaron
Apparently it was Finn’s turn to hide in the bathroom.
To say I was shocked was an understatement, though I supposed if I’d had to name something important to me, Finn’s would’ve likely crossed my mind. Still, I didn’t know what to do with this new piece of information.
Tad came into the kitchen and leaned against the counter. “How you holding up?” he asked me, even though I should’ve been the one asking him.
“I’m… I’m okay.”
He started pulling on his sleeves, a sure sign he was nervous. “Look. I was going to be petty and let you suffer for a while, but I’m not that much of an ass.” He sighed, but looked at me. “Finn and I are not dating.”
I blinked at him, not comprehending. “Wh-what?”
He sighed again. “Finn and I, we dated… a few times. But we’re not together or anything. We’re just friends.”
“But you were cuddling in bed together,” I said slowly.
“He was just being nice.”
“So you’re not together?”
“Nope.”
“Did you… have you… are you… did you guys…” I cringed.
He sighed yet again. “No, we’ve never slept together, if that’s what you’re trying to ask.”
“Oh… okay, then.” I had no idea what to say to him. I was trying to keep my face from breaking into the biggest grin ever in front of Tad. I pinched my lips together.
Tad let out a humorless laugh. “It’s okay. You’re just making yourself look constipated.”
I coughed out a laugh at that and he smiled at me.
“Look, I called my sister, so she’s coming over for the day since I still feel like crap. Why don’t you go get Finn and take him out or something? I’d rather not have to witness you fawning all over him.” He said it like he was hurting, not like he was trying to be hurtful.
“Tad… I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you… not when we were together, and not now. I…” I trailed off when he held up his hand.
“I know you didn’t. And I’m doing okay. I just don’t want to be around it, ya know?”
I nodded. “I understand.”
He smirked and shook his head. “Go on… I got the soup covered. Go talk to him.”
“Are you su—”
“Yes, god, just go.” He laughed out a little and made a shooing motion with his hand.
I started to walk past him, but paused. “Let me at least check your stitches real quick.”
He nodded, so I pulled off the bandage and looked it over. Everything looked fine and his pupils were dilating and everything. I covered his stitches with a new bandage, then smiled and squeezed his hand before walking up to the bathroom.
By the time I got there, I was so excited about the prospect of taking Finn out, I didn’t even knock on the door. I just burst in and was immediately attacked by steam. From the shower. Finn was in the shower. Oh fuck, Finn was in the shower.
He poked his head out of the shower curtain and yelled, “Seriously, dude? You still don’t know how to knock? I guess this morning should’ve proved the point, but geez, get the hell out of the bathroom, Aaron.”
I winced. He looked pretty upset, though I didn’t know why. I was the one who’d thought he and Tad were together. Don’t think about him being in the shower. Don’t think about him being naked in the shower. Oh god, he’s gonna notice my pants. “Sorry, I just… will you go out with me today?”
His eyes went wide. “What? What about Tad?”
I frowned at that. “He said that you two are just friends.” Don’t think about him naked in the shower!
His brow furrowed. “We are… I thought…” He pushed his dripping wet hair out of his face. “I thought that you came over here to win him back?”
I felt a smile spread over my face. Don’t. Think. About. Him. Being. Naked. “I came over here to get information about you.”
He looked adorably confused. “You did?”
I nodded and took a step inside the bathroom and shut the door. “Will you let me take you out, then?”
I watched his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed, then he nodded.
I took another step toward him.
He stuck one hand out of the shower curtain. “Don’t bring that over here.”
“Don’t bring what?” I asked, looking around me for whatever it was he was talking about.
He waved up and down in my general direction. “All of that… you.”
I smirked at that and stepped closer again. “Why not?”
“Aaron, for fuck’s sake, we’re in your ex-boyfriend’s house. And he’s right downstairs.”
“Okay, good point,” I agreed, though it didn’t stop Finn from continuing.
“And I haven’t seen you for twelve years… we’re not just picking up where we left off, you butt. Plus, there’s no way you’re seeing me naked right now.” He said it like he was ashamed of what he looked like or something.
“What’s wrong with seeing you naked?”
He sighed, but pulled the curtain tighter. “You look like… you, and I… don’t look like I used to.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
He closed his eyes in exasperation. “I know you don’t. That’s why you can’t see me yet… we’ll have to… work up to it.”
I accidentally groaned out loud at the double entendre.
“Aaron,” Finn hissed, “get out of the bathroom and I’ll go out with you.”
I smiled at him. “Good.”
Then I took a step toward him, but he whipped the curtain shut. “You are not kissing me for the first time in twelve years while I’m in the shower at your ex-boyfriend’s house.”
I groaned again, but then I smiled. “Does that mean you’ll let me kiss you once we’re outside of the house?”
I heard him sigh, but he wasn’t fooling me. It was more of a happy sigh. But he said, “Only if you show me a good time. Now get out so I can finish my shower.”
“Don’t take too long,” I called out before leaving the bathroom and shutting the door behind me, effectively cutting off his response.
Then I leaned against the door with a huge grin on my face. I hadn’t been this happy, this giddy, in years… twelve, to be exact.