|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2023 7:35 am
The coffee tasting better with extra sugar definitely made sense, and he showed Ariel a smile of appreciation. Even though he was trying to save money and limit the amount of sugar and other things he used, he did appreciate that Ariel was trying to give him a good day, despite what hell he was likely heading into.
“Oh, yes. I’ve been reading a lot of mysteries lately. I mean, well… there’s a lot of, um, old Nancy Drew and… and young adult books that get discounted at, um, stores. So I’ve been picking up a… few… that were once well loved, or maybe just neglected, but I mean I know they’re basically kids books but they’re still pretty fun to read,” he quickly tried explaining himself, his cheeks a little red again because wow, he was old enough to move on to better things, right?
“But, um, dark romances are fun too. Or. I’ve read a good bit of scifi and, well, anything really. Sorry,” he mumbled, but realized he was being kind of negative so he forced a laugh and a smile. “I promise I won’t recommend kids books to you. I’ve got others that I can probably suggest.”
Well, even if they judged him, at least Harrison didn’t. But… no. He needed to stop thinking like that. Neither Ariel nor Morgan had made fun of him for anything yet. He was just still trying to get used to nice people, probably.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2023 3:52 pm
“I don’t mind reading kid’s books. There were a lot I missed out on when I was a kid. Only difference is that I read faster now.” He shrugged. “No shame in that.”
Ariel relaxed again. Every word out of Morgan’s mouth seemed like something said with good intentions. He was a little worried about letting Casey get in his car and let him drive away alone, but he wasn’t sure that he had it in him to ask to tag along. And, if he did, he’d be the one alone in the car. He sipped at his coffee again.
“A lot of good things came out after we grew up, too. Go for it, read whatever you want. You never know when something’s going to stick with you.” Someone must have given Casey a hard time about what he read. Morgan wasn’t exempt from any sort of childhood bullying for any one reason or another, the only difference was that he very quickly learned not to care about what anyone said.
Casey seemed to carry those doubts and insecurities heavily.
Ariel bumped his elbow against Casey’s arm. “I like your book recommendations. They’re very sweet. And very personal. I haven’t had a lot of time to read, but you make me want to. I prefer movies these days. I just need something I can multitask with. And I hate when it’s too quiet.” He wasn’t exactly the odd one out here; he liked to read. He just hadn’t had the opportunity to in a while.
Morgan didn’t think less of him for it. He nodded. “One day we’ll have to talk favorites, then. I’ll read anything. A lot of bad books have good lines. Movies, too.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2023 5:45 pm
Okay. Okay that was good. Morgan didn’t seem to mind that he was reading stuff for kids.
Casey let out a breath that he didn’t realize he’d been holding, but showed both Ariel and Morgan a smile before drinking some more of the coffee Ariel was so sweet to make for him.
“I wish I could just stay here and talk to you both about books and movies,” he laughed. He knew he had to leave in just a short while, but it had been such a good chance to see Harrison and with Morgan offering to drive him, he didn’t have to run down to the bus stop.
“We can talk about bark and tracking and water currents sometime, too,” he promised, because he liked hearing what interested other people, even if he was the one usually saying something.
He took a few more gulps from his mug and let out a sigh of contentment as he turned to head towards the kitchen and drop it off at the sink. But on his way -- without tripping over Harrison -- he reached for Ariel’s hand to tug him with him. Although he was careful about not making him spill his coffee.
“I’ll be ready to go in just a minute,” he promised with a smile at Morgan.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2023 1:02 am
“Take your time, no rush,” Morgan answered. He’d spent plenty of time with Harrison already but figured he could distract her for a moment. He crouched and planted a hand on either hip so he could scratch down her legs while Ariel and Casey had a bit of privacy. Not that he minded; he wasn’t here to command any of their time.
Casey’s fingers against his own inspired him to take his hand and squeeze it. He was happy to be led into the kitchen, though he had quite a bit more to finish off his own coffee. Hopefully Casey wouldn’t mind if he just borrowed this mug and brought it back later. He didn’t want to stay here if Casey was leaving, but only because he really didn’t want to intrude or overstep any boundaries.
He’d enjoyed napping here. Even if they hadn’t slept for long, he’d slept well.
Casey just had a calming effect about him. He didn’t worry so much when he was pressed against him.
He should, though. He knew he should. He’d have been devastated if anything happened to Casey just because of their closeness, but Ariel felt selfish. Desperate. Needy.
As they walked into the kitchen, he hastily took another sip of the coffee. It was only partly nerves. He’d already packed up the leftovers from the meal he’d grabbed so Casey had lunch ready to go; it was packed up in the lunchbox sitting on the counter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2023 12:09 pm
Whatever Casey was planning on doing once he’d led Ariel to the kitchen, it momentarily left his thoughts when he saw the lunchbox. Ariel had obviously packed it for him. He knew he would! He said he was going to with the leftovers. But seeing it there meant more than Casey could properly say.
Carefully, he set the empty mug down in the sink, and then turned back to Ariel. Oh, and some of his bangs had fallen into his face so clearly Casey needed to brush it back and maybe let his fingers brush along Ariel’s cheek as well.
“Are you going to be okay? Thank you for coming over and taking care of me. I… I mean, if you’d like, I would like if you’d come over again. Soon. But no pressure or anything. You’re welcome to whatever you want. Oh, I mean, like… food or books. Or if you just want to sleep in my bed, that’s fine too.”
That was probably weird to offer, but he wanted to make sure Ariel was comfortable.
“I just… I didn’t get a chance to say how much I really appreciate you, so…”
Casey took his hand away from Ariel’s so he could wrap both arms around him instead. He was careful not to make Ariel spill his coffee, but he wanted to give him a big hug before having to leave.
“I miss you already.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2023 12:40 pm
His heart fluttered. His heart pounded. His heart stopped.
Ariel’s grip weakened and he had to hastily place the mug on the counter so he could wrap his arms around Casey and return the hug. He tucked his chin into the crook of his neck and closed his eyes. He wanted to slip into the warmth of this embrace, just for a moment. He wanted to hold it in his heart and remember it for when he had to go to work, or when he was alone, or drowning in his own thoughts.
He wanted Casey to have it to remember that he had something better waiting at home.
Well–next door, but Casey had already invited him back and for all the excuses Ariel could think of, none of them felt right.
“I miss you, too. I hope today is better. I’ll see you again when you get off of work. I might be a little late, but–lock your door, I have a key. I’ll get a shower and then come over. I really appreciate you, too, Casey. I hope you know that. I still haven’t had a chance to put it all into words, but you don’t know how important you are to me. I’ll come over more often. I just don’t want you to get tired of me.”
He didn’t want to cause him any trouble. He wanted to have hope that things were turning over for him, that things were good, but…
He’d already strayed off of his cautious path so much. Casey made him want to have hope, he couldn’t help it.
He didn’t want to sleep alone at night. He didn’t want to live in an empty house. He didn’t want to hide all the time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2023 8:41 am
Casey didn’t want to let Ariel go. He held him tightly, but not too tight. He didn’t want to crush him or anything like that! But he made sure it was a good hug, and he rubbed Ariel’s back, and reached up to brush his hand through his hair -- just once! -- before he realized that was probably crossing the line.
Maybe. He couldn’t tell with Ariel sometimes. It was so easy for Casey to just feel comfortable enough to do what felt right to him, that he sometimes forgot that not everyone felt the same way.
But Ariel hadn’t pushed him away yet. He even said he was worried about Casey getting tired of him!
“It’s impossible for me to get tired of you. I can’t get enough of you,” Casey insisted, unable to keep the smile off his face. “My day will be a lot better thanks to you. And Morgan. And of course Harrison. But you’ve been so good to me. The best friend and neighbor anyone could ask for,” he laughed, and he could hear the uncertainty in his own voice because he knew he wanted this to be more than just friendship.
He was afraid of ruining what they had. Ariel seemed to get spooked so easily that Casey felt as though he was trying to gently coax an abused animal out from hiding sometimes.
“I’ll lock the door,” he promised, thinking it was better to change the subject than let the thoughts of friendship linger. “Be good -- oops, sorry, I usually tell Harrison that. I know you’ll be good,” he snickered cheerily as he pulled back after one last squeeze.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2023 9:17 am
A hug like that was not difficult to miss. Ariel found that he often preferred his own space and to keep a distance from others, and he didn’t know if he should be delighted or afraid of how easily it was to lower that guard for Casey. He stepped away and wished that Casey didn’t have to go to work.
He’d miss him, too. But, he still smiled that Casey would insist he be good. “Well, I’ll do my best. I try to stay out of trouble.” Casey made him reckless. Or, Casey made him feel like himself, before everything was about staying safe and laying low.
“You be good, too. I know you will be, because your heart is good, but you just remember that you’re only going to be at that place for a little while longer. And you’ll come home and recharge, and I’ll do anything I can to help you look for a different job. Talk to Morgan about it, okay? And I’ll see what our hiring situation is when I go in too. Just so you have some options. I don’t want you stuck somewhere where they don’t respect and appreciate you, okay?”
Oh, he was so tempted to kiss his forehead. If he reached out to hug him, he didn’t know if he could leave his arms. He just smiled instead.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2023 10:28 am
Oh… oh, it was going to be really difficult not to get emotional when Ariel was making promises like helping him figure out a different job and that he didn’t want Casey to be somewhere where he wasn’t respected and appreciated. That was… so nice.
Casey wanted to hug him again, but he knew if he did that he wouldn’t want to let go. And then he would really be in trouble for being late to work.
“Okay,” he said with a brighter smile, and reached to grab his lunchbox with another word of very appreciative thanks, before finally heading back out to Harrison and Morgan.
“Alright, I think I’m ready. Got enough energy and things to look forward to after work to get me through these next twelve hours,” he laughed, even though he still felt like he was crying inside.
Harrison got a few more pets, but since she was going to be going with them, he didn’t want to linger too much longer.
“See you later, Ariel,” he said with a lift of his hand to wave to him, and then turned to grin up at Morgan as he reached for Harrison’s leash. “Ready?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2023 10:55 am
Morgan rose to his feet. Ariel returned with the coffee mug and his leftovers, and seemed like he intended to grab his bag and head out when they did. At least so he could cleaned up and ready for his own shift.
“Have a good day, Casey. You too, Morgan.” He stopped to pet Harrison, but he had his keys already to lock up for Casey. One less thing to stress out about.
“I’m ready. See you around, Ariel.”
He would. Ariel smiled, but didn’t say as much out loud.
Morgan was ready to go; he passed the leash over to Casey. “I’ll drive safely. We’ll get you there in one piece and on time. I’ll even let you choose the music.”
Whatever he could do to make this a little easier on Casey, especially if he’d already been crying about things earlier.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
