Chapter Text
He glanced again at the clock – that's all Aaron's been doing since he was stuck there - watching the second hand rising near the number twelve.
Another minute wasted..
“Hope “this” didn't ruin your plans for the evening..” said Paddy, gesturing at the big bandage applied on his right arm.
“No worries..” replied Aaron, unfazed.
It was 21:37, too late to get in the car and reach Leeds; it would take him at least 30 minutes to finally park outside the pub.
And besides, Robert'll be gone by now.
Robert.
Aaron thought about him all day.
Corn-silk hair, plump lips, that incredible body you could just sensed inside his styilish suits, his gigantic hands cupped around your face the last time he kissed you; actually, the only time he kissed you.
It felt a bit like putting your newest favourite song on repeat, over and over, without getting bored in the slightest, but enjoying each time more and more.
“I got no choice; the wound was nasty and I couldn't drive. Dickinson's don't have a car and I couldn't asked a lift to Vanessa 'cause she was out of town..”
Right now they were meant to be sit at the place Aaron choose, knee-to-knee under a table, chatting about their dull days, maybe arranging about what they'd do next, after drank the last drop of ale.
“You've already said that..”
On top of all, his phone's dead – yep, he couldn't find the charger and Chas was the one to blame. Yesterday she turned his room upside down; there was still an odd citrus smell in the air, not even a speck of dust upon the drawer - and now he couldn't even reach Robert to explain the mess he's into.
A doctor entered the room, greeting them with a loud “Good evening!” paired with a dazzling smile.
He was tall and young but nothing like Robert so Aaron checked his back for a bit, but mostly he kept his eyes on the floor.
The guy took a black coffee from the vending machine, and for a few minutes, Paddy and Aaron chatted softly about the accident with the pregnant sheep.
“She was loaded with tranquilizers, but for Miriam it was just like been full of water.. A real spitfire that Miriam.. Hey, did I ever mention Dickinson gave a name to all of his animals? All choosen from the Bible. There's a brindled cow called Edna, a donkey named Abel.. I bet there's an Aaron grazins for some fresh grass somewhere..” ended the older man, laughing at his own lame joke.
“Anyway you could've asked my mum..” muttered Aaron, blowing on his tea.
“I called her. She was b-busy.. ehm.. Don't you think there's too much heat in this room? I'm sweating..” stated Paddy, playing with the collar of his blue striped jumper as he threw himself to open the window.
“Busy? You mean, she was with a ma-”
Paddy shout a loud “NO!” behind the curtains. “S-she was with erhm.. Charity” added, finally in front of Aaron again, the window wide open behind his back “Did you ever heard about ladies' night? A night of the three B: Booze, Bridget Jones and Bb-”
The doctor looked at the two with amusement, sipping his coffee.
“She told you to keep your mouth shut, I get it. But I'm not a kid anymore, there's no need to protect me.. Who's seeing her?”
When it comes to lying Paddy wasn't a natural, Aaron always knew.
“I don't know everything your mom's been up to..”
Aaron nodded.
“But, definetely she's not with Charity, right?”
He played with his stained glasses for a bit and when Aaron asked: “It's a state secret or somethin'?”, the older man look right at him and fought back, smiling:
“And what about you? You can tell me, you know. I cannot believe a fit lad in his 20's spend his evening watching old soccer matches on telly..”
“Pads, seriously..”
“Must have been worthy anyway.. I mean, I've never seen you with a shirt on.. It's a first! You look very smart..”
Yep, he was wearing the black shirt his mum bought it two Christmas ago, he never worn it.
Before Paddy called him to bring him at the hospital, Aaron was putting the ironing board back in the closet; he was quiet ready to go out, he just had to get the wallet and the car keys.
“It's fine.. it was nothing special, anyway” guaranteed Aaron, blushing.
“Tell that to your face..” said Paddy, tossing away his empty paper cup on the bin.
The doctor turned his back to leave.
All things considered he wasn't bad to look at, but he was wearing a pair of posh Italian loafers, without socks, and the multicolored ankle bracelet had on, made Aaron's skin crawl for a bit.
Prat, he thought.