Chapter 16

Chapter 16 — No Almost

"Benjamin?" Liam asks, unable to believe what he's hearing.

"Who's Benjamin?" Aaron turns to him, eyebrows raised in question, but Liam doesn't have the time or energy to answer his boss; not when he is still reeling from the... whatever that passed between them not moments ago.

He doesn't know if he should be grateful Benjamin is there or not — who knows what would have happened if Katie hadn't interrupted them when she did.

Liam opens the bathroom door and steps out meeting Katie, "What do you mean Benjamin's here?"

"Exactly what I meant. He's here. At the door,"

"Seriously?"

"Yes, seriously. Why would I lie about that?" and then looking over his shoulder, she starts smirking, "Hey, Aaron,"

Exhaling a sharp breath, he snaps his fingers in front of me, and widens his eyes at her, shaking his head a little, warning her not to comment anything, because there isn't anything to comment to here really.

"Who's Benjamin?" Aaron repeats his question from before.

"That's none of your business," Liam quickly says before Katie can say something — he doesn't know why but he doesn't want his boss that messy part of his life. Maybe it is feeble attempt at maintaining some sort of professional relationship between the two of them although he is well aware that they must have leaped way, way past it before, "I'm going to go deal with this, okay," he announces before leaving the two of them and making his way to the door where his mom already is.

Liam hurries his steps and pulls his mother back, putting himself in between her and Benjamin, "I'm here, I'm here,"

By the way his mother's face is all pinched up and Benjamin's is sullen, Liam knows his mother must have gone off on him. Turning to the older woman, even though he doesn't want to, there's no denying the smile that finds its way to his lips. She can be the gentlest, kindest woman you meet, but when it comes to her loved ones she can be a fierce protector as well. She has always told him to keep his emotions in check when it came to his ex-fiance but it looks she didn't extend the advice to herself.

"I'm not going to apologise," she tells him before he has even opened her mouth.

He lifts his shoulders in a half-shrug, "I wasn't going to ask you, to be honest. Just, are you okay?"

Instead of answering him, her eyes cut over to the man standing behind him, "I can deal with him for you,"

"No, no. I'm good," holding by her shoulders, he turns her around and leads her into the house, "You go join everyone. I'll be there in a bit, okay. Love you,"

She pats his hand twice before nodding and leaving him. Taking in a deep breath, he turns around and goes towards the door. He gestures a Benjamin to step aside so that he can step out and close the door behind them, not wanting to disturb anyone in the house. He goes to the bench on the veranda and sits on it; Benjamin joins him at his side.

Another deep breath, "What are you doing here, Benjamin?"

"I'm sorry. I didn't know you were having a party,"

"It's not a party — just a small gathering for Rylee's birthday,"

"Oh. Convey her my wishes,"

Liam lets out a loud sigh, "Is that why you came here? To convey your wishes to my sister?"

"No, no," he shakes his head, and scratches the back of his neck, "I, um... I didn't like how we left things yesterday,"

Liam doesn't mean to but a snort escapes him anyway, "You didn't like..." he mumbles under his breath, rubbing his forehead, trying to not let his emotions get the better of him. He only starts speaking once he feels somewhat calmed down, "So?"

"So, I thought we could talk about it. Clear the air a little,"

H simply nods. But he knows he won't be able to keep his calm demeanour for long. He can already feel anger seeping in, and so he stands up, crossing his arms.

"I think you should go," he tells him.

"What?" Benjamin stands up too, facing Liam, "What did I say? I just wanted to talk,"

"I honestly don't care what the heck you want. I've had more than enough of that. I only care about what I want. And right now, I want you to leave,"

"Liam, c'mon," he starts to reach out to him but Liam quickly takes a step back, shaking his head.

"Don't,"

"Okay. Will you at least want to talk tomorrow?"

"Are you fu– No! I don't want to talk to you. If possible, I would like to never see you again too,"

"I don't think you mean that, Liam,"

"No, I actually really do,"

Liam doesn't understand why he spent so much time wallowing over this guy. He feels that his life is much better now compared to than it ever was when he was with Benjamin.

"Is everything alright out here?"

If it were anyone else coming out to check on him, he wouldn't have minded but, it had to be Aaron. He doesn't what he's playing at here, but he really doesn't want to be embarrassed in front of his ex-fiance. He glares at him as sharply as he can but of course, he pays no mind to that. He steps out of the house and joins them in the veranda, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

He nods once towards Benjamin, "So, this must be Benjamin,"

The said man is confused by the new addition to their conversation but he nods anyways and extends a hand, "Yeah, I'm Benjamin, Liam's–" however he catches himself at the last second, and is abashed at the almost slip up.

And as if to embarrass him further, Aaron doesn't return the gesture of the handshake and instead sizes him up from head to toe. He gives a single nod, and then turns to Liam, eyebrows furrowing a little, "You okay?"

Liam tries not to appear very shocked, still not understanding what kind of prank his boss is trying to pull on him. He needs to quickly be rid of Benjamin before he does something. He ignores Aaron altogether.

"You ready to go?"

"Ok, now I get it," Benjamin says instead, crossing his arms, puffing his chest.

Liam sighs, weary, "Get what?"

"It's this guy. That's why you won't talk to me,"

Personally, Liam would like to applaud his patience with this dumbass of a man. He's very much tempted to pick up a potted plant and break it over his head, but he holds himself back. After everything that has happened between them and especially after what he revealed to him the day before, seriously he thinks that it's because of another man he doesn't want to talk to him. Just how clueless can he be?

And as if things weren't already bad enough, Aaron has to step in, "Yes, so what?"

Not being able to take either of their idiocy any longer, Liam steps in between them, "Benjamin, please leave or I swear I'll call the police, and you–," he turns to Aaron, "What the fuck is wrong with you? Can't you see I'm dealing with something personal here?"

"I was just trying to he–" Aaron starts to say, but before he can complete his sentence, Liam puts up a hand stopping him and turning around to see that Benjamin is still there, "Why are you still here?"

"We still have to talk. Can I at least come over tomorrow?"

Liam fists his hands, trying his best to tamper the urge to just yell out loud but settles for a curse, "Fuck," he is so close to ripping out his own hair, "Just go, okay. Go," and he stares at him until he relents and walks away.

And then he turns to his very much irritating boss, "Okay, you can pull whatever prank whatever you have left on me,"

"What?"

Liam rubs a hand over his forehead, sighing loudly, "I'm tired, Aaron. I have no energy left to argue with you. So go ahead and do whatever you want,"

Aaron shakes his head, exhaling slowly, "I wasn't lying when I said I wanted to call a truce with you,"

Liam crosses his arms, cocking an eyebrow challengingly, "And you want me to believe you. Just like that?"

"That's up to you," he shrugs, "I can't force you to believe me,"

Liam regards him closely for a moment before settling with a curt nod. Turning around, he walks back to the door to head inside the house.

"So, do you believe me?" Aaron asks, right behind him.

Liam lifts his shoulder, "We'll see about that,"

֍֍֍

"He's not so bad," Katie says once the crowd has dispersed and only Liam, Katie, Rylee and her kids are in the house, "Not bad on the eyes either," she nudges Liam lightly at that, her tone teasing.

"Shut up," is all Liam can say and he can't disagree with her really.

Aaron was much amicable and he even used his 'please's and 'thank you's without any prompting. His eyes would flick over to Liam everytime he used any of those pleasantries as if to prove something to him and the latter could only roll his eyes. But other than that, he was truly a pleasant company for the day. At first, Liam was wary, waiting for the other shoe to drop, for another prank, but it never came. And slowly he started to relax as well.

Aaron did admit to his parents and sister that it was him who booked the 'sex cavalry' and surprisingly apologised as well. Apparently, he didn't think twice about it and just did it. At that, everyone started snickering and simultaneously called out Liam because that was his usual move.

Liam didn't quite like to admit it, but it turned out to be somewhat of a good gathering. Maybe he would believe his boss after all when he said he wanted to call a truce between them. However, Liam did not get the chance to relay the message personally to him.

He shrugs to himself, thinking about it now. It's no big deal, he'll accept the truce on Monday when he goes back to office.

"Maybe almost losing his dick changed him; it's making him see sense," Liam theorised — he can still make fun of him and it's not like he's around to overhear anyways.

Katie laughs, shaking her head, "You are truly ruthless,"

Liam shrugs, clicking his tongue, "But I did feel bad later on though,"

"Probably the only thing proving that we haven't completely lost you to the dark side,"

"Ha-ha,"

"Anyways, there's something else I wanted to ask you,"

"What?"

"How come you invited your boss and his friends today, but not Jason? I thought you liked him,"

Liam lets out a loud groan at that, "Seriously? You still think I invited them?"

"Oh, wait. Right, I forgot. My bad," she concedes, and then with a small grimace, "Still... you could have invited Jason,"

"And have him see all this too," he wrinkles his nose, gesturing to the leftover cupcakes and chocolates from earlier that day, "No, thank you,"

"Right, I'm just going to ask you straight. When am I going to get to meet this man? As your best and well, only friend really, I think I should have already met him,"

"Shut up," Liam feels his cheeks already heating up, as he admits: "We haven't even gone on our official date yet — aside from our work lunches that is,"

"Why?"

For a moment, Liam thinks back to the moment in the bathroom with Aaron, when they almost– Liam quickly shakes his head, abruptly ending the thought. There isn't any almost between him and the dickface. He won't allow there to be. He returns to Katie's question.

"I don't know. I guess we just haven't asked each other,"

"No, no," she quickly grabs his phone from the table and forces him to hold it, "Call him. Now,"

And well, he can't refuse her really. Not that he wants to, he supposes.

֍֍֍