Chapter 29

Chapter 29 — Polyamorous

Liam finds himself looking at Aaron every now and then. He doesn't mean to, but his eyes somehow always stray towards the man. It has already been established that Aaron is indeed an attractive looking man, however his absolute insufferableness has hindered Liam from completely appreciating that. Not that he is looking forward to appreciate him or anything.

Once a dickface, always a dickface — that's not going to change.

Aaron almost catches him looking at him a couple of times but fortunately he doesn't. Liam knows he won't hear the end of it and he doesn't really have a proper reason to defend himself either.

The weird thing is though whenever he is not looking at Aaron, he feels his gaze on him. Is it possible that he's been looking at him too? And for what? But when he turns to check his suspicions, Aaron wouldn't be looking at him. Maybe he's just becoming paranoid.

They are on their third movie now, and Liam is starting to get bored as well. But he doesn't say anything, and he doesn't make any move to leave either. He doesn't know why. Now that he thinks about it, why is he even still in his house? He only came to check up on him and it's apparent that he is doing much better than the day before, aside from the occasional sniffles and coughing.

He checks the time on his phone. It's almost half past twelve. He clears his throat and turns to Aaron, this time intentionally and full of awareness and with a purpose.

"So–," he starts and Aaron quickly pauses the movie before turning to him, "–do you need any help in cooking or anything?"

"No, I'm good. I'm just going to order in,"

Liam gives him a small nod, standing up, "Okay, then. I should probably get going,"

"Right," Aaron stands up as well and accompanies him to the door despite Liam assuring him that he can let himself out. And just as Liam is about to open the door, Aaron asks, "Do you want to stay for lunch?"

Liam freezes for a good second, unsure if he heard him right and does a rather slow dramatic turn.

Aaron rubs the back of his head, giving him a half-shrug, "I mean I am going to order in; I can order for you too," he says not even for a second meeting Liam's gaze and instead looking over his shoulder, as if he is talking to the door instead of the man before him.

Liam feels very much put on the spot, and if only this was a few days ago, he would have no problem with a reply which for sure would have been nothing short of a snide remark. But kind of a lot has happened these past few days and as much as he hates to admit it, he doesn't quite hold the initial impression he had of his boss. He's more... tolerable now. And it wouldn't be much of a stretch to say that their acquaintance has progressed — only a little, but still it counts.

However, that does not mean he is going to have a one-on-one lunch with his boss — he doesn't think they are at that stage yet. He slowly starts to shake his head and tries not to think much of the almost disappointment-like expression that crosses his face. He cannot be disappointed by him rejecting his offer, can he? Maybe he's relieved and that is what Liam misreads as disappointment — yes, that should be it.

If that is what it was, then he is relieved too to be leaving. He's really gone out of his way coming to check up on him and then staying further with him watching movies. Yes, he is relieved to be leaving, but still there is no reason for the quick succession of his heartbeats as his gaze once again meet Aaron's for one last goodbye.

He quickly turns and walks away, his heart still beating rapidly. Maybe if he gives it some thought he can probably find out the reason for that but he's not going to do that, not sure if he wants to know the answer.

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Liam quickly wraps his arms around Jason as soon as the man opens his door, sighing.

He has been quickly basically counting down the minutes until Jason would be back from work so he can go over and see him. He did think about going over to the office but he didn't want to disturb with Jason's work, so he waited and came over to his apartment instead. It's more private this way anyway.

Jason lets out a huff of surprise before hugging him back, "Hi?"

"I missed you," Liam doesn't even mind how embarrassing it is for him to admit this.

"It's not even twenty hours since we last saw each other," Jason chuckles, pulling back and ruffling Liam's hair playfully.

He scowls, swatting his hand away, "So? Am I not allowed to miss you?" he walks past him into his apartment.

"No, no," Jason quickly catches up to him and wraps his arms around him from behind him, stopping him from walking any further away, "That's not what I said," a small kiss on his cheek, followed by, "I missed you too,"

Liam turns to look at him with raised eyebrows, "Really?"

"Yeah, couldn't stop thinking about you and everything. It's weird being there without seeing your pretty face,"

Rolling his eyes, Liam tries to pry his arms away but Jason only hugs him tighter.

"No, really. I'm not lying. I missed you too," Jason insists, continuing the kisses on his cheeks, along his jaw, then progressing down his throat.

"Okay, okay. Stop," Liam laughs, breaking away from him, "I believe you,"

"Good," he waits for a moment as Liam goes to sit on the couch and he leans against the wall as he asks, "So how's our beloved boss?"

"Probably only a few hours away from being back to his dickface self,"

Jason chuckles, shaking his head, crossing his arms across his chest, "What did he do today?"

Liam shrugs, "Does he have to do anything?"

Jason continues chuckling, shaking his head.

Liam goes on, "He was just watching movies today; he invited me to stay over, so I did for a bit, and then I left. He asked me to stay for lunch, but... I didn't. It was weird,"

Jason pushes himself off the wall and walks towards Jason, sitting beside him, "Why was it weird?"

"I don't know," another shrug.

His mind however reverts to the memory of how his heart beat when his eyes met with Aaron's after the invite and he declined him. As much as he doesn't want to think about it, it pops to the front of his mind every now and then and he has to put in some extra effort in pushing it back again.

Jason is looking at him so closely that Liam fears that he is somehow have developed the ability to read minds and is now able to read his. Wouldn't that be a complete nightmare?

Instead, Jason lets out a small sigh and places a hand on his knee, drumming his fingers, "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," Liam is not really sure though, and he braces himself for whatever question he may be posed.

"Do you know what polyamory is?"

He cocks his head to one side, dubious, "Polyamory?"

"Yes, polyamory,"

Liam is sure he has heard that word somewhere before this, "An open relationship?" he guesses that's what that word means, although he's not sure that terms apply to the conversation they're having right then.

"Hmm, yeah, something like that. But with certain guidelines,"

"Guidelines?"

"Yes. It's not like a casual, open relationship; definitely does not mean having multiple casual sexual partners. It's more like..." Jason takes a moment to consider his next words before continuing, "Polyamory means having multiple romantic relationships at the same time, and everyone who is involved in the relationships is aware of the other ones, and it's fully consensual," he looks at Liam to see if he's following him.

And Liam... he nods, and yes, he does understand what Jason is telling him but... why? Why is he telling him all this?

"So, what do you think about it?" Jason prompts him.

"About... polyamory?"

Jason nods.

Liam clears his throat awkwardly, not entirely sure what he's supposed to say here, "That's... cool, I guess," he gives him a little shrug, scratching the back of his head, and then a second later, he asks (he has to ask him), "Can I know why you're telling me all this?"

Jason shrugs back at him, "Seemed like something you would appreciate knowing,"

He squints at him, confused, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Just that it's not a such a colossal mistake liking more than one person at the same time,"

He still doesn't get, at least not at first. But then slowly it dawns on him, and he turns to Jason wide-eyed, "You like someone else?"

"What? No, no. Well, not no exactly," he stops himself, and shakes his head, muttering something to himself under his breath, before addressing Liam once again, "Okay. What would you say if I liked someone else?"

"Are you trying to break up with me?"

"No! I still like you too — more than like you, in fact. But at the same time, I might like someone else too,"

Gradually, the dots connect in his head, "So, you're polyamorous?"

He sighs, before slowly starting to nod, "Yes. I've been researching about it and it seems like I am,"

"Oh,"

"But that's not only it,"

"No?"

"No," he shakes his head, "Um, you... remember what you came here to talk to me about?"

That seems like quite a long time ago, and it takes a few seconds for Liam to be able to recall it, "To, uh, talk to you about Aaron," and that's when everything becomes crystal clear to him, and he slaps a hand to his forehead, "Oh my god. That's it. You like him!"

Jason doesn't say anything and just looks at him with this deer caught in headlights expression.

"You like Aaron, don't you?" Liam asks again.

It takes another moment but slowly he starts nodding.

Liam eyebrows rise up, obviously surprised, but also... not surprised at the same time. He doesn't know quite how to explain what he is feeling just yet.

Should he be mad?

He knows he isn't, but he wonders if he should be feeling so.

What he is feeling right then is almost akin to relieved that it only confuses him more.

And this whole situation, this new term that he is learning, and this new admission from Jason, it should probably be overwhelming for him, and he should be freaking out, but strangely he isn't. Instead, something about this whole situation resonates somewhere deep inside him, and it just feels familiar somehow, not that he's ready to admit that just you.

So, he simply only nods back, "Okay,"

"You're not... mad?"

"Mad that you're polyamorous?" he knows that's not what Jason means though.

"No. That I like Aaron,"

A shrug, "To be honest, I don't know how I feel about that yet. I obviously cannot put up with him. But you like him, so..."

Jason lets out a small snort, and Liam looks at him pointedly with a raised eyebrow, "What?"

What Jason says next is what at last breaks Liam and he's furiously mad.

"Just exactly how long is it going to take you to finally admit that you like Aaron as well?"

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