Chapter 35

Chapter 35 — Let's All Of Us Be In A Relationship

"Are you absolutely sure that this is what you want?" Jason asks Liam for the umpteenth time.

Liam turns to him with a bored expression, "No matter how many times you ask me, my answer is not going to change," and then on a second thought, he adds, "Unless, it's not what you want,"

Jason lets out a scoff, shaking his head lightly, "You have no idea how much I've wanted this,"

"Hmm," the other man purses his lips as if in deep thought, and then says, "But I thought you said that you'd be okay if I didn't want this. How does that work if this is what you wanted?"

He shrugs, "I can compromise,"

Liam smiles at him, warmth flooding him — that's all he feels when he looks at Jason really: warmth, and he couldn't be any happier about it. Because what more he can possibly ask? He leans against the man and rests his face against his arm. Jason doesn't even think much about it and instantly bends down and places a small kiss on the crown of his head.

Liam wrinkles his nose, moving away, embarrassed by the blatant PDA they're exhibiting but also secretly loves it. He starts talking, so that they don't get distracted any further and focus on the matter at hand, "So, what would be the best approach you think?"

Both of the men are at a small, quaint diner not far away from their office. It's after work and they decided they would go out for a cup of coffee — that's not all there is to it really.

They have invited Aaron, their boss to join them as well. They, of course, presented it as a casual idea, unsure if he would accept their invite and to their surprise and very much to their expectation he agreed. That's when the gravity of what they are actually going to or planning to do settled in.

Neither have them have actually talked about it or thought it through. Liam admitted the day before that he would like for all of them to be in a relationship and it is something that very much appeals to Jason as well, and they didn't see the reason why they should not talk about it and decided they would meet up for coffee today. All three of them.

That's the extent of their plan. For some reason, it did not strike either of them to think about what they're going to say or how they're even going to approach the topic.

Liam has been hoping that maybe Jason would know, but by the sheepish expression he gives him, he recognises that he has been hoping in vain.

"I thought maybe you'd have an idea?" Jason admits slowly.

Wonderful, he thinks to himself.

He sneaks a glance at the door. Aaron has yet to show up.

"Okay, it's not too late yet. Let's come up with an idea how to tell him — I think the best approach would to be slow and–,"

"Hi. We like you. Let's all of us be in a relationship," Jason suggests readily.

"–subtle," Liam finishes, and blinks at his boyfriend in confusion slowly nodding, "Or we can go for direct and freak him the fuck out,"

"You think he'll freak out?"

"Fuck knows. I just think it's best we think from all angles... or fuck that, because he's here,"

Aaron steps into the small diner and it takes him a minute to spot the two men, and waves once he does.

"Are we using my idea?" Jason whispers in a hurry.

"What? No. I don't know," Liam manages to reply just in time before Aaron is at their table.

"Hey," he greets them, as he slides into the booth opposite them, "Hope I'm not too late,"

Liam is suddenly beyond nervous all of a sudden and he thinks he might just throw up if he were to open his mouth.

Jason thankfully comes to his rescue; he lets out an awkward chuckle, shaking his head, "Not at all," he signals for a waiter with a slight nod of his head.

One of his hands has found its way to Liam's back, rubbing slowly and that does help soothe him a little.

They place their orders and then silence ensues, no one knowing what to say. Aaron simply looks at Liam and Jason expectantly, and that's fair really since they were the one to invite him out in the place.

This is our plan. This is our plan.

Liam has to remind himself.

Fortunately, it doesn't take long for their orders to arrive, and soon their hands and mouth are busy. But they cannot simply stay quiet throughout, can they?

He knocks his leg against Jason, urging him to say something, anything at all.

He regrets his move the second his boyfriend opens his mouth.

"So, nice weather, isn't it?"

Aaron simply nods, looking out the window, "The weather forecast says it might rain soon though,"

"Oh, rain. I love rain. It's cool,"

Aaron turns to look at him eyes narrowed, "You love rain? I remember you telling you hated it,"

"Well..." Jason's expression turns sheepish and he scratches the back of his ear, "How do you even still remember that?"

Aaron just shrugs.

But Liam's calculative mind recognises that there's more behind that simple shrug. If he recalls correctly, it's been more than a year or so since they broke up, and since Aaron had been the one to end things between them, it's only reasonable to assume that he found something displeasing with them and it's shocking to see that somehow, he still remembers whether or not Jason loves the rain.

Or... Liam might just be overlooking into things here. But whatever to assure himself that whatever he is going to do is a good thing.

Because this kind of proves that Aaron is still interested in Jason, and he also has tried to kiss Liam a couple of times, so...

It seems that while Liam has been preoccupied with his thoughts, Aaron and Jason have moved on to another mind-numbing topic — they were discussing how to make a good cup of coffee, for crying out loud. Liam feels he might just slam his head on the table if he doesn't interrupt soon. And so, despite his nerves, he intervenes.

And he decides he is not going to beat around the bush as he had initially considered of doing.

"So, Aaron," he cuts in, clasping his hands together, placing them on the table and leaning forward a little — he can see Jason's wide-eyed look from the corner of his eyes, but he ignores it for the moment, and presses on, having garnered his boss' attention, "You seeing anyone currently?"

Very forward, he is aware, but he really can't think of any other way to go about this at the moment. A hand, Jason's hand to be exact, grabs ahold of his leg, obviously alarmed, but he continues to ignore him.

"Um..." his eyes cut over to Jason for a moment before looking back at Liam. He lets out a small chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck, and lifts his shoulder a little, "No. Not as of current,"

"What about that woman who visited you when I first joined at your office?" it seemed like there was something between the two of them, but now that he thinks of it that was the first and the last time he ever saw her.

"She was..." he considers his words for a moment before continuing any further, "It was just a casual thing. I'm not seeing anyone now,"

"Oh, cool," he clears his throat, "Are you planning on seeing someone soon?"

It seems like he has finally drawn Jason in his plan because he too leans forward after hearing this particular question, interested in what the boss might have to say.

Aaron, on the other hand, leans back, chuckling awkwardly, looking between the two of them, "Huh," he lets out a loud exhale, "Um, I don't know," and he most probably only meant it as a joke — "Why; are you offering?"

— but Liam is definitely taking that genuinely and he nods, "Yes, actually," and he waves his thumb between himself and his boyfriend, "The both of us are offering,"

Aaron's eyebrows rise sky high and his eyes open a little wider. It takes him a moment or two to come up with a reply, "I'm sorry. I think I didn't quite get that,"

With a sheepish smile, Liam turns to Jason and nods, and he doesn't really have to say anything because the latter manages to understand him quite perfectly.

"Hi. We like you. Let's all of us be in a relationship,"

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