Chapter 36

Chapter 36 — First Move

"Is this a joke?" are the words that first leave Aaron's mouth.

It isn't an instant reply either. He takes a few moments to process what Jason has asked him, and stares at the both of them, before actually accusing them.

Now he directs his focus solely on Aaron and narrows his eyes, "If this is a joke, it's not funny at all. And I'm really done with your pranks,"

Liam is definitely going to take personal offence to this, although it is slightly understandable why he would think that.

"This is not a joke," Jason speaks up first, before Liam can bite his head off for targetedly accusing him, "We wouldn't do that to you, especially not about this,"

Liam decides to let Jason to do the talking for a while, until he is able to collect himself; it wouldn't be beneficial to any of them if he starts being petty and begins an argument at the moment.

Aaron takes in a deep breath and gives them a single nod, "Okay, then, what exactly are you implying right now?"

Jason lifts his shoulder, "Exactly what I said. That we like you — the both of us, and we'd like to date you,"

"You want to have a threesome?" he asks abrasively.

Jason's cheeks instantly turn red, and he looks at his boyfriend for help. Liam can't help but be amused at the former's easy embarrassment.

"Maybe eventually, if everything works out," Liam responds casually, which only elicits a cough from Jason — his whole face is red now, and he has his hand fisted and placed against his lips, keeping his eyes strictly down cast.

Aaron and Liam continue their discussion. The former still hasn't stormed off, so it's a good sign.

"Are you guys polyamorous?" Aaron finally asks the right question.

Liam nods.

"Since when?"

"What do you mean since when?" he asks confused.

However, Aaron does not answer the question and is now looking at Jason with a conflicted expression before he slaps his forehead and drags it over his hair, "Ah, fuck,"

"Penny for your thoughts?" Liam tries, grimacing.

He didn't really expect Aaron to answer and is surprised when he does.

"It's just..." he sighs, and once again turns to Jason, who by the way still has not looked up, "Jason,"

Now he looks up.

Aaron continues, "I never told you why I broke up with you,"

"No, you didn't. And it's fine; you don–" Jason starts to say, but Aaron interrupts him.

"It's because I started liking someone else when we were still seeing each other,"

"Oh,"

"No, no. It's not like that. I still liked you and wanted to keep seeing you, but I liked that other person too, and I was really confused, and I thought it wasn't fair to you, so I broke up with you,"

"Why didn't you just talk to me?"

Aaron shrugs, "You know me — I don't like to share my problems,"

Jason rolls his eyes, shaking his head.

"Wait, wait, wait," Liam chimes in, "So, all about the no-dating-between-colleagues have been complete bullshit?"

Aaron looks at him sheepishly, "You have already called me out on it — you don't have to do it again,"

"Oh my–" Liam huffs out a breath, "You really are a dickface,"

"Liam," Jason shakes his head at him, but he can't resist himself from smiling either.

"Wait," it's Liam with another realisation, "So, the reason you broke up with Jason is because you're... polyamorous as well?"

"I prefer not to label myself, but... yes, I suppose. I just needed to find out what was going on with myself first,"

"Huh," Liam nods, "Still a dickface though,"

The three of them fall silent for a while, that is until Jason speaks up.

"So... you still haven't answered our question," he points out.

For a moment there, even Liam forgot what they were actually there for. Bless Jason, for staying on track.

"I, um–" Aaron clears his throat, before continuing any further, "–don't really know?"

"Is that a question?" Liam can't help but retort.

"Liam," Jason turns to him, "Let me talk, okay," he only addresses when he is able to derive a nod from his boyfriend, "You obviously do not have to decide now. You can think on it," he assures him.

"I do like the both of you," Aaron confesses.

"We know," the words just spill out of Liam's mouth, and he quickly follows it up with an apology, gesturing at the other two men to continue.

"Yeah. I haven't really been too subtle about it, I'm aware," Aaron admits with an awkward chuckle, "But even though I've known about my 'proclivity' for some time, I've never really experienced it and... I may be a little bit anxious,"

"I didn't know I was polyamorous until like a couple of months back, and this guy, right here–" he puts an arm around Liam as if there's any other guy beside him for him to address, "–is not even sure he's polyamorous, but he likes the idea of dating both of us so–"

"Yeah, that's enough of an explanation, I think," Liam intervenes, shrugging off Jason's arm around him, "Look, if you're not cool with the idea, it's fine. We're not going to get hurt. We can just move on, and hopefully it isn't awkward after,"

A smirk appears on Aaron's lips as he looks at Liam, and Liam knows — he knows he is going to say something just to annoy him.

"I thought you hated me,"

Liam crosses his arms, and narrows his eyes at him and from the corner of his eye, he can see Jason placing a hand over his face, sighing and shaking his head. Poor guy, if the three of them were to go out, that's definitely going to be his stance for most of the time.

"Out of pity only I am choosing to like you. You know, since you told me you liked me the other day,"

"That was a mere statement," Aaron doesn't waste a second in rebutting, "I can say I like this diner, doesn't mean I'm going to go out with it,"

"Thank god, the diner is saved,"

"I–"

"Stop it. Both of you," Jason not being able to withstand their childish bickering any longer interrupts, "You know, if Aaron agrees, and the three of are to be in a relationship, the first thing we're definitely doing is setting some ground rules especially for you two,"

Liam huffs and leans back into his seat, meanwhile Aaron simply shrugs and declares;

"We better get to setting the rules then,"

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"Why did we agree to this?"

Jason turns to his boyfriend dubiously, his hand mid-air as he was just about to ring the doorbell.

"If I remember correctly, it was your idea that our first date to be private. And I know I remember correctly,"

"No, not that," Liam shakes his place, and drops his voice down to a whisper as if Aaron's standing on the other side of the door and eavesdropping (which is exactly what Liam suspects), "I mean why his place. I know I said it can't be my place, because well it's not technically my place and my sister's. Why couldn't we have agreed on your place?"

"Because he offered first?"

"Why didn't you counteroffer?"

He shrugs, "I am okay with coming here. Why didn't you say anything?"

"I–" but before Liam could complete the sentence, Aaron has opened the door.

Maybe Liam's suspicion wasn't too off. Maybe he was on the other side, his ear pressed against the door, eavesdropping on them.

"Oh, hey," however, he seems surprised to see the both of them there, so maybe not, "You guys are already here?"

"Hey," Jason chimes in fortunately without letting there be a gap for silence to creep in, "Yeah, we just arrived. I was about to ring the bell actually,"

"Uh, come on in," he gestures at them to step inside the house, but he doesn't close the door and looks out as if he's waiting for someone else.

Unable to contain his curiosity, he inquires him, "Are you waiting for someone?"

Aaron almost looks embarrassed as he turns to face Liam, "Yes. Um, for the delivery guy,"

This is too good of an opportunity for him to just pass on, he looks at Jason for added support but that man has somehow disappeared somewhere. He crosses his arms, anyhow, confident he can handle him by himself. Nothing has to change.

Nothing has changed.

"Delivery. Don't tell me you actually ordered in food. And on our first date too? Why even invite us to your house then?"

Aaron scoffs, shaking his head. The delivery guy arrives just then, and Aaron goes to get the food from him. It seems like he has ordered a whole catering service. As much as Liam would have loved to see him struggle, he still finds himself lending a helping hand.

"I'll cook for you one day," he replies to Liam once they were back in the house and Aaron has closed the door behind him, "Then, you'll know,"

"Can't wait,"

"You're definitely going to regret that, you'll see,"

Jason who was nowhere to be found appeared again as they walked into the dining room and settled the bags on the table.

"Oh, you ordered?"

"I haven't really gotten any better at cooking, so..." he shrugs.

"I thought you were going to practice,"

"Well..." he drawled before continuing, "I didn't have anyone to cook for after, so..." another shrug.

He doesn't have to clarify what he meant by after, so neither of them commented further on that topic. A hint of awkwardness was starting to show in the air, so Liam quickly wards it away before it can settle comfortably over them. That is the last thing they needed right then.

"I'm hungry. Shall we start eating?"

"Yeah, sure," Aaron nods, "I'll go get the plates,"

Jason gives him a smile and naturally Liam is suspicious of it, "What?" he narrows his eyes at him trying to suss him out.

He just shakes his head, "You okay?"

Liam replies with a shrug of his, "Yeah. Ask me again when we're done with dinner, okay?"

Jason lets out a soft snort, shaking his head lightly, as Aaron joins them again in the dining room. They set out the food together and get to dining. As much as anxiety Liam has about how their dinner would progress, it wasn't really bad. He was talking more than he thought he would, and he deigns to admit there was a little bit flirting from his part — not only with Jason, but also with Aaron.

He gets to learn more about Aaron, and the more he learns about him, the more he... likes him.

Aaron is in no longer in contact with any of his family — they pretty much disowned him the second he turned up at his parents' house with his first boyfriend. This was about nine years ago, and they still haven't reached out to apologise to him or to mend their relationship, and Aaron hasn't bothered either.

That hadn't stopped from leading a good life. He started his own business with his friend and they were quite successful and he says that he has enough people in his life right then that he can call his own family.

It turns out that man only looks rough and tough but deep down, he is a big softy — Liam guessed as much when he caught him watching rom-coms the other day.

It was really an easy-going dinner and Liam almost forgot what he was so worried about until after. Almost.

They were done with their dinner and both Aaron and Jason were clearing off the table and putting away the dishes. Liam would have offered to help as well, but he was too full to do any work, and he ventured off into the living room.

Now what?

Really, now what? Liam keeps thinking to himself.

If it was only Liam and Jason, like before, they would have either kept talking until things progressed and they would start making out, or they would have made out from the get go. Thing is they would have ended up in the bedroom at the end, or anywhere they found comfortable.

Now there's Aaron and now what?

Jason and Aaron come into the living room and it is as if the both of them have planned this; Liam was sitting in the middle of the couch and Aaron sat on his right side and Jason on the left. Liam tries to stand up to save himself from the awkward position, but Jason places a hand on his thigh and stops him.

At the same time, Aaron turns to him with an eyebrow raised, "So?"

"What?"

"You like me, huh?"

He can see Jason snickering from the corner of his eye and he jabs him in the abdomen with his elbow while rolling his eyes at Aaron, "You seem determined to change that, however,"

Aaron shrugs, "It's just hard to believe is all,"

"It's all pretence — don't believe it. He really, really likes you," Jason chimes in, leaning forward, and Liam jabs him once again.

"Well, I do like you, unfortunately. Deal with it," and when Aaron is still looking with bizarre cross-eyed look, Liam is forced to add, "What — do you need me to prove it?"

The minute he said those words, he knows in which direction he is headed. And as much as a tight knot forms at the pit of his stomach at the idea, he is still excited to unravel that knot.

It seems like Aaron catches on to what is happening as well, and so does Jason as he is watching with increased intention.

"So, prove it,"

Disregarding all his nerves, Liam sits up, and turns his body lightly so that he is facing Aaron. their knees touch, and is he really to do this? Make the first move?

It seems like he is.

Taking in a deep breath, he directs his hand to reach up and cup Aaron's cheek, and the feel of his stubble against his palm makes everything that's happening more vivid. Liam expects himself to back off, but surprising himself, he doesn't. The fact that Aaron's gaze is piercing him doesn't deter him either.

Liam can't remember the last time he was this determined.

Oh, wait; he can — just a few nights ago, in Jason's bedroom, when he tried to– That's a different topic altogether. He brings his focus back to the here and now. Point is, he is very determined now.

Slowly, he starts leaning forward, his other hand reaching up to cup the other side of Aaron's face as well. It isn't long before he can Aaron's breath on his lips. Aaron is still looking as if daring him to back away. He doesn't.

He closes the last miniscule distance between them and connects his lips with Aaron's for a few seconds. It was a short kiss. It was his nerves, but the minute they kissed, his nerves pretty much disintegrated into nothingness. He goes in for another kiss and this time he has stirred Aaron into action too.

The man takes ahold of Liam's as well, and they kiss again.

Liam has never imagined kissing his boss before, but it's okay because he is sure his imagination could have not amounted to this real thing. That man can really kiss, and Liam feels spoiled. He feels Jason's hand on his back and it only spurs him to kiss even deeper.

They only break off once they start to run out of breath, or maybe it was only Liam who was starting to run out of breath. Because Aaron doesn't take a breath. He reaches for Jason over him and they both start kissing with Liam still in the middle.

This is something Liam has thought about a lot, ever since he started thinking the three of them being together. He didn't quite understand how exactly it would work out. He thought it would definitely be weird.

But now, being between the two men, it cannot be any further from it. He feels... full. And looking at the both of them, Liam feels as if he could just melt away happily and he cannot keep himself from smiling. He does not know what he was so worried about before.

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