Page 37 of Grounding the Baker
Austin just smiled and shook his head. This man was really testing him. If only Liam wasn’t drunk, but he was, and that was the only reason Austin was in his personal space. He still didn’t know why Liam had gotten drunk. Something must have happened, as he didn’t seem the type to get wasted on his own, let alone on a work night. Perhaps it had something to do with his work, and why he’d been in London all week? That was something Austin could ask him tomorrow, because theywouldtalk tomorrow.
Once they were in the bedroom, Liam shed his clothes. Austin was frozen to the spot for a second, and then left torespect his privacy. A few seconds later, Liam walked out with just a towel around his waist.
“I’m gonna get a shower,” he said with a smirk.
That fucker was playing with him. Part of Austin was worried about Liam being able to hold himself upright in the shower, given how stumbly he’d been, but he was also not able to pull his gaze off that body. Austin had gotten a glimpse in the gym, but it was nothing to the carved physique he now saw in front of him. His shy little baker was ripped. It was a gym body, and different to Austin’s, which mostly came from manual work. Austin was also a hairy guy, but Liam didn’t seem to have a single hair on him. He looked like a cover model for a men’s fitness magazine, and Austin needed to stop looking before he started drooling.
Liam gave him another cheeky smile before he wiggled his arse and walked into the bathroom. Austin let out a breath and then went back into the kitchen. He poured another pint of water and found some paracetamol, then he checked on Liam’s bedroom. It was immaculate, but he put on the bedside lamp before turning the overhead one off, and he pulled back the duvet, hoping the heat from the room would warm it up a bit.
It seemed to take ages, but it couldn’t have been over five minutes before Liam came out of the bathroom. The towel was wrapped around him again. He’d dried himself off, but a few water drops clung to his impressive muscles.
“How are you feeling?”
“I’ve got a headache,” he said, his earlier bravado no longer there. He seemed vulnerable.
Austin passed him the glass of water and paracetamol, which he took quickly.
“Let’s get you into bed, shall we?”
Liam gave that dirty smile again. Okay, so the bravado wasn’t completely gone.
“What time do you have to get up for work tomorrow?”
“I need to be at the bakery for four o’clock.”
“Not the bakery. Do you need to go into London again tomorrow? Do you need a lift?”
“Nah. I don’t need to go into London ever again.”
What did that mean? “Liam, did something happen at work?”
“They told me my services are no longer required,” he said before flopping onto the bed.
What the fuck? Austin had a million follow-up questions, but Liam was already looking close to falling asleep, so he left it.
“Don’t worry about going into the bakery. Chloe will cover you.”
“I need to be there. It’s all I’ve got now. I can’t let Mum down. I promised, and Dad can’t do anything. He’s not good, not good at all. I just have to... you know. I have to do this.”
“Just go to sleep, Liam, and we’ll talk tomorrow. I want to help you.”
“You’re so good to me, Austin. I don’t deserve someone like you.”
“You deserve everything,” he said, unable to stop himself.
Liam smiled. “Can I have a goodnight kiss, please?”
Austin would do nothing like that, but he looked so cute and smiley under his duvet that he felt compelled to do something. Austin leaned forward and gave him a kiss on the forehead. Liam let out a contented sigh and snuggled himself down in bed.
He waited for a few minutes, sitting on the chair in theroom’s corner, waiting for Liam to fall asleep. Once he was certain Liam was asleep, he couldn’t help but kiss him on the forehead again before leaving and closing the door behind him. It pained him to leave Liam on his own, but he needed to get home to his daughter. Tomorrow they would have a serious talk, though. Austin didn’t want to waste any more time.
TEN
LIAM
He was dead. He had to be. There was no other explanation for why he was feeling like this. His head felt like it was being pummelled by a pneumatic drill. He opened one eye in the hope daylight wouldn’t assault him. Thankfully, the curtains were closed, so he could only see a faint sign that it was indeed morning. What time was it? Liam reached for his phone on the bedside table, but it wasn’t there. He spotted a glass of water, so he reached for that, and gulped the remains down without spilling too much. He wasn’t in any state to sit upright yet. Next to the glass he spotted some paracetamol, but he’d already drunk all the water. He didn’t remember putting them there, but at least he was thinking ahead in whatever drunken state he’d been in last night.
Mustering up his strength, he rolled onto his side so he could put his feet out of the bed and onto the floor. The room spun, but he didn’t feel like he was going to be sick, thankfully. How much had he drunk the night before? He hadn’t been that drunk in a long time, and why had he done it? The memory hit him. Yes, he was now unemployed.What a fucking shitshow of a week it had been. At least he could completely focus on the bakery now– oh shit, he was late for the bakery. He didn’t know what the time was, but given it was daylight outside, he was definitely late. Liam wasn’t even sure if he was supposed to be there, or if he’d arranged cover like he had all week. He needed to find his phone and get more water for the painkillers.
