Page 48 of Grounding the Baker
“Can I ask you something, Austin? You don’t have to answer.”
“You can ask me anything.”
“How did you meet Ellie?”
“You want me to talk about my dead wife on our date?” he said, looking amused.
“I know it might seem weird, but she’s such an important part of your history and Maisie’s. It’s important I should know about her.”
Austin took hold of Liam’s hand. “How did I get so lucky finding someone like you? Such a kind and caring man.”
Liam felt his heartbeat speed up.
“Am I being too much?”
“No,” Liam croaked.
“Sorry, but I’ve been wanting this night since I first saw you, and I know this is over the top, but I panicked about what to do as I wanted to impress you. So I listened to Tony, who suggested this and pulled a favour to get us a table at short notice.”
Liam chuckled. He loved how honest Austin was. “It’s perfect, but I’m paying for half.”
“No you’re not, Liam. We can split things on future dates, but tonight’s on me, okay?”
Liam wanted to protest. This dinner would cost a lot, and Austin was a single dad, but the look in Austin’s eyes was almost pleading, so he nodded his head.
“I’ll get the drinks at The Rainbow Tap.”
“Deal.”
The server brought their first course, which was homemade sourdough bread with two butters: smoked sea-salt and nettle with wild garlic, which was different but surprisingly delicious.
“I met Ellie online.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Dating apps weren’t a big thing then– well, not like now– so we’d write these long messages to each other, and you’d have to log in when you got home to read your reply. We did that for a couple of weeks, and then we met for dinner.”
“Where did you go?”
“A local pizza place.”
Liam looked at the chalk stream trout in front of him, accompanied by pickled cucumber ribbons, dill oil, and horseradish snow, and couldn’t help but smile.
“Yeah, yeah. I know I fucked up.”
Liam took Austin’s hand. “There’s no fuckup. It’ll be a fun story to tell our grandkids. I mean... fuck... sorry, what I mean is...”
“Liam, chill out. I wouldn’t have spent the best part of three months pining for you and waiting patiently if I didn’t think we had a chance at something long-term.”
“Sorry, I’m just not used to the whole romance thing. Guys usually just want to have fun until they get bored.”
Austin tensed. “Nobody’s ever hurt you, have they?”
“No, nothing like that. I’ve caught feelings quickly a few times in the past, but that’s on me, not the guys.”
“There’s nothing wrong with wanting something more than a quick release.”
“I know, although that isn’t all bad either.”
