Page 34 of Grounding the Baker
Nathan nodded, but kept his head bowed.
“Can I give you a hug, Nathan?”
He nodded. Austin put his arm around his friend’s shoulder and pulled Nathan close to him. He turned andreciprocated the hug. Austin felt like shit. He knew how sensitive Nathan could be, especially when it was one of his family who upset him. And he regarded everyone at this table as his family, as did Austin.
“Can I tell you something, Nathan?”
They pulled apart, and he nodded.
“I’m worried about Liam. It looks like he’s moved back to London, but he didn’t say anything, and he’s not answering my calls or replying to my texts.”
“I need more data.”
Austin chuckled. It was Nathan’s stock response if you were being too vague. He told him about their journey on Monday, and how he’d left the ball with Liam in terms of going on a date.
“I don’t think it is about you,” said Nathan.
“What do you mean?”
“I think it might be about his job. Look at the data. He’s required to go into the office on Monday, and then he stays in London. He didn’t say he was staying in London. The bakery had to change the menu. This says it wasn’t planned. He may have been required to be in the office again, perhaps even every day. This could be from his new boss. That’s why he’s had to stay in London. It makes no sense to travel every day.”
Nathan picked up his glass of Appletiser, and took a sip before putting it back down. He said nothing else to Austin, just looked at him, waiting for him to respond. Austin thought Nathan was onto something, as he always was. He didn’t know what it would mean for Liam and everything he had to juggle right now. But if he was just thinking of this logically, like Nathan had, it was a strong possibility – apart from one thing.
“Why is he ignoring my calls, then?”
“It’s not about you.”
“What do you mean?”
“If Liam had told you all these problems, what would you have done?”
“I’d have tried to help him.”
“There’s your answer.”
“Huh?”
Nathan just smiled at him and took another sip of his drink. Before he could say anything else, Michael hurried up to their table, all flustered.
“Sorry I’m late. It’s been a fucking nightmare today,” he leaned forward and whispered. “This village is full of moaning cunts.”
Austin snorted, and even Nathan chuckled. Tony was gone... somewhere. He must have left while Austin was speaking to Nathan.
“It doesn’t start for another ten minutes. You’re all good,” said Austin.
“I know. I just hate being late, and we said seven o’clock.”
“Austin,” said Tony, walking over. He had a serious look on his face.
“What?”
“You might want to do something about your boyfriend.”
“I don’t have a boyfriend.”
“Well, the one you’re besotted with.”
“Liam?”
