Page 23 of Sweet Thing

chapter 12

this is my day

Simeon stalked down John Foster Dulles Allee, before turning taking a path into Tiergarten. He was heading for the children’s playground area in the park. Pieter had sent him a message to say they’d set out their blanket in the shade of a tree on one of the grassy lawns close to the playground.

Simeon wore loose jersey jogging pants and a long sleeved tee. He was nervous and realistically, he knew he had no need to be nervous, but the thought of seeing Pieter did that to him these days. Add a girlfriend who terrified him and a screaming baby to the mix and Sim was surprised he wasn’t walking in the opposite direction.

Simeon had spent the evening making cupcakes as per Chef Kurt’s instructions. They were Pieter’s favorite, Vanilla with Coconut buttercream swirl, the same ones Pieter loved from Magnolia Bakery when they lived in New York. Simeon felt such pride when he’d finished the twelve perfectly iced cupcakes all in a row. He photographed them and was tempted to post to social media but then remembered he no longer had any social media accounts, so emailed the photo to Kurt and his father instead.

Simeon held the box of cupcakes gingerly in front of his chest with his arms extended as if he was carrying an explosive device. The cupcakes had looked so perfect when he put them in the box, and he was worried they would be a mess by the time he reached the picnic area.

Sim heard the distant shouts of young men playing football, and then he spied them through the trees. He veered off the path to observe them for a moment and smirked as a group of six shirtless boys in their late teens, and early twenties came into view. As Sim’s gaze roamed over the scene, he noted his friends sitting at the far end of the large open lawn.

Pieter was sitting on a blanket under a large old oak tree. Emily sat between his thighs, her head resting back on his shoulder, long russet hair swept over to one side. Lukas lay asleep in her arms. Pieter hugged his girlfriend and baby. The couple were talking and giggling, then Pieter began to trail kisses down the nape of Emily’s neck. Simeon couldn’t look away, even though he felt like a voyeur watching a secret moment between the lovers. It struck him then—not the pang of jealousy he’d expected, but warmth in his chest. He felt happy. Simeon questioned himself and realized he was happy that Pieter was so content and in love. He’d never understood it before when others had told him to be happy that the man he wanted had found love. It seemed ridiculous that Pieter would not desire him, and ridiculous that he could find happiness without him. But now, sober and clear-headed he realized it wasn’t about him.

Was he actually growing up?

Simeon returned from self-reflection as one of the players scored a goal and his teammate chest-slammed him and hugged him in celebration. Sim strode the perimeter of the lawn, the box of cupcakes still held as if it would explode any second.

Pieter glanced up from mauling Emily’s throat to watch Simeon approaching holding a box. “What have you brought us, a bomb?” Pieter sniggered.

“I made some cupcakes, I don’t want to spoil them,” he explained as he placed the box carefully on the picnic blanket. Simeon leaned down to kiss Pieter on both cheeks, then Emily. Sleepy Lukas got a kiss on his hedgehog blond head. The incredible baby scent made Simeon sigh involuntarily.

“When did you learn to bake?” Pieter asked, almost affronted that he didn’t know such a monumental piece of information about his best friend. He was going to have to get used to the fact that the cute, dark haired man he was gazing up at was not the same person he’d known all those years ago.

“I had lessons from my father’s chef when I was recovering. They arranged activities to keep me busy. I can cook lots of great recipes, oh and I had self-defense training from an ex-Special Forces soldier who pretends he’s papa’s driver”, Simeon illuminated nonchalantly. “Although, it didn’t do me any good the other night,” he added darkly to himself.

“I bought this for you”, Pieter smirked, leaning to the side and dragging a large bean-bag cushion onto the blanket.

“I know you’re taking the piss Bayer, but I could kiss you for bringing that,” Sim admitted as he sat opposite the couple, his long legs stretched out and crossed at the ankles. Simeon leaned back on his elbows and took a deep breath. It was such a beautiful sunny day; the sky was a fresh, flawless blue with not a wisp of cloud in sight. The distant yelps from children in the playground mingled with birdsong and calls from the young men playing football. For a moment it was hard to believe they were in the middle of a bustling city.

“How are you feeling? Is the Arnica working for you?” Emily ventured.

“The Arnica's good, the bruising is fading,” he said, displaying his wrists, “But my ass is still… tender”,

“I told Emily you had some bruising, hope you don’t mind,” Pieter explained, hoping Simeon didn’t think he’d betrayed his confidence.

“But not how I got them?”

Pieter shook his head.

“Well, as we’re all friends together, you might as well hear the sordid details! I hooked up with the guy who bought your collection.”

“Bastian Roth?”

“Yep! Things got a little out of hand—meaning his hand, my ass.”

“What the fuck Sim, are you okay? Did you go to the police?” Emily was horrified. As if sensing her distress, Lukas began to wake and wriggle in Emily’s arms.

“Hey Little Bird, it's okay,” she cooed, Pieter’s hand moved up to cup and stroke his son’s head. Lukas opened his eyes and gazed blearily around. He lifted his wobbly blond head from his mother's shoulder and moaned.

“Sie hatten einen guten schlaf“, Pieter asked rhetorically. Lukas rubbed his eyes and smiled weakly at his Papa. Emily adjusted Lukas to sit in her lap. His sleep wobbly head looked up at the dark-haired man sitting across from him. Their eyes locked and Lukas offered a wide dopey smile.

Simeon was relieved that Lukas had awoken to end the conversation about his spanked ass. He did not want to think about that man on such a perfect day.

“Lukas, this is Uncle Simeon, are you going to say hello?“ Emily asked.

Sim felt a rush of warmth at the naming. It was silly, but he had no siblings, and never thought he’d be anyone’s uncle. He leaned forward and took Lukas’s tiny pink hand with his thumb and forefinger and shook it.