‘It was just for one night’ thankies 🥰💗
I’M SO SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG GEM I’M A TERRIBLE FRIEND. BUT I LOVE YOU AND I HOPE YOU LOVE THIS
Okay so this is an AU, because this prompt could be quite sad, but I was in the mood for something fun and light.
…
He’s at a work do when he sees them, trying to draw in more clients for his car rental business. They’ve arrived with every bit of coldness and glamour that he’d known when he was one of them.
Chrissie’s got her hair cut into a sharp bob, eyes unattached as she checks in, looking harassed when she turns to Lachlan and fusses over him. Lachlan looks as dreary and murderous as ever. Lawrence is no better, bustling and bumbling, with that fake smile that Robert has come to detest.
He’s so glad he got out of there.
His whole engagement to Chrissie had been a sham, he realises that now. At the time, he’d wanted money, power—everything. And he thought Chrissie might have been the one to give it to him. Still, he couldn’t help himself, he was greedy. He’d had her sister too, and when she’d found out, she got rid of him so fast he didn’t even have time to gather his possessions. He’d managed to get them back one day when the Manor had been quiet; in, out, took what she hadn’t cut to pieces and left his key on the side.
No matter how bad the situation, Robert has a motto: never look back.
He’d known there was no convincing her he could stay, no grovelling; especially when he’d never been a good role model for her son, nor had her doting dad ever really taken to him. He’d called his clients, convinced them to switch to his new business, and soldiered on, making the best of it.
In the two years that have passed since then, Robert’s done a lot of soul-searching. He won’t say he’s completely comfortable with who he is, but more so. He’s accepted his attraction to men and women; he’s experimented, dated,even if he never manages to hold down a partner, it’s a start – he feels better for it.
That’s why, when the Whites spot him from across the lobby, he doesn’t run.
He smiles, charming, as they walk over, look him up and down. It’s awkward, but they make small talk whilst Chrissie stares down her nose at him. He’s still impressive, he knows that. Maybe even more so than when they’d been together, but it’s when she mentions a partner, that’s when he freezes slightly.
“So, are you seeing anyone?” She inspects her nails, quite clearly showing off a new engagement ring. “I only ask because I want to warn them how loathsome you are.”
“Very funny,” Robert quips, mind whirring. Something about her always gets under his skin, and he doesn’t want her to think she’s got one up on him. He hates the way he knows she’ll mock him endlessly if he says no, and hates the way he’s still rising to it, even now, but he can’t help it.
That’s when he sees him.
Aaron.
They haven’t been working together for very long. He’s only just become a client, seemingly a good fit for Robert’s business with a vast knowledge of both mechanics and scrap, he can fix anything it seems, and on the rare occasion he can’t, he has the knowledge to sell the useful parts. Plus, he’s fit, and Robert enjoys sitting opposite someone who looks good in the mornings.
Granted, they aren’t the only ones in the office, but Robert can pretend.
That’s what possesses him to say the words that might get him into a lot of trouble:
“Yes. In fact, there’s my boyfriend now.”
Aaron’s only a short distance away, and his ears prick, turning his head slightly as if he knows they’re talking about him. Robert gives him a smile, a reassuring, if desperate, smile, beckoning him over and hoping beyond hope that he isn’t imagining it when Aaron flirts with him at work.
He’d wanted to pursue something with Aaron on his own terms, at his own times, but. Needs must.
“Alright?” Aaron says, looking wary. He can definitely sense the tension.
“Now it is,” Robert replies, watching Aaron visibly cringe at his cheesiness, and not knowing whether to laugh or cry at the situation he’s gotten himself into.
Robert takes a moment to appreciate Chrissie’s gobsmacked look out of the corner of his eye. He’d never spoken about being bi with her, never even hinted. He felt it was too personal and he hadn’t trusted her, his own fiancée, even then.
To be fair, Aaron doesn’t know either, but Robert hopes he’ll play along.
“Him?” Chrissie questions when she finally finds her voice again. “He’s your boyfriend. A man?”
Aaron’s eyebrows shoot into his hairline at this revelation, and Robert can feel himself blushing slightly. Fuck. It’s not even discrimination or disgust in Chrissie’s tone, just pure incredulity, but he decides to use it against her anyway.
“And you have a problem with that, do you? Just because I almost married you once, doesn’t mean I can’t like both.”
Aaron’s eyes widen slightly in understanding, and he smiles then, a real smile. Robert realises Aaron’s laughing at him as he shakes his head almost imperceptibly, and Robert hopes that means he’s on board.
He’s doing a lot of hoping right now.
“No,” Chrissie fires back indignantly. “I’m just surprised, you never told me anything like that.”
“Yes, well,” Robert says, feeling exposed all of a sudden. “This is Aaron.”
Aaron regards them coolly, coming to stand shoulder to shoulder with Robert, and he nudges him slightly, in what Robert thinks is reassurance, and says, “Hello.”
“Chrissie. I’m sure you’ve heard all about me,” Chrissie begins, but Aaron cuts her off.
“I haven’t, actually,” he really hasn’t, but Robert feels like Aaron knows what a rise it’ll get out of her if he says it. Robert could cry with relief. “But now I see why.”
The disdain in his voice is enough to make her narrow her eyes, whilst Lawrence and Lachlan watch on silently.
“Well, I suppose if you two are so cosy, you wouldn’t mind having dinner with us then. I want to know everything.”
There’s aggrieved coughs from behind her, but she ignores them. She raises an eyebrow in challenge, knowing Robert is squirming and loving every second of it.
Unexpectedly, Aaron takes his hand, squeezing once. The rough feel of his calloused palm against Robert’s own smooth one is enough to centre him, bring him back to the situation. He takes a deep breath, giving Aaron a questioning look, and getting a small nod in return. Robert knows he’s going to have so much explaining to do later.
“Alright,” Robert allows. “Why not?”
Chrissie looks taken aback but recovers quickly, nodding and placing a hand on her suitcase. “We’ll have someone bring our things to our room. Let’s go.”
Aaron doesn’t let go as they follow Robert’s past into the restaurant, and Robert already knows he’s fucked because of how right their interlinked hands feel.
Aaron’s smile is warm, if a bit mocking when he catches Robert’s eye, and Robert can’t help but laugh a little, mouthing, I’ll explain later. Aaron just shrugs.
It’s just for one night, Robert tells himself.
But already, he’s beginning to wish it was more.
