"
Door's open
," Matt shouted from the bedroom where he was getting Aidan dressed. It was the second Saturday that Seamus was babysitting so Matt could study. He'd gotten a small taste of freedom the weekend before and now he was practically giddy in anticipation. The joy of an uninterrupted study sesh outweighed any worries or guilt he held about not being at the café or the fact Seamus was once again babysitting.
Seamus leaned against the bedroom door with his hands in his pocket. He wore the same thing he always wore, really nice jeans and a plain t-shirt that hugged his body. Today it was plum purple with a gray, unzipped hoodie.
"Looks like you're ready to study," Seamus tilted his head toward the living room.
"Yes," Matt said with a little too much enthusiasm. "It's so good. I can't thank you enough for taking Aidan. Part of me wants to tell you that you don't need to do this for me but mostly I want to sit in my living room, study my notes, and re-read my books. So, I'm not gonna ask you if you're sure about this because if you leave that kid here I'm going to cry."
"I promise I won't leave the kid here," Seamus smiled. When Matt turned to grab the diaper bag, Seamus picked Aidan up off the bed. "Hey, Squishy Thighs," Seamus cooed and squeezed said squishy thigh as he walked back to the living room.
Matt smiled. "We call him Aido-potato because he's chunky like a sack of tatas."
"Aido-potato," Seamus repeated, trying the nickname on for size.
"He ate about thirty minutes ago. Everything else is in the bag. Feel free to bring him back whenever."
"But not too soon."
Matt laughed. "Yes, not too soon."
Seamus strapped Aidan in the car seat then slung the backpack over his shoulder. He gave Matt a salute. "Have a good study session."
* * * * *
Most people hated studying. Maybe having a kid helped keep things in perspective because Matt savored every moment. He smiled the entire time he studied tax law and math equations and business statistics. He couldn't get enough. Even with hours of uninterrupted study time, it only felt like five minutes had passed when there was a rap on the door followed by Seamus announcing himself.
"Wow, I thought you were studying, not having a rager," he said as he eyed the books and notes that were fanned over the living room couch and coffee table.
"You know what they say, ain't no party like an accounting degree party."
Seamus closed the door and set the backpack next to the sleeping baby who was still buckled into his car seat. "Yeah, I think I've heard that before," he laughed. "I wasn't sure if you'd be hungry from all the studying but I ordered pizza. It should be here—" he pointed at the door a second before there was a knock. Seamus signed for the pizza and Matt followed him into the kitchen.
Matt was impressed. "How'd you know?"
"I saw him pulling up when I closed the door."
They dished up pizza and sat at the table. Matt should've felt weird that Seamus was staying for dinner but he didn't. "What'd you guys do today?" he asked.
"We spent half the day at my loft and then he shadowed me at work for a while. Pretty low-key day."
"At the coffee shop?"
"Nah, I have other sources of revenue."
"
Source of revenue
. Sounds ominous. Did he go to a drug swap with you or something?"
Seamus stopped mid-bite and raised his brow. "Drug swap? Is that like a bake swap where everyone brings their drugs to the community center then trades their goods for someone else's? If you come with an eighth, you leave with an eighth?"
Matt wiped his mouth and smiled. "I'm not down with the drug lingo."
"Drug lingo?"
"Did you bring pizza just so you could make fun of me? Because if that's what this is about, then you can go home," he laughed and pointed to the door.
Seamus smiled. "We didn't go to a
drug swap,
though I'm tempted. I have a couple other businesses. We went and checked them out."
"How old are you?" Matt asked in surprise. "You can't be over thirty and you have multiple businesses? That's crazy."
"That's most people's reaction when they learn that I'm twenty-nine with five fairly successful businesses."
"
Five?
That's incredible. I can't imagine. How'd you get started?"
"It's not anything I did, not really. I got married when I was nineteen. Kelly was older and owned two businesses. He died two years after we were married. He came from a wealthy family and they did everything they could to make sure I walked away with nothing. It didn't work. I think Kelly had enough foresight to know what they'd do if given the chance. Everything was airtight and in my favor. So, I turned two businesses into five as a giant F-U to them." He flashed his middle finger and smiled.
"You got married when you were nineteen?"
Seamus laughed. "That's what you got out of everything I just said?"
"It stood out, yeah." Matt leaned back in his chair and pushed his plate away. He'd eaten too much. "How much older was he?"
"Thirty-five."
"
Thirty-five years older than you
!" Matt shouted and almost fell out of his chair. The outburst woke Aidan and before Seamus could respond, Matt jumped up and grabbed the still sleepy-eyed babe. He sat down and rephrased his question with more composure. "So, he was thirty-five years older than you?" He didn't want to offend Seamus just because he married someone who was—very old.
"No. God no," Seamus laughed and placed the wadded napkin on the plate in front of him. "He
was
thirty-five. Not thirty-five years older. Though I'm sure more than a few people would argue that there wasn't much difference."
"There's a difference. I can't imagine taking a fifty-four-year-old dick," Matt widened his eyes. "No offense."
Seamus laughed again. It was the most relaxed Matt had ever seen him and it was nice. "Why would I be offended? I'm not fifty-four nor have I ever 'taken a fifty-four-year-old dick'."
"A thirty-five-year-old dick is still, eh," Matt seesawed his hand good naturally.
"
Hey
, that's gonna be me in a few years," Seamus tried to be serious but failed. When they stopped laughing Seamus was watching Aidan. "He's probably hungry. I'll make a bottle."
