Matt was on a roll and absolutely killing his classes. There was one month left and he was almost finished with everything he could be done with and his end of year projects were as far as they could be at this point. He met with a small group between classes. He loved it. They each created a business plan and then someone in the group would audit another. It was challenging and involved so many different aspects of what he'd been learning. It felt like a real-life trial. Matt was more excited than ever to graduate. One more year.
When he finished up with class he went to work. Monday was a slightly shorter shift but he worked with Kase and Matt loved that.
Seamus and Aidan were at a table. Seamus was meeting with two men. The three of them seemed to be having a good time as they laughed and talked animatedly.
Aidan was standing against Seamus' leg. Seamus held him there with his hand to keep him from falling over while the chubby legged toddler happily fisted a set of toy keys like it was his last meal.
Given the circumstances, Matt thought he'd taken well to having his kid brother but Seamus was the real MVP. Where Matt was sometimes overwhelmed, Seamus took it all in stride. He had Aidan almost every day, took him to work and on errands, whatever Seamus did, Aidan was there. And never, not once, did Seamus look flustered or annoyed. He was solid as a rock.
"Seamus is getting old."
Matt looked at Kase like he was an idiot. "Okay? Where'd that come from?"
"The guy has been stiff as a board, limping around most of the day like he fucked up his lower back or something. I mean, Aidan's chubby and all but he's not like
that
heavy. I carry him around just fine."
Matt barked. If only Kase knew. "Maybe he slept wrong."
Or got fucked just right
, Matt thought.
Kase thought about it and shrugged. "Still old if you ask me. I sleep weird all the time but don't wake up like a decrepit old man."
"Why do you care?"
"Care?" Kase scoffed. "I don't care."
"Oh, you soo care. But why?"
"I don't," his voice was firm. "I just don't get why everyone fawns over him."
"Because he's gorgeous, successful, and kind?"
"Kind? What are you talking about? He is always pissed about something."
Matt looked at Kase and Kase threw his hands up. "Okay, sure, he's great with Aidan. I'm great with Aidan, too."
"Do you like Hilary?" It's literally the only reason Matt can think of why Kase would suddenly be acting like a fool.
"What the hell makes you say that? God no.
No
. Gross." Kase's face squeezed like he ate something foul. "And if you know what's good for you, she'll never find out you said that."
Unfazed by his friend's blowback, Matt asked, "Then what's got you so sour towards Seamus? You know he's not some jackass. You know what he's done for me, so what's up?"
"Ugh," he groaned and semi-violently put the mugs away. "Laura keeps coming in. At first, I thought it was because of me, but then she started asking about him."
Ah
. "You're jealous."
Kase glared at Matt, not even denying it.
"You know he's gay."
"She doesn't."
"When does she usually come in?"
"Monday, Tuesday, and Thursdays. Usually between classes. Why?"
"Because. I'm your friend and I got your back."
Kase smiled. "You gonna wingman me?"
"Yeah Kase, I'm gonna wingman you."
****
Kase was in better spirits as the shift went on. Something about Matt having his back like a good friend. He even admitted that Seamus wasn't a total twart. Kase was still jealous. It was funny when you saw it for what it was; a popular college athlete like Kase could only hope to play on the same field as Seamus one day.
If only Kase knew that he and Seamus were together. He wanted to tell him but wasn't quite ready. Honestly, no one even knew they lived together. Seamus was his boss after all.
Just like at his dad's house, Matt was a little nervous that Seamus might be obvious. He shouldn't have been. Seamus was so fucking good at that shit. He acknowledged Matt like he normally did, brought Aidan over to say hi, but other than that, it was business as usual.
When he arrived home around six-thirty, Aidan was standing at the base of his high chair, holding on as he wobbled around while Seamus got his dinner ready. Matt said hello to Aidan, then to Seamus, the latter getting a little more bang for the buck.
"I heard you were walking like a decrepit old man today."
Seamus smiled as he opened the jar of baby food. "Well, I wasn't walking like a spring chicken."
Man ran his fingers over Seamus' ass. "How bad is it?"
"Nothing bad about it. Though I wouldn't mind a lower back rub tonight, you know, for all my trouble."
Matt wasn't sure giving Seamus a rub down was a good idea. He definitely didn't think it would end up helping. More than likely it would make it worse.
Seamus handed Matt the baby food. "You wanna feed Aidan? I'm getting ready to head out for a bit."
That was a surprise. Not to make Seamus sound like a loser but he wasn't exactly social.
"Where are you going?"
"My best friend Jay is in town. A few of us are going out. I won't be late."
Matt about lost his stomach. "Not Kase's friend Jay, right?"