"
Fuck you.
"
Matt pouted at Kase's faux aggressive words. There were no hard feelings, just a little jealousy that Matt got to spend the weekend with professional athletes and Loren Patrick.
With his arms open for a hug, Matt walked toward Kase but Kase turned sideways, earning himself a super awkward half side hug.
"Don't touch me," Kase growled, not even trying to shake Matt off. "I haven't forgiven you."
"You're the one who told me to have him make a drink for me."
"I didn't expect you to do it. Or to end up in so many of his videos. Not fair dude, not fair."
"What if I told you I brought you back something?"
Kase looked over his shoulder with a half glare, half curiosity. "Like what?"
Pulling his phone from his back pocket, Matt queued up a video he'd been eager to show his best friend. He held the phone in front of Kase so he could watch as he worked.
Loren was on the screen, smiling.
"Hey Kase! Matt talked about you so much I feel like I know you. Next week I'm starting a new segment. Instead of coffees, I'm going to create some awesome adult beverages. Since Matt made you sound like a real peach, I decided the first drink is for you. It's a peachnada. Like a mangonada with a twist. I was thinking you could join me virtually and help assist? Let Matt know if you're interested. I hope to meet you soon!"
Kase stopped making food and tackled Matt. "
I get to be part of his debut segment?! Ohmygod! You're the best friend ever
!" Kase peppered his face with kisses, making Matt laugh hysterically as he squirmed on the ground.
"What's going on here?"
It didn't matter that Kase had been around Seamus outside of work or that they were friends on social media, he was still terrified of him. Laying on top of Matt and peppering his face with kisses was probably not earning him any points. Kase scrambled off Matt so fast he lost his balance and stumbled into the counter, knocking over the whiteboard display.
Still on the floor, Matt couldn't help but laugh at his floundering friend. Even Seamus, who was watching the whole thing with Aidan on his hip, found it amusing.
Kase righted himself and straightened his apron. "Loe made a video and a drink special asked me to virtually," he stuttered incoherently. He couldn't even manage a real sentence; he was so flustered. Finally, he gave up and grabbed the tub of dirties. "I'm going to wash the dishes."
Kase hightailed it out of there with his pride between his legs while Matt got up off the floor and kissed Seamus. "Hello."
Seamus blushed. He was about to respond with something cute when Aidan ruined the moment. It was Matt's fault really. He shouldn't have kissed Seamus when Aidan was so close, he knew what the outcome would be.
"
Ow ow ow ow ow,
" Matt cried as he tried to pry the tiny fingers of death from his cheek. It hurt so bad his eyes started watering. Luckily, Seamus made quick work of unlatching Aidan and reprimanding him for his actions. What was kind of cute when it started was becoming a serious nuisance.
After explaining to Aidan what he'd done wrong (for the tenth time), Seamus set him on the ground and went to Matt's aid. Of course, Aidan didn't like that. He picked him up off the floor and followed Seamus, clinging to his leg as Seamus looked at Matt's face.
"Oh man." Seamus tilted Matt's face. His cheek was red and there were obvious nail marks. "Aidan got you good. Poor baby," he said, then gingerly kissed Matt's cheek. All the while, Aidan was crying at Seamus's feet, both for being abandoned and for giving attention to Matt.
Seamus ignored him. Aidan screamed. Kase popped his head out from the back to see what the commotion was. It was a disaster. All because Matt and Seamus kissed.
* * * * *
"
C'mon
." Matt stood in the hall and waited for Aidan to follow. The defiant toddler stood next to the couch, looking at Matt, but otherwise remained unmoving. "Aidan..."
Ignoring Matt, Aidan threw himself on Seamus's lap. Almost as if throwing it in Matt's face. Seamus wouldn't have it and quickly set Aidan back on the floor before joining Matt in the hall.
Even with Seamus on his side, it hurt Matt's super big brother feelings that Aidan seemed to despise him. It felt like he couldn't win.
Seamus leaned close and whispered. "Do you want me to put him down real quick?"
"No, I can do it." Matt appreciated the offer, but he needed to do this. "It's time for bed, Aidan."
Aidan shook his head and ran in the opposite direction. Matt gave chase. Aidan was slow and quick at the same time. The hardest part was not accidentally tackling the kid out of anger. He finally caught the tyke and scooped him up. Aidan screamed and tried to throw himself at Seamus as they passed. Somehow he grabbed Seamus's shirt and white knuckled the damn thing until it practically ripped off Seamus's body.
Getting Aidan to bed was a doomed effort. Aidan had nothing better to do than scream from his crib. Matt was fine letting him do it even though it was hard to listen to. He and Seamus sat in the hall hugging each other as Aidan's screams pierced the late hour air. It had been an hour. Aidan was tired. Matt was tired. Seamus was tired.
Matt gave in. He couldn't take it anymore. He thought that since Aidan had been crying for so long, he'd be happy no matter who came in to grab him. That was not the case. When Matt reached for him, Aidan screamed for his Moose then threw himself toward the other end of the crib, away from Matt, crashing into the rails.
Matt bit back his emotions and left the room. None of this was worth Aidan hurting himself over it.
Seamus was standing in the hall with a pained yet sympathetic face. It was hard to watch the two people you love fighting like that.
The second Matt looked at him, Seamus raced into the room and lifted Aidan from the crib.
And just like that, Aidan was quiet.
Seamus to the rescue.
Matt stood in the hall for a moment with his head in his hands. The posture of a total failure, or so it felt. The soft, consoling whispers and absence of screaming confirmed what Matt knew— he was in over his head. No matter what he did, he couldn't do right by Aidan.
Even in their room, he couldn't escape the proof. Baby sniffles and Seamus's soft whispers sounded from the monitor. Words that Matt could only dream of whispering.
Matt shut the monitor off and went to bed.
* * * * *
Unsurprisingly, Aidan wanted nothing to do with Matt the next morning. That's just how things were. Matt fought him during breakfast, fought him getting dressed, and fought him all the way to daycare. Did it hurt? Abso-fucking-lutely.
Something had to give.
* * * * *
The cafe might've been slammed, but he was working with Kase and Hilary. They were the dream team and slayed through the shift like butter.
When it slowed, Matt took dishes to the back and used the solitude to clear his head. It had been a rough week with Aidan, and it was wearing on him. Nothing like taking a power hose to really get those emotions out. When he was done cleaning and putting everything away, Kase and Hilary cornered him.
The once bustling cafe was now empty.
Not a single customer in sight.
