by Jerry Cole
Austin’s heart caught itself in his throat. “Ah... I don’t... I...”
“Please,” Charles rolled his eyes as he reached Austin. He walked right up to him, so close that Austin was forced to take a step back. Charles was taller than him too, just to make it even worse. “Freddy has told me all about you. Everything,” he finished suggestively.
“I’m just getting a coffee.” Austin indicated his coffee like it wasn’t obviously in his hand.
“And last night at the movies – what did you think about it, by the way? Me, I didn’t like the ending. Freddy didn’t mind it.” He was smirking now, looking like he was having a great time.
Austin took a half-step back. “That was... I was seeing that movie anyway. I didn’t know that you were—”
“Freddy didn’t see you stalking him,” Charles cut him off. “Lucky too. If he did... what he would have said to you, I don’t think you would have made it through the night.”
“I’m not stalking—”
“After what he’s told me about you too. If I were you, I’d leave now before he sees. Obviously, I’m still going to tell him. I have to. But best that you’re not here for it.”
Austin’s eyes flicked toward the closed bathroom door. But he didn’t make to leave. Something Charles just said had him glued to the spot. “After what he told you – what did he... what did he say?”
“Oh, just how pathetic you are.” He rolled his eyes and chuckled as if at an inside joke. “A lovesick puppy that want’s everything but has nothing to offer in return... or something like that – I’m paraphrasing, obviously.”
“That’s not...” Austin could feel his chin begin to wobble. He could feel his eyes begin to water. He held it in. Charles was lying. Obviously, he was! “He didn’t say that.”
Charles nodded. “He did. He said you two went out for like a week and you were so sad, so hopeless, so pathetic at everything you did that he dumped you for your own good – for his own good! He said he showered for a literal hour after you left just to get the stink off—”
“All right, I’m going to have to stop you right there.” The voice came from out of nowhere, like the far-off rumble of a thunder cloud indicating a coming storm. “There’s funny and then there’s mean. And you crossed that line a long time ago.”
Austin’s savior was taller than Charles by a solid three inches. He was also a little bigger in the shoulders, without being bulky. His arms were covered in tattoos, his chin was square, his cheekbones high, his eyes were sharp blue, and the way his mustache was blended in with a five 'o'clock shadow made him look both rugged and unkept, but also stylish and refined. He was handsome without it being too obvious, but also very, very cool.
Austin had no idea who this man was, but he inserted himself between he and Freddy without so much as a pause. “You can go now,” he said emphatically to Charles. “Go on, shoo.”
Charles was just as surprised by this intrusion as Austin. He blinked a few times before collecting himself and standing tall. “Do I know you?”
“No.”
“Oh... do you know him?” Charles indicated to Austin who was standing speechless behind his hero.
“No,” the stranger said. “But I know an asshole when I see one and you, my friend, are a gaping asshole. No question about it. I was going to stand back and let you run out of steam, but I could see you starting to pick it up. I figured I had to step in before you broke this poor man down into nothing.”
Charles scoffed. “Listen, I see you’re trying to do the right thing but—”
“Listen.” The stranger imitated Charles’ scoffs. “I’m not a fighter – never really have been. But I know I can take you up and down this cafe if I have to. I don’t want to, but I will.” He paused for a moment, as if for effect, and held his hands up in defense. “So, are you going to force this upon me... have me nursing an injured hand all week after I break it on your face? Or are you going to skip back over to the register, collect your coffee and leave? Your choice.”
For a moment, Austin thought that Charles was going to say no. Then he thought he was going to bear witness to a fight caused by him, between two men he didn’t even know.
It was lucky that Charles was as big a wimp as this strange man assumed. Rather than pushing back, or arguing, he offered the stranger a tight smile, glared at Austin and then turned about-face and wandered back toward the register where his coffees were being made.
And as for Austin? He just stared, dumbstruck, his mind unable to even come close to fathoming what had just happened.
“If you had asked me ten minutes ago how my morning was going to go down, I would not have guessed. A fight in Scouts’ Honor is much more of a lunch-time thing,” the stranger joked.
Austin hadn’t been paying attention. He was still half-watching Charles, half-watching the closed bathroom door, half-wondering what had just happened. At the sound of the stranger speaking directly to him, he snapped himself back into the moment and mumbled a, “Hey...”
“He speaks!” the stranger laughed. “I’m Finn,” he held his hand out for Austin to shake. “Sorry about that just then – but I couldn’t help but overhear what he was saying. And I hate bullies. Thought I’d step in before things took a nastier turn.”
Austin didn’t take Finn’s hand. He was still looking at that bathroom door, desperate now to leave before Freddy came out. If Freddy saw him standing here right now... he didn’t even want to think about it.
“Is everything all right?” Finn asked. He looked Austin’s worn down, shoddily-dressed frame up and down, concern etched across his handsome face.
“Oh... yeah, it’s fine,” Austin lied and shook his head as if shaking himself into the moment. “I just have to... I need to go...” he took a step back toward the door.
“It’s like that is it? Sleep with me and just run,” Finn joked and pretended to look despondent.
Austin’s eyes widened in horror. “No—I mean, no I didn’t mean to be rude. I just – thanks; that wasn’t what it looked like—” His eyes flicked to the closed bathroom door. “I just need to...”
“It’s fine, really – hey, before you go.” Finn reached into his back pocket and pulled out a small card. “I heard some of what that guy was saying to you. If you need anything... please...” he offered the card to Austin, who took it without paying attention.
“Thanks.” Austin indicated the card. “And thanks again for... yeah...” He smiled a tight-lipped smile and then looked to the bathroom door just in time to see it opening.
And that was it for Austin. Without so much as a glance at Finn, he turned tail and fled from that café like it were on fire. Once free, he kept at the same pace until he was well down the street, around the corner and as far from Freddy as possible. It was only then that he stopped to reflect on what the fuck had just happened... after bending over for some time to catch his breath, of course.
Firstly, there was the incident with Charles. Austin decided pretty quickly that Charles had made it all up. Probably out of jealousy. Maybe even Freddy had been speaking about him so much that Charles wanted to take him down a peg or two? Yes... that seemed most likely.
And secondly... who the fuck was that guy? Finn? He had come from nowhere, swooping in like Superman to save the day. He had looked a little Superman-like too, albeit with more flair. And definitely sexier too. Fuck, in hindsight he was that. Austin looked at the card that he was handed, and scoffed.
Finn Connor, Life Coach Specialist: “How to Finish First in the Game of Life”
Austin didn’t know if he should have been insulted or not.
He pocketed the card and slowly slunk down the sidewalk and back in the direction of his apartment. He had nothing else to do today but reflect on what had happened between he and Freddy, and how he was going to get him back. There was a chance he might need a couple more days after this one too.
And as for Finn the life coach? The only reason that Austin would ever go to one of his
seminars or classes or whatever they were, would be to perv on Finn. Heck, for that reason alone it might even be worth it. The guy was very, very attractive. God damn, he was that.
Chapter Four
Finn was starting to feel nervous.
As he navigated his car through the parking lot, he could feel his arms already shake from anxiety. When he glanced in the rearview to double check that nothing was coming up behind, he noticed small spots of sweat appearing on his brow. And as he eased his foot off the gas while slowly pulling his car into its space, he couldn’t help but note the way his foot bounced uncontrollably up and down on the peddle like he was spasming. Maybe nervous was an understatement?
It was all so silly too. It wasn’t like Finn was doing anything wrong... kind of. Like, technically he wasn’t supposed to be here. And if a certain person found out then he might get an ear full. But that was it. It wasn’t life or death, or anything even close to that. So why was he so darn worried?
With the car parked snuggly in its space, Finn took a moment for himself. Some deep breaths. A few tight, hard blinks. A head shake. Everything was fine and there was nothing to worry about, he told himself. This was going to be fine.
A deep breath to calm himself and suddenly Finn was worrying how his breath might smell. He reached into the glovebox to pull out some mints. As he did so, he spied a stack of his business cards – he always kept some on him, just in case. The sight of them was an excuse to try and concentrate on something less stressful, like that incident in the café this morning, and that very nervous man he’d stepped in to help.
Finn hated bullies. It was as simple as that. When he first overheard what that douchebag was saying, he was going to let it slide as it really wasn’t any of his business. But then the guy kept on going and going and going. And then Finn saw who he was picking on and instantly felt like he needed to intervene. The dude was just so pathetic, and small, and sad looking. His hair was long and unkept. He clothes were old and dirty and his posture suggested less than zero confidence. He was in dire need of help, and not just in that moment.
So, Finn stepped in and stopped the dickhead from picking on him. He spouted some random speech that he had hoped would make him sound tough, and then handed a card to the young man that was being bullied. To be perfectly honest, the chance to gain a new client definitely helped drive Finn’s decision to step in and help the poor guy... but that didn’t mean it was the wrong thing to do.
Finn’s thoughts stayed on that incident in the café for less than a moment. He tried his best to keep them there too as it was a scenario well outside of the one he was currently in. In that scenario, he was the hero, the guy in the right, the one that came out on top looking better than he previously had. It felt good and helped provide a few moments of relief... if only a few.
Ultimately however, Finn spent little time thinking about what had happened earlier in the café. No sooner was his car parked and turned off did he hear the sound of a school bell ringing in the distance; one that singled the end of the day. This was followed by the screams of hundreds of joyous students happy to be free from another day of tyranny and oppression.
Finn heard the ringing of the bell, looked himself over in the rearview mirror once more, took a deep and calming breath, and then climbed from the car.
As odd as it might have sounded, Finn had a son. And not an adopted son, but an actual son that he had with an ex-girlfriend of his in college. As mentioned, Finn didn’t always know he was gay, and as was dictated to him through friends and society in general, he’d just assumed he was meant to be into women. So, he slept with a few women in his younger days, and even dated a few more... this included his college sweetheart, Angela.
Finn tried not to think about Angela too much, because it always made him angry. In college she had been so nice too, and sweet, and understanding. He’d only ended it with her specifically because he had realized he was gay, and she had been so damn supportive about it... and then she found out she was pregnant.
It wasn’t that Finn had been against the idea of having a child either. It was more that he just didn’t know what to do. Plus, he was only twenty-three at the time and wanted to travel overseas and live in another country (something he still hadn’t done), and to date, and to do all sorts of things that a child just wouldn’t allow for. So, when Angela moved from Sydney to Melbourne after she graduated, Finn decided not to follow. In his mind, she was the one leaving and therefore the blame was to lay at her feet. She disagreed.
For eight years, Angela lived in Melbourne with their son and for eight years, Finn didn’t see either of them, not once. Again, it was all excuses as to why, most made up and most Finn’s fault. By the time Angela did return to Sydney, four years previously, Finn was just over it. And again, it needs to be emphasized that this wasn’t on purpose, that he wasn’t trying to be a bad father. He just had no connection with his son. He tried a few times when they first came back but just couldn’t get excited about it. Not even a little bit.
Well, that was four years ago and a lot had changed. Finn was older now, and he was on a mission of self-improvement. As with his dating life, he was trying to get serious, and be less selfish. He had an actual son, a flesh and blood son living twenty minutes away and he barely saw the kid! For the past six months, Finn had tried in earnest to improve his relationship with the son he hardly knew. He had expected it to be easy. It was not.
Finn was only half-way across the parking lot when he spotted the hundreds of children streaming from the school building like it was on fire. All ranging between ages six-thirteen years, it was literally Finn’s nightmare. They were so loud, and manic, and excitable, and small. A part of him worried that they’d swarm over him, crush him like a bug, and then just keep moving.
One small moment that did give Finn some semblance of hope was the fact that he was able to pick his son out from the crowd. A year ago, there wasn’t a chance in hell he would have been able. But now he could see him headed toward the parking lot as clear as day.
“Zac!” Finn called out and waved stupidly. “Over here! It’s dad!” He grimaced to himself the moment he’d said it; he was like a desperate date, trying his best to not blow it, but inevitably doing just that.
“Finn?” Zac scrunched his face at the sight of Finn striding across the lot toward him. His disappointment could not have been clearer.
At only twelve years of age, Zac was already turning into a real looker, if Finn did say so himself. A solid couple of inches taller than the other kids his age, he had his mother’s dark features, but his dad’s sharp face. His black hair was shaven down, while his clothes were purposefully creased and worn through, like what a skater might do. There was a strut to his step, a mischief smile on his face and a gaggle of other kids following him. He was cool, that much Finn was sure of.
“Try dad,” Finn joked as he reached him. As the two came together, Finn went for an awkward hug, which Zac accepted but didn’t return. When they pulled away, Finn then scuffed the tops of Zac’s shaven down hair, which he wasn’t even sure why he did it. “But hey. How was school?”
Zac looked past Finn to the friends he had been walking with. “I’ll call you tonight – do it without me and just give me the answers,” he joked. The kids laughed and shouted something back and Zac waved them down before focusing back on Finn. “Does Mom know you’re here?”
Finn had to resist the urge to roll his eyes. “No. But I don’t need her permission to pick up my own son, all right?"
“All right.” Zac looked down at his feet awkwardly.
Finn cursed under his breath. “I mean... I was in the area and thought I’d try picking you up and dropping you off – save you having to catch the bus. Maybe we’d even go for ice cream... do kids your age still eat ice cream?”
To say that Finn knew little about his son would be an understatement. In reality, he knew almost nothing. A lot of this was to do with the fact that he hadn’t been in his life for some el
even and a half years... and a lot more had to do with his complete lack of understanding about kids in general. But he was trying! He really was. The real problem was Angela.
All Finn wanted now was to spend more time with Zac. That was all. But Angela was so strict about when he could see him, and for how long. Even this now was technically against the rules. He was meant to call and ask before seeing Zac, and he certainly wasn’t meant to be picking him up. But Finn also figured that what Angela didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her.
“I’m not catching the bus today,” Zac spoke up. He looked past Finn again.
“Oh? What were you going to—?”
“Mom!” Zac suddenly called out and waved. “Here!”
Finn’s blood turned cold. The hairs on the back on his neck stood up. Literal ice seemed to slide down his body and coat every inch if his skin. Angela was here... Angela was here... Angela... fuck!
“Zac!” Angela called out from behind Finn. “There you are!” She walked right past Finn and pulled her son into a hug, one which he returned with enthusiasm and love. “Go to the car, son.”
“Mom!” Zac whined.
“Zac.” Angela’s tone allowed for no argument. She raised a single eyebrow at him, his bowed his head and nodded.
“I’ll be in the car...” he muttered and started to walk past Finn.
Finn was going to reach out, stop him and say goodbye. Maybe even try for a hug goodbye? But then he saw the cold, malevolent glare that his ex was fixing him with and decided against it. Best to pick his battles.
“Angela,” Finn said pleasantly enough. He bobbed back and forth on his heels and tried to look congenial. “You look nice. Doing something new with your hair?”
“What the fuck are you doing here, Finn?” He had found her attractive once. And truth be told, she still was. She was strongly built for a woman, with broad shoulders, a flat chest and a flatter stomach. But her eyes were dark, her hair was long and silky, and her smile was big and white.
“I was in the area,” Finn attempted playfully. “I saw the school, noticed the time and figured I’d stop and say hello to my son.”