Heartbreak hotel

Chapter 20

Soren panicked, but he was okay with how things were between them. He preferred staying six feet away from Scar at all times. It comforted him, knowing he wasn’t within the distance of the man’s arms and therefore out of danger, but having to stay cooped up in the small store with nowhere to run was not how he wanted to spend most of his days for the foreseeable future.

Soren turned to Sebastian for some help. He didn’t want this job. But the man shrugged his shoulders in defeat. When Soren turned to look at Scar, the man was eyeing him up and down, and he tried to hide behind Silas, as silly as it was.

“Are we sure about this?” Olivia asked, frowning a little. She was standing beside her husband, a bright smile on her face.

Ash scowled. “You need the helper, and he gets off his ass. He’s working here from tomorrow, you’re welcome.”

“I don’t know anything about flowers,” Soren whispered. He was ready to do anything to ensure he didn’t end up working alongside Scar. He knew what Ash was trying to do, and he could see why the man wanted to try going down this route, but he didn’t want anything to do with Scar, and he meant that with full respect.

Olivia sighed, running a hand through her hair, but she nodded. “Sure, fine. And don’t worry about knowing anything about flowers and herbs, hun. Scar can teach you. He’s the one who taught me a lot of stuff when I took over for Erza.”

Soren sighed. “Amazing,” he said dully. He didn’t want to do this.

“Perfect, bring him with you in the morning. We’re off now. I want some alone time with my husband before he has to go back to work.”

“You could go and work with him instead of sitting on your ass all day,” Olivia deadpanned, crossing her arms over her chest with a scowl.

Ash raised his eyebrow and then nodded. “Good idea.”

The four men left, and Soren exhaled sharply. “Ash,” he whined. “Why would you do that, you know I’m scared of the man, and now I have to work for him?”

“You won’t get over it if you don’t get to actually know him. He’s not all that bad once you get to know him; he just looks scary, but he’s tolerable once you get to know him.”

“Tolerable? You've known the man for seven years, and that’s the best you can do?” Sebastian said, a smile on his face as he looked down at his husband. Soren stared at the two men, the way they looked at one another, there was nothing but love in their eyes. It was as if they had their own network when they were beside one another, where only one another had access to the server.

“He’s f*****g my sister. Has been for years. Tolerable is all he f*****g gets. But as I said, this will be good for him. And no offence, kid, but you two need a break from one another. Jesus, you’re attached at the hip, and that is not healthy.”

“You’re both welcome, now go home. I’m going to stay at work for a bit, take my car, and I’ll come home with Bubbles.”

“Your clothes?” Silas asked, eyeing the man’s outfit.

Ash waved his hand, staring at the building across from them, “I keep a spare change in Bubble’s office.”

“Why not yours?”

“I have glass walls,” Ash deadpanned. “I am not giving my floor a strip show.”

“Fair enough.”

“Love you both, drive safe.”

Soren watched Ash and Sebastian cross the road and continued watching Ash talk about something. At the same time, Sebastian listened until they disappeared through the revolving doors into the building. Soren remained about where he had been standing, the summer sun shining down on him, and he regretted wearing his sweatshirt. The house had been cold before, but he should have known what the weather was like outside. People were scurrying about, and he stared at the people living their lives.

Silas coughed a little, bringing Soren out of his trance, and he looked up at the man with a small smile. “Maybe this will be good for us?” he whispered as they walked to the parking lot and found Ash’s car.

“You think so?” Silas responded, getting into the driver's seat as Soren climbed into the passenger seat.

“Yes, I mean, everyone is right, aren’t they? We spend too much time together, and maybe some distance between us won’t be the end of the world?”

“But what if something happens to you again?” Silas whispered as he pulled out of the parking lot.

“We’re not kids with no one but each other. We have family. We’re not defenceless anymore. I’m not defenceless. And who knows, maybe this way, I can get over the stupid fear?”

Silas didn’t speak for the rest of the drive.

~*~