Page 89 of Say It Again
“Madeline is leaving soon. Meaning she’s going to have to take the original offer. You realize that, right? Have you thought about what happens if you don’t get it by then?”
“Thank you for your concern—”
“Then you’ll have missed out on this thing you’ve always wanted, and you might even be out of a job.”
“So generous.” He kissed the tip of Aaron’s nose, ignoring the huffy eyebrow lift. “But I’ll figure it out. Now, if you’ll excuse me? I need to find out what a caper is once and for all.”
“A caper is a—”
“I know you are not about to spoil the surprise.”
“Fine. Meet me by the cheeses when you’re done. Call me if you need me.”
“Wait.” Daniel spun around. “Did you just say to call you if I need you?”
Aaron cut his eyes to the side, which meant he probably hadn’t even realized it. For being so young, he had a full-blown coddling mother hen of a personality. It was adorable, and Daniel couldn’t help but make so much fun of him for it.
“Do tell, Aaron. What would warrant my needing you in a grocery store?”
Aaron scrunched his nose, his shoulders bunching. “I don’t know. Never mind. Let’s not make a whole thing about it.”
“Aw. You afraid I’ll get lost, mister? Kidnapped?” Daniel tried not to sound so curvy-blond-on-a-subway-grate, but he couldn’t help himself. “I’ll be super careful in the big bad grocery store. I’ll be back before the streetlights come on.” And extra breathy as he said, “Daddy.”
Aaron’s mouth twitched as he glanced around and whispered, “Stop it.”
“Did you say the cheeses?” Daniel moaned through his teeth as he slid a finger down his neck. “That’s so far. I’ll miss you, Daddy.”
Aaron spun the cart around. “Okay, I’m walking away.”
“I’ll miss you so hard.” He blew a puffy-lipped kiss.
“Bye, Daniel.”
“So, so hard.”
Before Aaron turned the corner, he whispered back, “Save it for later.”
Daniel couldn’t find the capers, so they probably didn’t exist, and it was a worldwide ruse to make him feel foolish. When he meandered to the cheeses, there stood Aaron being drooled over by a girl who twirled her ponytail around her fingers and giggled too loudly at whatever mediocre dairy joke he likely made (Have you tried that one? It’s really Gouda). The unfortunate result when hot people made jokes? Hot people growing up thinking they’re also funny.
When Aaron saw him, he cinched him by the waist and kissed his cheek.
“Oh.” The girl’s eyes darted between the two of them, her cheeks flushing the same rosy pink of her blouse. “Thank you for the advice. I’m going to go with the Drunken Goat.”
“Good choice,” Aaron said as she scurried away, shifting his attention to a wedge of cheese.
“She was cute.” Daniel rested his chin on the back of Aaron’s shoulder. “Have you ever been with a girl?”
“Yes.”
He whipped Aaron around by his shoulders. “You have?”
“Well, yeah. Not a lot.”
“What’s not a lot? Like, one?”
“Probably more like four. Maybe five.”
“Holy shit.”