Aiden’s hand rubbed his tummy even as he shook his head at Rocky. If he ate another bite, it was likely his stomach would explode. He was so full. Honestly, he’d accepted food too many times when Rocky asked. He knew Rocky was trying to make up for him sleeping through so many meals, but it didn’t matter how hungry he had been, eventually no more was going to fit. He was officially at that point.
“Okay, let me get this cleaned up, then I’d like to have a chat.”
Part of Aiden cringed inside at those words. They had never had a good connotation before. Usually, those words preceded a goodbye and some bullshit excuse.
It’s not you, it’s me.
It’s nothing personal, I just think we’re going in different directions.
I just can’t see us lasting when we’re so different.
All the past chats Aiden had had with partners played back in his head. Deciding to distract himself, he grabbed the platter that the food had been on and headed to the kitchen to help. He should have known better.
“Thank you, baby, I’ll take that. Why don’t you go sit down.” Rocky took the platter from Aiden’s hands and started loading the leftovers into a container he’d already taken out.
“But I want to help.” Aiden pointed to the sink where dishes had been stacked. “I could get those started while you pack up the food.”
“I’ve got the dishes,” Aiden’s shoulders fell when he heard the words. He wanted to be useful, he also wanted something to keep him from freaking out about the upcoming chat. He was certain Rocky wasn’t going to let him. “If you really want to help, though, you can wipe down the table. There are special wipes in the upper cabinet by the fridge.”
Aiden froze for a second before a wide smile graced his lips and he headed for the pack of wipes to clean the table.
Rocky
Rocky sat on the coffee table in front of where Aiden had sat on the sofa, Aiden’s legs between Rocky’s knees. Rocky placed his hands on Aiden’s knees and took a deep breath. He hoped Aiden was open to the plan he had in place. He needed to find some way to lessen Aiden’s stress and help him decompress. He needed to balance his work with some downtime, or he was going to wear himself into the ground again and that was unacceptable to Rocky.
“Don’t worry about letting me down easy, just go ahead and say it, please.”
Rocky’s gaze shot to Aiden’s at the words. What was he talking about, let him down easy? Did he think Rocky was breaking up with him? Fuck that. There was no way Rocky was letting this little boy go. Aiden was his.
“Why would you say that, baby? What do you think this chat is about?” Even though Rocky was pretty certain he knew exactly what Aiden was thinking, he wanted to be sure.
“You’re ending things, right?”
Rocky closed his eyes for a moment, calming himself. He wanted to rip apart everyone who had made this precious man feel so disposable that a request for a simple chat would lead him to believe he was being tossed aside.
“First, you’re mine. I’m not letting you go, baby. You’re stuck with me, so you might want to get used to it. Second, I take care of what’s mine. That means I’m going to take care of you. That’s what this chat is about. Taking care of you.”
“Taking care of me?”
It broke Rocky’s heart that Aiden’s voice held so much doubt. Rocky found himself determined to make Aiden see himself the way Rocky saw him. He knew that he had his work cut out for him, but if it was the last thing he did, he was going to build Aiden up to the point that he’d never doubt his own self worth again.
“Yeah, baby. Taking care of you. What happened when we got home can’t happen again. You can’t run yourself so hard. How are you going to help anyone if you're sick or not thinking properly because you don’t listen to your body when it says to rest?”
Aiden’s shoulders had sagged with relief during Rocky’s speech but then went back again at the end. Rocky guessed he was balking at what was being said and maybe he could have softened his approach some, but Aiden preferred to be straightforward and what he’d said was simply the truth. Aiden couldn’t keep going like he had been or he could end up sick or make a mistake he might never forgive himself for. Rocky would be damned if he saw that happen.
“I was thinking, maybe you could spend some time in Little space. It would help you let go for a bit and I’d really love to spend some time with Little Aiden. I know I’ve caught small glimpses of your Little, but I’d like to truly meet him if you’ll let me.”
Chapter Twenty
Aiden
Could he do it? Could he open himself up like that, make himself that vulnerable? Somehow, Aiden thought that with Rocky it would be all too easy. He really was everything Aiden had ever dreamed of, everything he never thought he’d have and didn’t think he deserved. Aiden had never trusted anyone as much as he’d come to trust Rocky in the short time they’d been together, which was all the answer he needed.
“I’d like to try. I don’t know how easy it will be for me, but..”
“We’ll take it at your pace. If anything becomes too much, say red and it all stops and we’ll talk, okay?”
Aiden just nodded his head, nerves taking him over and stealing his voice. He could do this. He might never get another chance like this; he didn’t want to waste it.
