Sort-of Soulmates

Chapter Eight: Alex

Hello y'all - Sort-of Soulmates has a new update day of Fridays. I hope you enjoy - and apologies if you have to refresh your memory of the book!

Love, Cam

♡

Chapter Eight

Alex

Aiden was a ball of energy. Despite having literally done the five billion hour flight from Thailand, and come straight from the airport to Dylan's flat, he was bouncing around cheerfully as though he'd just woken from a particularly restful sleep. Not only that, but he looked incredible considering he had been on a plane for hours on end.

"So how long have you been out of the country?" I asked him, taking a seat on the sofa opposite Aiden's chair, as Dylan poured us all a drink. I had a feeling he needed it.

"Six months," Aiden replied, playing with Toast, who was joyfully trying to capture a catnip-filled felt ball from him. "I've been training with a culinary school out there, it's been intense. Fun, though, I learned a lot."

"You're a chef?" I asked, brightening.

Aiden looked a little wounded at that, and I cringed, realising that should have been something Dylan told me. "Yeah, I am," he said, his posture slumping a little. This guy would absolutely not be good in a poker game, I could see every single emotion on him.

"That's awesome," I said, trying to salvage the situation. "I bake, but I kind of suck with the cooking part."

Aiden perked up at that. "I like baking, I'm not so much a pastry chef, but I learned it all the same. My ex, Gavin, he was the pastry chef. We owned a restaurant in town, Nebula."

I had seen Nebula, and it was fancy. Luther and I had thought about going there once, to celebrate the café opening, but we had agreed it'd be better to be able to pay rent for three months instead. "Wow, that place is nice," I said, and then I remembered that a year or so ago it had changed significantly from the outside. "Did you leave it a year ago?"

"Yeah," Aiden nodded.

"Just before it went tacky?" I asked.

At that, Aiden grinned widely. "Oh yeah, I forgot. He added neon palm trees, didn't he?"

"He did, yes," I laughed. "It's hideous."

"Thank you," Aiden seemed delighted at my roasting of the restaurant now he wasn't in charge there. "Gavin had... interesting tastes. Including the taste of my sous-chef."

"Oof," I replied.

"Yep," Aiden nodded, rolling his eyes. "It was all terribly cliché, really. I left, and he badmouthed me to everyone he knew in the industry. Fortunately, I had Dylan on my side, who knows more people than Gavin, but... well, I wanted to get away for a while. Learn some new skills. Clear my mind, you know."

"Understandable," I nodded, and Dylan walked over with three cocktails. I noticed he'd made mine and Aiden's with something fruity and sparkly, as opposed to his own which seemed to be predominantly vodka. "Thanks, cupcake. That looks amazing."

Dylan smiled at me, seeming pleased. "I was tempted to add just a whole bag of sweets, but I thought it might spoil your dinner."

"After dinner, you're making me a cocktail with a whole bag of sweets," I teased, leaning over to kiss him lightly on the lips as a thank-you. It felt so normal to do that, like we were genuinely on a date, him teasing me about my sugary drinks. "I see you've opted for a drink that burns instead of one that tastes nice."