Always an Expiration Date

Part Four

Aidan was putting together a bento box for Mike's dinner later when his phone rang. He grabbed it off the counter before it went to voicemail and answered it breathlessly without checking the caller id. "Hello?"

"Aidan? Did I catch you at a bad time?" Jake's smooth voice sounded concerned through the speaker.

"Hey, uh, Jake! No, my phone just wasn't in easy reach. What can I do for you?" Aidan felt a little thrill run through him at hearing from Jake again so soon. He could still feel the warm weight of Jake leaning against him earlier. He tapped on speakerphone and set it on the counter as he went back to cutting radish roses to top the tossed salad he was making for Mike.

"I wound up back in the office. Everyone's pulling an all-nighter after today's earthquake and I was thinking that I'd host a casual get-together this weekend at mine in appreciation for their dedication."

Aidan smiled at Jake's thoughtfulness. "That sounds like a great idea! But what's that got to do with me?"

"Two things. I wanted to invite you personally. Everyone's families will be but I'd especially like you to be there."

"Oh, sure! All Mike and I had on for the weekend was groceries. What's the other thing?" Aidan finished putting Mike's bento together and started clearing up as they talked.

Jake hesitated. "Now say no if it's too much."

Aidan chuckled. "You have to tell me what it is first."

"I could really use an extra set of hands to shop for supplies Saturday morning and would love your company."

"Pfft. Of course I can do that. What time were you thinking?"

Jake blew out a long breath like he'd been holding it nervously. "Thanks, I appreciate it. Is six-thirty too early to meet up? I have a friend who's a chef who's doing me a solid but she wants the supplies as early as possible to get everything done."

"No problem. I am one of those awful people everyone hates who stays up late and then gets up early. I can absolutely do six-thirty. Shoot me an address later?"

"Will do." Jake hesitated again before he reluctantly said. "That's all I wanted. I should let you get back to what you were doing and start actually working myself."

"I'll see you Saturday then. Don't push too hard tonight."

"I won't. Goodnight."

Aidan responded "goodnight," and barely caught himself before he tacked on "love you." He ended the call and leaned against the counter wondering to himself what the hell was that. He decided it was one of those things like little kids calling their teachers mom when they weren't paying attention.

Mike arrived home with the first light of dawn when Aidan was starting his day. He fed her a quick breakfast of toaster waffles and drew the blackout shades in the bedroom for her with promises to wake her at noon so she could return to work in the afternoon. After he started a load of laundry he holed up in his office to draw up an outline for the requested book, emerging only to rouse Mike and send her off with her giant travel cup and the bento he'd made the night before in hand.

The couple saw very little of one another for the rest of the week. Mike spent long hours at work restoring and checking systems while Aidan furiously typed, chasing his deadline. The only real communication they had besides quick greetings in passing was when Mike came home excited late Thursday night and gushed over Mr. Allred's generosity in not only budgeting double time for that week's hours but inviting the entire staff and their families to his home for a gathering Saturday.