ODDS OF LOVE - SEASON THIRTEEN

Episode 187

" You don't have to walk me to the door," Aiden said with a very relaxed smile and laugh at his friend, no , date for that night. He found it amazing that he had actually been on a date. It had been over a year. Well, it had been a year since the divorce. Two years since the day long ago when he had discovered Gary with Xavier in bed together. That day he had seen red, pulled Xavier off of his then husband and tried to beat the hell out of the stranger. Of course, him being a lowly nerdy obituary writer and Xavier being a strong sure footed muscled Army Ranger the fight had been a joke really. Gary had ended up stopping it all and telling the man to leave. After his lover had put on his clothes and left the apartment Gary had then apologized profusely to him. Gary had surprised him by begging for his forgiveness and promising it would never happen again. Aiden had wanted to believe his husband so much They had been married since gay marriage was legalized and together forever before that. Gary had been his first love and his first lover but he couldn't accept the apology. Roger and Alice Rose had raised him better than that. And he was the great man's man Daniel Norris's only son. He had told the man , his husband, to leave. In spite of Gary's pleading and anger and almost devastation their relationship ended that day. Essentially so had Gary's paternal relationship with their son because A.J. immediately took Aiden's side. Even as an eleven year old child A.J. had been fiercely loyal and held a grudge.

Aiden had not noticed another man since then. Until Spencer......

And, now Paul whose eyes twinkled down at him as he shook his head seriously. Paul looked so good tonight in his faded blue jeans and old faded Metallica tee shirt with the cast now removed off his arm and replaced by a sling which seemed a little rushed to him but Paul had just shrugged upon his asking him about it and said merely that " he had demanded its removal even though the doctor complained because he had things to do and it worked perfectly fine". " It wasn't so much broken as sprained, slightly sprained," Paul had said. " It gave good sympathy in court but still it's annoying."

Phillip Paul Paterson Jr.  ( call me Paul, I prefer it. Or , Phil but again I prefer Paul. My father is Phil. ) was as attractive as Gary but in a different way. Just like Spencer...... Their dinner tonight had been the most fun he had had in forever. Paul had never stopped telling him stories about his most hilarious court cases and years growing up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland that had him constantly giggling. So different from Gary who did not really have much of a sense of humor.

Paul and he were stopped in front of the front door of Aiden's house. Paul reached out to touch Aiden's face with the unslinged arm. " I have no problem seeing you to the door. My father was old-fashioned and raised me to act a certain way on dates. Of course he never once expected who I would want to date. " A soft unreadable expression crept upon his handsome features at that but it quickly retreated.

Aiden swallowed hard. " Do you need me to drive you home? I could have picked you up. Then you wouldn't have to take Metro back home. "

Paul smiled. " Then who would walk you back to your door safely? Silly man. Besides I like taking the subway and buses. Gives me time to think. "

Then he leaned ever so closely ,so closely that their mouths were nearly touching.

Aiden could feel the other man's heart beating so rapidly. Or maybe that was his own.

Paul whispered ," May I? "

Aiden murmured back," Of course. "

Their lips met in a sweet hesitant almost shy kiss.

And , Alice Rose , as she peeked through the living room curtains at them on the front porch smiled in approval while nodding.