Unbreak My Heart (18+, ManxMan)

Chapter 6 Waffles

Chapter 6

Finn

"Finn, buddy, you up?"  I rolled over with a groan.  What was it like six in the morning?

"Finn, it's quarter to nine, Liam will be here soon."  Benji came in the room and gave my shoulder a gentle shake.  "Put on some clothes and come downstairs, I'm making waffles for breakfast."  I chuckled at the way he emphasized waffles, knowing that I loved them.

I rolled over again onto my back and opened my eyes.  "You okay Little Dude, your eyes are really red and a little puffy, you sleep okay?"

"Yeah, I'm okay, I just worked too long yesterday…and my allergies are acting up," I muttered, rolling over to hide the my frown at the partial truth.

"I didn't know you had allergies, do you have any meds for that?"

"Nah, it's not a big deal, I'll just wash my face and throw on some clothes and be down in 5 minutes, 'kay Benj?"

"Okay, I'll start another waffle.  I gave Ajax the first one since he has to get to the office."

After a long stretch I managed to get up and stumble over to the bathroom.  My clothes from yesterday were still on the bathroom floor so I picked them up and threw them in a hamper before using the toilet.  When I went to wash my hands, brush my teeth and wash my face I looked in the mirror and realized I looked like hell.  Aside from my red and puffy eyes, my hair was sticking up in all sorts of directions from flopping into bed before I even put a comb in my wet hair last night.

I threw some cold water on my hair and did my best to tame it, luckily it's not too long right now so I was able to get it somewhat passable.  After I put on jeans and a T-shirt I took a few deep breaths and steeled myself for a new day.  Liam was coming so I could focus on getting him started in the studio.  I probably wouldn’t begin anything major myself, but I could teach him how to stretch canvases and how to block out a painting before you begin applying any paint.

When I got downstairs I saw that Liam and Jonah were walking in the front door as Ajax was heading out.  He shouted a goodbye as the two boys looked up at me with some concern.

"Sorry, I look like hell, didn't sleep well last night, but I'll be fine after a cup of coffee," I muttered in greeting.  Yeah, I had finally acquired a taste for java after spending so much time with Chris, the King of Coffee.  I followed the boys into the kitchen.

"Liam! Jonah!  Perfect timing," Benji called out.  "I have waffles going.  Sit down at the counter and I'll pour you some juice."

"Um…I was just dropping Leelee off, I don't want to intrude…" Jonah started.

"Dude, seriously?  Sit your ass down," Benji objected.  After he poured the juice, the waffle iron indicated that the next one was ready.  Benji looked over at me as he pulled it out and placed it on a plate.

"Give mine to one of them," I said, "I need to wake up with some coffee first, I'll have one in a bit."

"Okay, they don't take long."  He placed the plate on the counter and Jonah pushed it in front of Liam who looked at it with pure excitement.  "Butter and syrup," Benji announced as he moved them closer to Liam.

I poured myself a coffee, added some sugar and milk and took a stool at the large island with the others.

"Liam didn't sleep well either," Jonah said as the small boy took his first bite.  "I think he was excited or maybe nervous about today, he tossed and turned all night."  Liam looked up with a tiny grin and a small shrug of his shoulders before he turned his eyes back on the waffle.