Chapter Twenty-five
The conversation over breakfast stayed with Aiden for the rest of the morning.
For years, he had imagined what it would feel like to tell someone the truth about himself without watching their expression change.
Kael's expression hadn't changed at all.
He hadn't judged him.
He hadn't pitied him.
If anything, he had been confused that such a thing could cause so much pain.
Then, almost casually, he had admitted that he himself had once loved a man.
Aiden smiled to himself as he climbed the stairs to his room.
That single sentence had quietly erased the last excuse he had been hiding behind.
Kael liked men.
Whether he would ever like him was another matter entirely.
Still...
There was nothing wrong with hoping.
---
By the time Aiden came downstairs carrying another pile of clothes, Kael had already gathered everything they would need for the journey into neat little groups.
Food.
Camping supplies.
Maps.
Water.
Even the chargers were lined up side by side.
Aiden stopped halfway across the room.
"...Did you do all this?"
Kael looked up from where he was checking the first-aid kit. "You said we needed to organize."
"I meant together."
"I grew impatient." Kael
Aiden laughed. "I can see that."
He dropped the clothes onto the sofa. "I'll fold these."
"I shall assist." Kael declared, coming to sit with him.
The work settled into an easy rhythm.
Aiden folded shirts while Kael stacked them neatly inside the travel bags.
Somehow, Kael managed to fit nearly twice as many clothes into the same space.
Aiden watched him press another neatly folded shirt into the bag.
"How are you doing that?"
Kael looked up. "I packed for long journeys many times." He said matter of fact "I've been travelling longer than you have."
"So I have noticed." Aiden answered.
"...Was that an insult?" Kael asked with mock offence
"It was an observation." Aiden snorted.
"They're starting to sound suspiciously similar."
Kael's lips twitched.
"I am learning."
Aiden smiled,He liked seeing that.
Months ago, Kael would have insisted servants handle every bag in the room.
Now he quietly reached for another pile of clothes without being asked.
It was such a small thing, Yet Aiden noticed.
He always noticed.
As Aiden reached for another shirt, his fingers brushed against Kael's.
The touch lasted no more than a second.
Still.....His heart skipped.
Kael simply picked up the shirt.
"This one is yours."
"Um...."Aiden cleared his throat. "Yeah...right." He wasn't sure why his face suddenly felt warm.
A few minutes later, Kael picked up one of Aiden's hoodies.
"This one is soft."
"Yeah it is." Aiden stupidly agreed
Kael ran his thumb thoughtfully over the fabric."I understand why you wear it often."
Aiden smiled "I'm sure it would look good on you."
Kael looked genuinely thoughtful "I disagree."
Aiden blinked. "You do?"
"I believe it fit you better. You look adorable in these" kael seriously stated.
Aiden stared at him for a moment blushing hard, he tried to cover up the effect of Kael's words with a laugh "That... wasn't what I meant."
"I know i look good in anything, I am a prince after all." Kael innocently boasted
Kael folded the hoodie and placed it into the bag.
Aiden shook his head.
He's impossible.
Somewhere along the way, Aiden caught himself watching Kael instead of packing.
The afternoon sunlight poured through the living room window, catching strands of Kael's long black hair as he bent to zip one of the bags.
He looked peaceful.
Comfortable.
Almost...
Happy.
"You've changed."
The words slipped out before Aiden could stop them.
Kael looked over "In what way?"
"You help now."
"I helped before."
"No you didn't." Aiden countered
"Yes i did, i kept you company ." He said matter of factly
"That's your definition of help?" Aiden asked raising an eyebrow at him
Kael considered that.
"...Perhaps."
Aiden smiled "I like this version better."
Kael held his gaze for a brief moment before nodding once "I'm sure you like all versions of me." He stated proudly
Aiden's smile widened. If only he knew how true that was.Before he could say anything else, his phone began vibrating on the coffee table.
The screen lit up with a familiar name.
Mia Video Calling...
Aiden groaned.
"I completely forgot."
Kael looked over.
"Who is Mia?"
"My best friend."
"You have several?"
"No i don't. I do have two very close friends tho." Aiden explained "They've probably formed a search party by now."
He accepted the call.
The moment the screen lit up, three familiar faces filled it.
"There he is!" Mia exclaimed.
"We thought the haunted house finally got you," Liam said.
"I told them ghosts wouldn't want him," Chloe added. "They'd find him too annoying."
"I'm hanging up."
"No, you're not." Mia laughed
Aiden laughed with them "I've just been busy."
"So busy that you forgot we exist?" Liam said
"I said I was sorry."
Mia narrowed her eyes dramatically. "Who have you been spending all your time with?"
Before Aiden could answer, Kael walked into view carrying another travel bag.
He stopped when he noticed the phone.
"...Am I interrupting?"
Three mouths fell open on the screen.
Liam blinked twice. "...Who. Is.That."
Aiden suddenly felt oddly protective. "This is Kael." He said , jabbing at kael who stood awkwardly behind him with the bag still in his hand.
Kael gave a polite nod. "Good day."
Mia leaned so close to her camera that her face filled the screen.
"Aiden." She whisper yelled "...Why didn't you tell us your roommate looks like that?"
"He isn't my—"
"He has hair prettier than mine!" Chloe complained.
Liam pointed dramatically "I don't care what your relationship is, I support it."
"There is no relationship!"
"Yet," Mia corrected with a grin.
Aiden felt his ears growing warm.
Kael looked between Aiden and the phone. "What is happening? What are you red?"
"Nothing, dont mind them." Aiden rushed out
"Please mind us," Liam replied.
Mia smiled brightly at Kael. "It's lovely to meet you."
"The pleasure is mine." Kael replied with all his effortless charm.
"You have a beautiful smile." Chloe said with googly eyes
"Thank you." Kael smiled, basking in the attention
Aiden's eye twitched.
Chloe noticed immediately.
"...Oh."
Mia's grin slowly widened.
"Oh."
Liam gasped.
"Oh!"
"What?" Aiden asked a little too quickly.
"You like him." Mia exclaimed
"I do not." Aiden shouted, looking back frantically at a clueless Kael
"You absolutely do." Liam chimed in
"I don't." Aiden almost growled, giving his friend the stink eye
"You just got jealous." Chloe pointed out
"I did not get jealous." Aiden cried
"You interrupted Mia's compliment before she even finished it."
"I..."
Aiden stopped.
Had he?
Three smug smiles stared back at him through the screen.
Liam folded his arms "Our boy has a crush."
"I don't have a crush." Aiden weakly said
Mia laughed. "Aiden."
"What?" He hissed, dying of embarrassment.
"You've been smiling at him this entire call." Mia said.
Without thinking, Aiden looked toward Kael.
Kael looked back."What?"
"...Nothing." Aiden was sure his face is about to explode from how hot it felt.
Kael nodded once.
"If you say so." Kael smirked , then he casually picked up the bag he'd put down and carried it outside.
Liam waited until the front door closed "So..."
Aiden covered his face with one hand "...Don't." He groaned
The three of them burst into laughter.
"I hate all of you." He whined
"No," Mia said between laughs "You just hate that we're right."
Aiden let out a defeated sigh "...Maybe."
The laughter only grew louder.