Three months after a horribly rocky start, Holy Scrap was in the black and the two young scrappers back on track.
"We are going into town tonight, just us lads," Adam declared, "Time to celebrate our scrappin' success."
"Oh yeah? What's Victoria gonna think about this lads' night out?" Aaron shot back.
"She'll be all for it, mate. We'll just go to BarWest or summat. I won't be tempted and you'll pull some lucky lad. You're lucky she hasn't tried to set you up yet, 'cause she's thinkin' on it, believe me."
Aaron shuddered, "You better be runnin' interference for me!"
Adam laughed, "Course mate, but I can't hold her off forever."
Rolling his eyes, Aaron replied, "All right, all right, we can go. But we're telling Vic I pulled whether it's true or not."
"I got your back, mate. No worries." Adam grinned and walked out of the portacabin, Aaron following behind him.
Robert strolled into the Woolpack and went over to join his sister in the corner.
"Hey Vic, not workin' tonight?"
Vic shrugged, "Nah, tonight's my night off."
"And you're not spending it with Adam?" Robert feigned a look of shock. "Trouble in paradise?"
Laughing, Victoria replied, "We're fine, thank you very much. Him and Aaron are just off for a lads night, to celebrate how well the scrapyard's doing."
Robert raised an eyebrow, "Leaving you on your own? What if poor Adam gets tempted without you there to keep him in line?"
"Oh please, Aaron'll keep an eye on him for me. And besides, they're going to BarWest, so if he does get tempted I'll have more problems than just him cheating." Victoria grinned, looking rather pleased with herself.
With a smile plastered on his face, Robert forced a laugh. "Yeah, suppose so. I'm just gonna grab a pint."
As he approached the bar, the smile dropped from his face. He hadn't spoken to Aaron outside of business dealings in nearly three months, and even then Adam was the one who met with him most often. When Aaron had made his proclamation, "You won't be hearin' from me. Not anymore," Robert really hadn't thought it would last. But Aaron made good on his promise. No calls, no texts – hell, he tended to only see Aaron in passing, as Aaron ran past him on a jog or coming out of the café or the pub. Conversations between them were civil – it's not like Aaron seemed to actively avoid them, but they were shallow, like Robert was talking to Ashley or Bob. It bothered him more than he thought it would.
He was startled out of his reverie by Diane's voice. "What can I get you, love?"
"Pint please, Diane." As she turned to pull his pint, he hesitated, "Actually, Diane, nevermind that pint, I've got someplace I need to be."
Outside of BarWest, Robert hesitated again. He didn't want to think too much about why he was here, but he couldn't get the image of Aaron out of his head. He remembered the last time he came here with Aaron and how well that had turned out. But in the end, he couldn't help himself, he walked into the bar, got himself a pint, and settled in a corner to watch.
From his vantage point, Robert could see Aaron and Adam laughing with some guys around the pool table. He was surprised how comfortable Adam seemed, joking and laughing and shooting pool, considering his own reaction when Aaron had brought him here all those months ago. Adam didn't care one iota that he was in a gay bar, and seeing how he and Aaron shoved each other jokingly he couldn't help the jealousy that started to grow in the pit of his stomach.
Slumped down nursing his beer, his continued to watch as Aaron leaned closer to chat with one of the pool players while Adam took his turn. He was tall, with dark hair, and not bad looking, though he admitted that to himself extremely reluctantly. But when he saw the man sling an arm around Aaron's shoulders, the jealousy that had been simmering erupted, and he sat up straight as an arrow. He didn't want to attract attention to himself by barging over there, but it didn't matter. It was too late.
Aaron couldn't believe it he saw their next pool challengers. Adam must've called him or something, but Adam seemed just as surprised, calling out, "Flynn? Whoa mate, didn't think we'd see you here."
Aaron sent him a sharp look, checking for signs that Adam had set this up…again. But Adam was a crap liar, and he couldn't see any sign of deceit. Damn, this really was a coincidence.
Flynn laughed, "No kidding. It's been what? Three years? Give or take? How've you guys been?"
They talked while they played, catching up on life developments (a highly edited version, of course), and getting to know Flynn's boyfriend, who wasn't a half-bad pool player. Aaron was enjoying himself, and it had been such a long time since he and Adam had had a stress-free night out like this.
Flynn slung an arm around Aaron's shoulder so they could speak a bit more quietly amidst the noise of the crowded bar.
"Look, Aaron, it's really good to see you doing so much better. Last time we spoke, I know you had a lot of stuff you were dealing with."
Aaron sighed, "Yeah, sorry about that." Then he grinned and said a bit louder, gesturing over at Adam bent over the table for his shot, "Now I'm just dealing with this muppet, and he's way easier to manage."
Flynn and Aaron laughed at the glare Adam shot over his shoulder before sinking his ball in the corner pocket.
A sharp movement caught the corner of Adam's eye as he rose from his pool shot.
"Looks like you're gonna have to pull for real mate, or Vic's gonna know about it!"
Aaron turned to him, puzzled. "What are you talking about?"
Adam nodded over to the corner where Robert sat, staring hard at the pair of them. "Looks like Vic sent a spy to make sure you actually pulled."
"You've got to be kiddin' me." Aaron murmured, shaking his head in exasperation.
"What? You don't think she'd send someone to do her dirty work for her? 'Cause I definitely do! Robert would not have been my first choice of double agent, though. Oh bless him, he looks so uncomfortable!" Adam grinned hugely, waving at Robert to join them and raising his voice called, "Your cover's blown, mate! Might as well join us!"
For a second, Robert looked like he would refuse. But after a moment, he plastered on his suave grin and strode towards the group.
"Hiya lads, sorry for crashing your date."
"You know me and Aaron - open to all sorts, aren't we?" Adam laughed, nudging Aaron playfully with his elbow.
Blushing, Aaron pushed him back, "Shut up, you muppet."
"Oh – right. Robert, this is Flynn and David. Flynn and David, Robert. He's been sent by my girlfriend to keep an eye on us, haven't ya mate?"
Aaron watched as Robert stared at Adam for a second. "Mmhmm, she's a crafty one my sister."
Aaron's eyes narrowed. Robert was lying. He had his own agenda here, and Aaron was pretty sure he knew it was about him. Nothing else would get Robert in this bar, not even Victoria.
Choosing to focus on the good time he had been having, he turned back to Flynn and his boyfriend. "It's my round. Same again?" With their nods, and Adam's "Yeah, mate" he headed off to the bar. He wasn't the least bit surprised to find Robert at his back when he reached it.
Aaron sighed. "What do you want, Robert?"
"Another pint'll be fine."
"You know what I mean. What are you doing here?"
"You know why I'm here."
Aaron raised an eyebrow. "Do I? For your sake I hope not. If what I think is right, you'll be going home disappointed. Care to try again?"
Robert ran a hand through his hair. "Come on, Aaron! How long are you going to keep this up for?"
Aaron just looked at him, "Still married?" Robert was silent, staring moodily over Aaron's shoulder. "Then it looks like I'm done 'ere." He picked up the drinks and started to turn around, when Robert moved closer to him, pinning him at the bar.
"And what? You're just gonna go with that guy? Flynn, was it?"
"You know what Robert?! Whether I do or don't go with him is not your business! Sure, I might go back to his tonight. Or maybe I'll find someone else, the night is full of possibilities! But you get no say in what I do – not anymore!" With that, he shouldered past Robert, back to his friends.
He thought Robert had left, but ten minutes later, he came to stand by Adam as he waited for his turn on the table. Aaron and Flynn were chatting about Flynn's current projects, when Flynn said, "Look, your mate Robert… He's been staring daggers at us, well mostly me. What's up with him?"
Aaron glanced over and sure enough, Robert had his eye fixed on them. Sighing Aaron said, "I'll talk to him, don't worry about it."
Walking around the table, Aaron stepped up to where Robert leaned against a piller, Robert's eyes following him the whole way around. He hissed, "You want to stop acting like a jealous boyfriend? Even blathered, Adam's gonna catch you out. And stop staring at Flynn, you're making him nervous."
"Just doing my bit for Victoria."
"Come off it, you and I both know what this is really about. I bet Vic doesn't even know you're here, does she?" Robert's eyes shifted away, and Aaron knew he was right. Scoffing, he said, "Go home to your wife, Robert."
Robert stared at him a moment longer, before turning to the group and saying, "I'm off fellas, it was nice to meet you." With that he strode to the door, Adam slurring after him, "But how will you know if he pulled?"