Page 36 of Just a Footnote

Aiden swallows around a lump in his throat. Does Liam know? No, surely he doesn’t know. Archer doesn’t tell people about their childhood or about their mother. Just like Aiden doesn’t tell people. But it feels odd to him that this painter would draw something that makes Aiden’s heart feel two sizes too big for his chest.

“How do you know so much about art?” Aiden asks insteadof giving into the emotions warring inside of him. Instead, finding it easier to focus on Liam.

“My mother, she loved art,” Liam explains, a hint of wistfulness in his voice. “She used to bring me here and to all the other museums in Georgia. And when my dad played in a city with a good art museum, we always went. Those are some of my favorite memories.”

“What happened to her?”

Liam’s jaw tightens. “She died when I was a kid.”

“I’m sorry.” Aiden finds that he really means it. He is sorry. Liam is too sweet for that kind of loss.

Liam smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. Those crinkle lines at the corner of his eyes don’t appear, and for some reason it feels like a punch to Aiden’s gut. “It’s alright, you didn’t know.”

“I’m hungry. Lunch?”

Liam nods tightly before leading them out of the museum. The bright sunshine of early April greets them as they walk towards the car. Aiden runs a shaky hand through his hair, feeling a little off balance, maybe even shaken.

“If you knew so much already about the museum, why did you need to come for your class?” Aiden asks as he buckles his seatbelt.

“Had to buy a ticket to prove that I went to the museum. I already wrote my paper a few weeks ago though.”

Liam’s admission shouldn’t make him feel the way it does. Somewhere between happy and irritated. Happy Liam brought him along, irritated he allowed himself to go. Liam pulls up outside a sandwich place not far from the museum. Only a few people sit scattered around the homey restaurant. Brick walls and plants fill the space. It’s hipster, the type of place Aiden usually avoids, but Liam seems to like it so he doesn’t complain.A hostess shows them to a two seat table top at the back of the small restaurant.

“I’ve never been here,” Aiden says, looking down at the menu.

“It’s good. Miles likes their Thanksgiving day sandwich.”

Well, Aiden won’t be getting that then. Aiden orders the turkey club while Liam orders something vegan.

“I didn’t know you were vegan,” Aiden observes, confused. “You just ate pizza with all of us.”

Liam waves his hand dismissively. “It’s new. A lot of athletes swear by it.”

“So it’s for performance issues, not to save the earth?”

Liam flushes bright red and furiously asks, “Did you really just say performance issues?”

“So it’s to save the earth then?” Aiden teases.

Liam lets out a long suffering sigh, but a smile curves the edges of his lips. Aiden likes it. A lot. “Half and half, okay? I have more energy not eating meat. Which, I’m sure you’ll take full advantage of.”

Aiden likes the flush that stays on Liam’s cheeks while they eat their lunch. The waitress flirts mercilessly with Liam but he doesn’t seem to notice at all. He just smiles at her like he does everyone else.

“She’s flirting with you,” Aiden points out, taking a bite out of his sandwich to avoid grinding his teeth.

“Oh?” Liam tilts his head, considering her. “I hadn’t noticed.”

“No one is that oblivious. She’s hot. You should get her number.”

Liam studies him carefully for a few moments before shaking his head. “No, I’d rather not.”

Aiden wants to argue but he doesn’t. Instead they eat the rest of their lunch in silence. It’s not stifling, it’s nice, comfortableeven. Liam pays for their meal and frowns down at the receipt as they walk out into the afternoon.

“You were right,” Liam says, sounding oddly forlorn. “She gave me her number.”

Aiden claps Liam on the back. “You should call her.”

Liam stares at Aiden, a confused look on his face, as they climb into the car. It’s pretty clear to Aiden. When a hot girl gives you her number, you call her.

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