Page 51 of Kiss Me Honey Hone

Aaron handed back a plastic bag packed with the lip balms. “Ten quid, mate. Cash or card?”

The bloke pulled a crumpled tenner from his pocket, holding it a moment too long before finally letting it go.

Aaron yanked the money free from his grip. “Weirdo,” he muttered once the man disappeared out the door.

Aaron couldn’t exactly talk. So he didn’t.

Instead, he fished out his phone, scrolling mindlessly through pages of glossy university brochures.

* * * *

By Friday, Kenny still hadn’t heard from Aaron.

He’d done everything to catch him that would feel natural, rather than barging into his Halls of Residence and demanding he talk to him. He’d even stood outside the gym where he knew the Pole Dancing Society held their sessions and he hadn’t been there. Kenny was becoming more worried as the days went passed. He knew his tempestuous nature. And having heard what had happened in the library from his pastoral tutor, he suspected Aaron was spiralling or preventing himself from doing so by closing himself off. Shutting down. Without his counselling sessions, Aaron had no outlet. He was a ticking time bomb.

So come Friday, he planned to accost him after his lecture and demand they go somewhere to talk everything through. And as he stalked into the lecture hall buzzing with the usual energy of returning students, the hum of conversation ebbing and flowing until Kenny stood at the front, he scanned the room, habitually seeking a particular blond head. Aaron’s usual seat,back row, remained empty though. Kenny frowned, but forced himself to focus on the task at hand and get through the hour.

By the time he wrapped up the lecture and fielded the last of the students’ questions, his mind was already elsewhere and, as the class dispersed, Kenny’s sharp eyes caught Melanie lingering at the back, laptop tucked under her arm.

“Melanie?” he called up to her before she could depart.

“Yes, Dr Lyons?”

“Can I see you for a minute?” He motioned for her to come to the front. She hesitated but eventually approached, her chunky boots clunking down the steps.

“Have I done something wrong?”

Kenny perched on the edge of the desk. “No, no. I just wondered if you’d seen Aaron? I understand the two of you are friends…” God, did he sound as ridiculous as he thought he did? Asobvious?

Mel’s expression shifted, brow furrowing slightly. “He’s not been feeling great.”

Kenny folded his arms. “How so?”

She shifted, glancing at the students filing out behind her before lowering her voice. “Um…just, not well, y’know?”

“It’s okay. You’re not getting him into trouble. It’s just he’s top tier in this class and I want to make sure he’s not falling behind.”

“Oh, I can take the notes to him.”

“Yes, thank you. That would be great.” He rubbed his forehead. “Is it viral? Does he need to see a doctor?”Oh, for absolute fuck’s sake. Really?A doctor?The second the words left his mouth, regret hit him like a brick.What doctor does he need? Me?

Yes, fucking me!

Mel bit her lip, the piercing grazing her teeth. “To be honest, he’s…getting over a heartbreak.”

Kenny’s stomach lurched. “Oh.”

“Yeah. He and his boyfriend broke up. Looks like it hit him harder than I thought it would. Honestly thought he didn’t give a shit about him.” Mel threw a hand up to her mouth with a gasp. “Sorry for swearing.”

“It’s okay.” Kenny inhaled sharply through his nose, forcing himself to remain composed. “Any idea when he might be up to coming back to class?”

“I think he just needs a bit of time. He does this sometimes. Sorta goes in on himself.”

Kenny nodded, He knew that more than anyone, though unease prickled him. “Thank you, Melanie. I’ll reach out to him.”

“Don’t tell him I told you.”

“Of course not.”

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