Page 34 of Dream a Little Dream

Aaron met Kenny’s gaze and once again, the world made little sense. Because there was a tiny, miniscule smidgen of a foreign concept that Drew had alluded to earlier called ‘remorse’at the way Kenny looked at him right then. As though he wasdisappointed.

But Aaron was Aaron and over his shoulder threw out the comeback flavoured with all the sass built over years and years of defending himself. “Sounds like a him problem. Shouldn’t stand too close.”

“What’s the suggestion?” Kenny asked the counsellor, ignoring Aaron’s smirk.

“He comes to see me once a week until we feel he’s ready to navigate the transition.”

Aaron rolled his eyes.

“Fine,” Kenny said. “Make sure the sessions don’t clash with his classes.”

“Of course.”

Kenny angled his head and Aaron, like the obedient dog on a lead he was, followed him down the corridor, out of the bustling student centre, and trundled down concrete steps into the wide expanse of the campus. The autumnal breeze a welcome coolness to his hot cheeks.

“You okay?” Kenny asked, stalling at the bottom of the steps.

Aaron shrugged.

Kenny bit his bottom lip. “You want to talk about it?”

“I just did. And I get to talk about it every week from here on in. It’ll be like reliving it.” He rubbed his hands together in glee.

“Let’s get a coffee.”

“What?”

“A coffee. I need one. Let’s get one.” He angled his head for Aaron to follow him.

“I don’t like coffee.”

“Then you can watch me drink it.”

Aaron hitched his thumb at the student centre behind him, inside which housed the large cafeteria. “They sell coffee in there.”

“Not there.” Off Kenny sauntered, an effortless grace in his movements, slow and deliberate, almost teasing.

Aaron traced the contours of his sculpted arse framed by snug fit chinos, paired with a shirt and jumper combo. His hair left loose, caught in the breeze, strands lifting and floating like the rustling leaves on the trees wafting the faintest scent of a crisp autumn day, Kenny could grace the glossy pages of the university prospectus. God, it was depressing.

How was ithim? This professor? This stuffyacademic? How was ithimmaking Aaron feel things? Dr Kenneth Lyons was poison. He’d known that years ago. He’d ruined his entire life. And now he was here, messing with his mind and making him think things. He’d never thought it possible to have feelings for another person, and when he had, on occasion, wondered what sort of bloke he might end up with, it wasn’t this guy. Yet here he was, chasing his tail, following him to go get a coffee, which hedetested.

Aaron caught up to him, Kenny weaving along the winding footpath snaking through the heart of the campus. His pace never faltered, almost hurried, passing under archways and beside glass-fronted lecture halls. The paths connected one faculty building to the next, forming a labyrinth of walkways and feeling increasingly detached from the bustling student centre they’d left behind.

Then, Kenny stopped at a quieter part of campus, tucked away toward the back where the Art Department resided. The air seemed different here, hushed, as if the noise of the campus couldn’t quite penetrate the secluded corner. Kenny obviously wanted privacy to have his coffee. And he bundled up to a wooden deck, rustic charm softened by the low hum of conversation from a handful of students scattered on benches outside.

“Sure you don’t want one?” Kenny angled his head to the hole in the wall serving coffees and pastries. “It’s good.”

“Tea. Milk. Two sugars.” He dumped his bag on a vacant wooden picnic bench and let Kenny order.

He came back with two takeout cups, raining sugar sachets and wooden sticks onto the table, then straddled the bench seat opposite him and sat. Neither said anything as they peeled the tops of their drinks and added sugars, stirring. Then Kenny tooka sip, watching him, sipping on whatever coffee got him through the day. Aaron wrapped his hands around his tea, waiting.

“What happened?” Kenny eventually asked.

“Smacked a prick in the face with a cupboard door.”

“Why?”

“Because it felt good.”

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