Love Worth Pursuing Page 2

  “It should be dry in a half hour or so,” Euan said as he walked back in, drying his hand on his apron.

  “I guess I’m eating cake for half an hour,” Steve replied, chuckling. “How about you tell me more about Aberystwyth?”

  Sitting back down, Euan nodded. “Yeah, well the first thing is most of us just call it Aber, it rolls off the tongue better.”

  “Aber? Nice, I’ll add that,” Steve said, making a note on his document.

  “I’m guessing you didn’t do much, erm, local culture research before getting here?” Euan asked, beginning to spoon sugar into his coffee.

  Steve shook his head. “I like to look into maps, and history, and the likes. Make sure I’m safe, don’t get lost. But for my last two jobs I tried not to do too much reading. I don’t wanna come to a place with a load of preconceived ideas about what I will see, I want to feel it, and explore. I want to take my readers on an adventure, kind of. And then, well, the people who come to visit can check out more authentic places, see things that not everyone knows about. If I just made a list of places I found online and went to them, what would I be offering that they can’t find out for themselves? I wanna see them genuinely excited to use our travel guides, whether they are new here or have been several times before. I guess that makes me happy, makes me feel useful...” Steve trailed off. “Uh, sorry, I’m talking too much, aren’t I?”

  Euan laughed. “Not at all. I love how passionate you are about your work.”

  “You seem pretty passionate about yours too,” Steve replied.

  “Ugh, not at all,” Euan said, beginning to stir his coffee again as though to distract himself. “This isn’t really what I want to be doing. I’m a good baker, and I want my father to be happy. But it’s not my passion, like, at all.”

  “What is your passion, then?” Steve asked, noticing he was leaning in a little.

  “Art,” Euan said without a hint of hesitation. “I’m studying Art History. Or at least I was. I’ll get back to it as soon as I can, but for now I have to keep the bakery running.”

  “Man, if my father was making me put my life on pause to do his job for him, then I would be pissed,” Steve replied.

  Euan’s smile dropped and his brow furrowed. “It’s not like that. My mother’s ill, he has to look after her. And I’m happy to help them, even if it means taking a few years away from my passions.”

  Steve flinched a little. “Ouch, sorry, I didn’t mean to-”

  Euan smiled again, face flushed, as though he had suddenly remembered he was talking to a customer. “No, no, not at all. Just… it’s complicated. But I am doing what I want to be doing, at least for now.”

  “Would you be able to tell me a bit about the, um, art history of Aber?” Steve asked, racking his brains for a way to make the situation less awkward.

  Euan laughed. “That is not how art history works, really. But I guess I can tell you a bit more about the culture, artistically important places and galleries and stuff. Living here is probably what inspired me to study art in the first place. The town is just so… Picturesque. And alive. And diverse. It’s like I can feel the magic of it all, even though I’ve seen these places my whole life. It’s a beautiful place to live. Or, well, to visit as well.”

  “And that’s exactly what I want my readers to see and feel,” Steve said. “I want them to read my book, or our blog posts and pamphlets, and say ‘wow, this place sounds amazing, I have to check it out’.”

  “I’d like to be a part of that,” Euan said, fidgeting a little, a glimmer of excitement in his shining gray eyes. “So, what sort of a customer base does your company get? I’m guessing it’s more like, older folks, right? Not judging, but package tours don’t really sound right for our age group.”

  “You’d be surprised,” Steve replied, feeling both nervous and excited at a chance to test the waters with Euan. “A bit older, yeah, but all ages, usually averaging around their thirties. We cater specifically to the LGBT community, some of our stuff is for couples, some for singles, we like to sort of market to a range of queer folk.”

  Euan froze and smiled. “Well, maybe I’m even more useful, then,” he replied. “I’m… well I think I’m bi, but, like, mostly into men. I know what places are great for gay folk and what places aren’t so safe.”

  Steve’s heart was racing, but he tried to play it cool. “I guess even a nice little town like this has its dangers?”

  Euan nodded. “You’d be surprised at how tolerant Aber is, but yeah, nowhere is completely free of bigots, unfortunately. I’m guessing you’re gay?” Euan seemed a little nervous, as though he had wanted to ask, but wasn’t quite as certain as Steve had been. At the very least, Euan was emboldened by knowing Steve would at least be tolerant.

  “Yeah, about as gay as it gets,” Steve said, feeling his face flush, wondering if it was too soon to ask Euan out on a date.

  “And, uh, single?” Euan asked, a little more confident again.

  Their eyes met. Euan seemed almost expectant.

  “Yep, single,” Steve replied with a slight laugh. “I know it’s hard to tell, with me being such a catch.” He had intended for it to sound self-deprecating, but somehow it came out purely confident.

  Euan laughed back. “Wow, full of yourself much? I mean, you’re cute, but with that attitude, no wonder you’re single.”

  Steve nervously sipped his coffee.

  “Don’t worry,” Euan continued. “I’m sure I can teach you some manners. How long are you going to be here?”

  Steve nearly choked on the drink. He coughed a little to clear his throat. “Um, three weeks ideally, but as long as it takes to make this book work.”

  “Nice, so you have enough time for tomorrow’s date?” Euan asked before finishing his coffee and standing up.

  “Date?” Steve asked.

  “The one I just asked you on.”

  “I should be working,” Steve replied.

  Euan shrugged. “You can. I’ll show you around and tell you about Aber, you tell me about yourself and buy me lunch.”

  Steve was a little taken aback by Euan’s confidence, but he wasn’t about to complain. “Sure thing, what time should I stop by?”

  “Try for nine,” Euan said. “Now eat your cake, I’ve got ovens to check on.”

  Steve and Euan talked a little more that afternoon, but Euan was clearly focused on his work. Steve felt he should have focused on work too, but it was hard to do. Euan was beautiful. Just the way he went about his work, his strong arms carrying large trays and boxes full of goods for the shelves and displays, was enough to distract Steve. And that night, in his room, Steve just found himself thinking about the next day. He laughed a little when he realized he was struggling to sleep like it was his first date all over again.

  Chapter Three

  On his way to the bakery the next morning, Steve felt almost surreal. Sure, he’d done this before. Meet a cute guy, go on a date the next day. It happened. But it just felt too perfect this time. He had to keep reminding himself this was a quick holiday thing. Having some fun with a local guy as he worked. However cute and interesting Euan might be, this was not something to get too anxious about.

  Steve almost walked into the door when he pushed and it didn’t open. Peering through the glass, he couldn’t see anyone, but a light was on in the back. He looked around the door frame and found a buzzer, which he pressed.

  Euan peered out from the back of the bakery and waved a little before raising a single finger and mouthing “one minute”. He then vanished back into the room.

  A moment later, the light turned off, and a couple of minutes after that, Euan emerged from a nearly invisible alley one shop down, waving. Steve waved back and they walked towards one another. Euan looked good out of his work clothes. Dark jeans and a t-shirt that looked like they ought to be a loose fit, but lightly gripped his strong thighs and arms, showing them off. His hair looked even softer and fluffier out of the lighting of the bakery, and the wind
lifted and shook each tuft as though it were weightless. The light on his gray eyes made them seem even paler, like steel, and the sun on his face showed off his freckles even more. Steve was surprised that someone this lovely was interested in him.

  “So, you ready for a tour of Aber? Where do you want to begin?” Euan asked.

  “I thought this was a date?” Steve asked with a smile.

  “Well, bit of a date, bit of work, we can balance it,” Euan replied.

  “Where would you like me to begin, then? You know Aber best, so I trust you.”

  Euan paused, tapping his foot a little, thinking it over. “How about you have a look at the surrounding areas? Villages, B&Bs in the outskirts, touristy areas and stuff.”

  Steve nodded. “Sure thing, want to catch a cab, or-”

  “I can drive,” Euan replied. “It’s a van, but you know, it’s cheaper than paying by the minute or hiring a car.”

  “I actually hadn’t got around to hiring a car, so that would help,” Steve said.

  Euan nodded. “I can drive you around, then, come on.”

  And with that, Euan turned on his heel and began to walk down the street. Steve followed, a little surprised at the amount of energy Euan had. “Well, you seem to be a morning person,” Steve remarked.

  “I guess I am,” Euan said. “I get up early most days, and I have so much work to do. Today is almost a break, but my body still wants to get going.”

  As he finished, Euan extended his hand, and, without thinking, Steve slipped his own hand into it. Euan squeezed Steve’s hand. It felt good. It was nice to have someone to be with out there. Steve squeezed Euan’s hand back, admiring how big and strong it felt. Steve might have been taller, but Euan’s hand was impressively large compared to Steve’s. Steve felt almost like the cute little one next to this slightly shorter, yet robustly built young man.

  “There it is,” Euan said, pointing to the van. “Not quite a company car, but, um, there are snacks in the glove compartment?”

  Steve laughed. “It looks great.”

  The van was a pretty regular white delivery van, with the bakery logo on the side and a bit of mud on the bumpers. Two seats up front and no view into the back. Euan clicked his keys and the lights flashed. “Hop in,” he said. “I got to check the back really quick.”

  Steve moved to open the right-hand door.

  “Wrong door!” Euan shouted from behind the van.

  Steve looked in the window, remembering the wheel was on the opposite side in the UK. “Ah, yeah,” he mumbled, more to himself than to Euan. After considering how stressful he would find it to drive on the wrong side of a car, on the wrong side of the road, he was even more grateful for Euan’s offer. Besides, now he could actually look around and enjoy the drive, the scenery, take it all in.

  Steve climbed into the seat, finding it somewhat uncomfortable. A little too hard, a little too awkwardly shaped. He fidgeted a little until he felt more or less settled before taking his phone out and checking the time. Half nine already? The back of the van slammed shut and the whole vehicle rocked on its suspension. A moment later, Euan was in the driver seat.

  “So, I guess we could literally drive around the outer roads, let you get a feel?” Euan asked.

  Steve smiled and nodded. “That would work. I’ll snap some pictures too, maybe some will be useful.”

  “Just ask if you need me to stop,” Euan replied. “I’ll see what I can do.”

  “You are, like, way too considerate,” Steve said.

  “Well, I’m getting a date out of it, right? Plus, I get out the bakery for a bit.”

  Euan turned the key in the ignition and the engine sputtered before ticking over, a flush of hot air wafting through the ventilation and hitting Steve with a smell of warm dust.

  “What did your father think of it?” Steve asked, closing the vent.

  “I didn’t tell him. One day won’t hurt, and I don’t have much to do today anyway,” Euan replied, shrugging slightly. “No deliveries, no bulk baking, not really much point staying open and getting bored.”

  As they took off and drove out of the town, Steve was impressed once again by the Victorian appeal of the buildings. There was something so unique about British architecture. The exposed and age-worn brickwork in some parts, the narrow-fronted terrace houses lined up down most streets, and the uniformity of some areas, all put together, felt almost too picturesque to be true.

  “It must be nice to live here,” Steve remarked.

  “How come?” Euan asked.

  “I thought you still appreciated it all, even though you live here?”

  Euan nodded. “I do, but probably not the same way an American does.”

  “True. What I mean to say is, everything here is beautiful, almost like a picture book. In the States, at least the parts where I have lived or stayed, we don’t have anything that has this same sort of, I don’t know, I guess Victorian feel to it,” Steve explained.

  “I mean, when you consider that a lot of these houses were built out of convenience to cram as many people into the mines as possible. I think before the Victorian era though,” Euan replied.

  “Now you’re just ruining it,” Steve said.

  Euan laughed. “How come? I think it’s interesting to know the history behind places. Like, sure they are pretty, but they come from convenience and working-class suffering. But also, they are still pretty buildings and homes. Everything has a bad history somewhere, you just have to learn to appreciate things without forgetting where they came from.”

  Steve mulled this over. “It still feels a bit ruined.”

  “Well, I’m sorry these houses weren’t made by fairies with magic wands to bring in tourists. I guess some of them were kind of made for tourists though… Did you know Aber was a resort town for the Victorians? After the railway was put in everyone wanted to go to the seaside. It sort of changed the mining community aspect,” Euan explained.

  “What traumatic history are you gonna ruin that with?” Steve asked, half-jokingly, but also curious.

  Euan smiled. “Oh, everything can be ruined. Bunch of rich people building a railway through the countryside and swarming into town to have a holiday. What could possibly go wrong?”

  “I get the point,” Steve replied. “Say, how much of the old resort areas are still around?”

  “Quite a few, want to go see them next?” Euan asked.

  Steve fidgeted a bit awkwardly. “I kind of want to see them now,” he replied. He felt a bit bad for changing plans so suddenly, but he was feeling inspired now, and he needed to use that inspiration to fuel his work. He could hardly enjoy a drive around the countryside when he had a place he was looking forward to.

  “Fine, but we’re stopping at a cafe for lunch. I want a breakfast,” Euan said. “The old part of town literally starts one street down from the bakery, too.”

  Steve was starting to feel bad for asking. Euan was going out of his way to help, when he didn’t have to, and now Steve was being fickle about plans. This sort of change of pace was how Steve usually worked, but he usually did it alone, not with a friendly local he had dragged into it.

  As though reading Steve’s mind, Euan reached over, resting his hand on top of Steve’s hand lightly. “It’s OK, just a little change of plans. I’m enjoying spending time with you, you’re good to talk to.”

  “I’m not quite used to having this sort of company,” Steve explained. “But I enjoy it too.”

  “What, your company doesn’t send you out with any travel buddies?”

  “Well, this is literally my third job, and my first one out of country, so not yet-” Steve had been about to carry on, but as they turned the corner, he saw the harbor only a little way in the distance.

  It was almost a shock to the system. He knew Aberystwyth was a seaside town, and he thought he had known what to expect. And yet, it felt once again so strangely anachronistic, the rows of little cottages and terraced houses, the piled stone seawalls, the rows of b
oat masts lightly waving as the boats bobbed on the slightest waves. Past a fork in the road, he could see the sea, dark and moderately still, the gray clouds billowing into the horizon.

  Euan pulled into an empty parking space near the top of the road. “Wanna go for a walk, then?”

  Steve nodded.

  As they stepped out, the smell of sea salt and a strong wind invigorated Steve. He somehow felt ready for nearly anything. Euan slipped his hand into Steve’s and motioned towards the sea front. “Let’s go this way, it’s a nice view.”

  Steve felt a little flustered again, struggling to remind himself that he did still have work to do today. He reluctantly released his hand from Euan’s and took out his phone, taking a few snapshots of every angle, wondering if this could really capture the feeling of being there. Or maybe the feeling wasn’t so much about the location as it was about the confident, friendly young man who accompanied him.

  Chapter Four

  As they walked, to one side the sea gently lapped at the dark sliver of sand. To the other, the bright building fronts seemed out of place in the dreary weather. Steve kept his phone in one hand for pictures, his other hand firmly grasped by Euan. Up in the distance, Steve could see the castle that featured on almost every pamphlet he had seen at the B&B. It felt romantic in a strangely homely, rustic way. Like they were suddenly an older couple catching a breath of fresh air before returning home to their five cats.

  “It would be nice to live somewhere like this,” Steve remarked, taking a shot of a bright yellow building.

  “With all the tourists and students and fancy folks who think owning a motorboat makes them important? Fuck no,” Euan replied. “It’s got its charm, but I wouldn’t like to be here forever.”

  “Well, where would you like to live, ideally?” Steve asked.