The Last Baker
Title: The Last Baker [14]
Author:![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif)
shorthorror
Pairing: Brian Haner & Zachary Baker
Rating: NC-17
Summary: This beautiful asshole just came around and started ruining everything for me. I was the last Baker, and I'd promised my father our name would not die with me.
Disclaimer: I am confident the readers can distinguish between what is real and what is fiction. I need not state the obvious.
Dedications: To my loyal readers, and the extraordinary people who have yet to be discovered.
0.5
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
I finally returned home after spending all of the morning and most of the afternoon at Brian's place. It was hard to leave after the extensiveness of our relationship was altered mere hours earlier that very day. Brian had asked me to be his. I wasn't quite sure what he meant by 'his', but I felt that it fell along the lines of a boyfriend and boyfriend relationship. It was all so very bizarre to me. Brian Haner, my boyfriend? As well as my employee. He also may as well have been my alter ego. The things he was making me do and say lately was beginning to frighten me to the point where I couldn't think of anything else but him, his evil little smirk. In a way it felt wrong, but he had made quite the valid point by telling me that I was teasing him.
In a strange way, it was true. Had I really been teasing him? Did he feel as though I were using him? In retrospect it did seem as though I was taking advantage of him, when I knew fully well that he wanted me. But as the events took place, I never suspected myself to be teasing him. I didn't like the way he'd been making me think, question my own motives and step backwards to look at the whole picture. Never had I needed to retrace my moves to figure out what I was doing wrong. I had always been right. It was only up until I met Brian that I began to realize, maybe I was just as human as everyone else. Just like he was.
When I returned home there were a few messages on my answering machine from calls I had missed. I promptly pressed the button and went about my living room putting things into their proper place. The cushions on the chaise were wrinkled and lopsided and I noticed dust was beginning to collect on the surfaces of the furniture. As a message from the Gold Lion hotel played, I ran into my kitchen and retrieved a wet cloth. The next message went on as I wiped down my cherry wood coffee table.
"Hi Zachary, it's me Greta. There was a severe hurricane warning in the Caribbean so I had to catch an early flight out before planes were down. So I'm back in Huntington Beach now and I'd love for you to call me so we can get together and perhaps go out for lunch. I miss you already and it hasn't even been a week. So call me back when you get my message."
I smiled at my answering machine. Hearing Greta's voice over the speaker made me relax and put down the cloth I was using so I could pick up the phone. Maybe a good long chat with Greta was all I needed to feel like me again. So I dialed her number and awaited her answer.
"Hello?" She answered.
"Hi Greta, it's me." I said, not able to stop the smile from forming over my lips.
"Oh hi Zack, I was just about to call you. You got my message?"
"Yeah, I just got in." I told her.
"My trip got cancelled. Well, cut off at least. It was storming very badly and there were a lot of hurricane warnings. We didn't want to get caught up in that."
"I guess not," I replied. "So what are you up to this afternoon?"
"Not a lot, I've finished unpacking all my things already." She said.
"Oh well do you want to go out for coffee or something?"
"Sure. What place did you have in mind?"
"Let's go to the Espresso place in the west end." I suggested.
"Okay. How about we meet there at four?"
I replied, grinning. "Sure thing. See you at four."
After I hung up the phone I continued cleaning up my living room and then jumped in the shower. The hot water was relieving and helped release the tension that Brian had put inside of me. My favorite scent of brown sugar and vanilla filled up my five person shower stall and helped ease me back into my Zen place, where everything flowed smoothly and I was the one that was in charge. Once I was finished I turned off the faucet, opened up the sliding glass door and emerged with the steam billowing out of the stall. The feeling of soft Egyptian cotton towels on my skin was another one of my personal pleasures. I started to feel a lot like myself again after I shaved and got dressed.
I had enough time to make it to the Espresso place a little early. I hopped into my car and sped off down the coastal highway with my window down and my music up, feeling completed with my sunglasses on. I then glanced over at my empty passenger seat and almost sighed. When Brian was sitting in that place with his window also down and his Dolce and Gabbana sunglasses placed delicately on the bridge of his nose, I felt connected with him. I knew we were both basking in the Californian glow that we had grown so accustomed to. Now that I was attempting this new serious relationship, I felt as though he should have been there with me in my car.
I made it to the cafe with fifteen minutes to spare, so I took the liberty of ordering a couple of soy lattes and some of their little Crème brûlées that we had last time I was there with Greta. As they were being made, I took a seat near the back of the cafe, but stayed noticeable for when Greta came in and tried to find me.
Surely enough, Greta wasn't too far behind me and came in only a few minutes after I had. She spotted me at the table and walked towards me. She was wearing a bright yellow dress with matching flip flops and her hair all done up in rhinestone chopsticks. She still looked significantly darker even though she had only spent a just few days on a tropical island. Greta looked so pretty for an older woman. She had the slightest of crow's feet and her laugh lines only served to make her even more pleasant looking. When she was close enough, I stood up and welcomed her with a tight hug.
"Hello," I cooed profoundly. "It's good to see you."
When she pulled away she smiled proudly at me, gripping my shoulders with her dainty hands. "You look so good Zack. You look brighter than usual."
I laughed a little. "I wonder why that is."
"Have you been keeping busy?" She asked as we sat down.
I wanted to say, 'If you mean gettin' busy, then yes.' But I knew I couldn't. "Yes I have."
"Well of course you have, you're Zachary Baker!" She exclaimed.
I forced a giggle before handing her one of the lattes I bought for us. "So how was the trip anyway?"
"Oh you know, white beaches, water clear like liquid glass and palm trees. It was just like California only hotter and you know... not California. But enough about that, you know about my trips. Tell me how things are going at the restaurant. How is Brian coming along?"
I rolled my eyes slightly. This was what I didn't want her to mention. But I knew I couldn't change the subject or she'd know something was up. Then she would pry it out of my mouth. Greta could read me like the simplest picture book.
"Things are fine. You know, same old. Nancy is doing a lot of administration and call answering."
Great cocked a well maintained eyebrow. "What about Brian?"
"Brian is alright." I said as I stirred the whipped cream in with my latte.
"What do you mean by alright?" She asked me with a tone of suspicion.
"I don't know. He's okay." I tried to say as nonchalant as possible.
"You're not telling me something." She said.
Fuck. I knew that she'd figure something was up. Even when I didn't try to make it known, she was able to sift right through me and find it herself.
"Maybe I don't want to say what it is." I said quietly.
Greta leaned back in her seat and crossed her arms. That knowing look was on her face. "Zack, you're like my son. What could have possibly happened that you can't tell me?"
"I can tell you, but you'll think I'm an idiot."
"I know you're not an idiot Zack Baker."
I sighed loudly. "If I tell you, promise you won't say anything to anybody else. No matter who it is."
Again, Greta gave me that look. I needn't even ask her to keep my secret when I knew that she would.
"Okay, you know the night of your party?" I asked, to which she nodded insistently.
"Well... something happened." I said, eyes wide.
Greta shook her head. "Like what? I can't read your mind Zachary."
I sighed in frustration. Admitting to her that I had sex with Brian was nerve wracking and a little embarrassing. There had never been any other instances where I'd hooked up with a guy before. I didn't know what she would say. I feared for her response.
"Me and Brian kinda..." I paused to sigh again. "We kind of had sex."
Greta stared at me with her mouth shut. I felt the crests of my cheeks redden and start to burn as her eyes looked me over.
"You had sex with Brian?"
I nodded, willing myself not to stare directly into her eyes, for fear that I might dissolve into my seat with shame. Greta thought I was an idiot. I shouldn't have even told her. I knew I should have kept it inside of me.
"Where?" She asked, to my surprise.
"Uh, umm... on the beach near my house."
Suddenly, Greta began to laugh. She shook her head slowly while giggling. I started to get confused. I didn't see the humor in that at all.
"For some reason that does not surprise me." She stated.
"What!?" I exclaimed.
"You've always been in love with yourself. And you and Brian are one of the same."
"Except he's not a clean freak OCD case with no friends."
Greta frowned. "You have friends Zack. Lots of people know you."
I waved my hand. "Whatever, that's not the point. The point is I royally fucked myself over. If my dad were alive he would punch my face in."
"He would do no such thing."
"He would!"
"What happened after? You have to tell me." Asked Greta, getting deeply curious about my revelation.
"Well, we're dating now, apparently."
Greta's mouth dropped. "Dating!?"
I nodded. Then a waitress came over and set down our Crème brûlées in front of us and set out two small spoons to eat them with. Once she smiled and was gone I looked back at Greta who was almost beside herself with my confessions. She looked more afflicted than I did, but in a way that was very different.
"You're dating? How did you start dating?" She earnestly requested answers.
"Well, I was at his house last night and-"
"You were at his house!?"
"Yes, and his housekeeper saw us in bed together."
She laughed at me after that. "So this is what you get yourself into when I'm gone?"
"Yes. I completely switch my sexuality and start dating my co-workers. It's really nothing to be proud or happy about."
Greta pressed a white paper napkin to her lips and stopped laughing. "So, are you in love with him?"
"In love?" I paled.
"Yes. Do you love Brian?"
That was the question I had been trying to keep from entering my thoughts since that first night on the beach with him. Though I couldn't get Brian out of my head, I imagined how much more fun it would be if he was with me, how sexy he looked with no clothes on and how when he asked me to be his, my heart was throwing over hurdles in my chest, I couldn't bring myself to say it.
"I... I don't know."
"Zack..." Greta grasped my forearm, peering at me with a look of concern. "Don't be afraid of it. Love can attack you anywhere, at any time. It's alright to be in love."
"But my promise to my father..."
"Zachary, I know you love and respect your father's words, but you can't let him get in the way of your life now. I'm sure if he were alive right now he would tell you to go along with this just like I am telling you right now. He may have wanted you to carry on the name, but he probably didn't know you were going to end up with another man." Greta told me.
"Because it wasn't supposed to happen." I said bitterly.
"You can't expect your life to go exactly as planned. Life is spontaneous and unpredictable. You have to learn to go with what it gives you, or you'll become... a basket case for Christ's sake! Zack!" She practically cried. "Don't deny yourself something that you want. You never have before in your life. You're a Baker. Take what you want. You will thank yourself in the end."
I had to laugh at least a little bit. "What a valiant speech, Gret."
"Listen to me Zachary, I'm saying this because I want you to have a full and happy life," Greta claimed. "If you love Brian, don't be ashamed of it."
"What about work?" I inquired.
"Need you even ask? When you're working, you remain professional and set a good example. Maybe... everyone at Milan Verde doesn't have to know?"
I nodded in total agreement. Greta always had ways to help everything make sense to me. I ate a spoonful of the baked vanilla custard and pondered as I tasted the faint flavoring of cinnamon liqueur.
This was a turning point in my life. Do I let it all go and give my romance with Brian and chance to bud and to flourish into something potentially beautiful? Or do I stick with my instincts and keep our discretions exactly how they were? I knew I had some serious talking to do with Brian if I was going to take the winding path that everybody seemed to want me to go down. I was standing at crossroads, and both paths were unforeseeable, dark and mysterious.
This felt like a shot in the dark. I hadn't the slightest hunch as to where I was going to go from there. I was just going to lie back with my eyes shut and hope this current didn't lead to disaster.
Author:
shorthorrorPairing: Brian Haner & Zachary Baker
Rating: NC-17
Summary: This beautiful asshole just came around and started ruining everything for me. I was the last Baker, and I'd promised my father our name would not die with me.
Disclaimer: I am confident the readers can distinguish between what is real and what is fiction. I need not state the obvious.
Dedications: To my loyal readers, and the extraordinary people who have yet to be discovered.
0.5
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
I finally returned home after spending all of the morning and most of the afternoon at Brian's place. It was hard to leave after the extensiveness of our relationship was altered mere hours earlier that very day. Brian had asked me to be his. I wasn't quite sure what he meant by 'his', but I felt that it fell along the lines of a boyfriend and boyfriend relationship. It was all so very bizarre to me. Brian Haner, my boyfriend? As well as my employee. He also may as well have been my alter ego. The things he was making me do and say lately was beginning to frighten me to the point where I couldn't think of anything else but him, his evil little smirk. In a way it felt wrong, but he had made quite the valid point by telling me that I was teasing him.
In a strange way, it was true. Had I really been teasing him? Did he feel as though I were using him? In retrospect it did seem as though I was taking advantage of him, when I knew fully well that he wanted me. But as the events took place, I never suspected myself to be teasing him. I didn't like the way he'd been making me think, question my own motives and step backwards to look at the whole picture. Never had I needed to retrace my moves to figure out what I was doing wrong. I had always been right. It was only up until I met Brian that I began to realize, maybe I was just as human as everyone else. Just like he was.
When I returned home there were a few messages on my answering machine from calls I had missed. I promptly pressed the button and went about my living room putting things into their proper place. The cushions on the chaise were wrinkled and lopsided and I noticed dust was beginning to collect on the surfaces of the furniture. As a message from the Gold Lion hotel played, I ran into my kitchen and retrieved a wet cloth. The next message went on as I wiped down my cherry wood coffee table.
"Hi Zachary, it's me Greta. There was a severe hurricane warning in the Caribbean so I had to catch an early flight out before planes were down. So I'm back in Huntington Beach now and I'd love for you to call me so we can get together and perhaps go out for lunch. I miss you already and it hasn't even been a week. So call me back when you get my message."
I smiled at my answering machine. Hearing Greta's voice over the speaker made me relax and put down the cloth I was using so I could pick up the phone. Maybe a good long chat with Greta was all I needed to feel like me again. So I dialed her number and awaited her answer.
"Hello?" She answered.
"Hi Greta, it's me." I said, not able to stop the smile from forming over my lips.
"Oh hi Zack, I was just about to call you. You got my message?"
"Yeah, I just got in." I told her.
"My trip got cancelled. Well, cut off at least. It was storming very badly and there were a lot of hurricane warnings. We didn't want to get caught up in that."
"I guess not," I replied. "So what are you up to this afternoon?"
"Not a lot, I've finished unpacking all my things already." She said.
"Oh well do you want to go out for coffee or something?"
"Sure. What place did you have in mind?"
"Let's go to the Espresso place in the west end." I suggested.
"Okay. How about we meet there at four?"
I replied, grinning. "Sure thing. See you at four."
After I hung up the phone I continued cleaning up my living room and then jumped in the shower. The hot water was relieving and helped release the tension that Brian had put inside of me. My favorite scent of brown sugar and vanilla filled up my five person shower stall and helped ease me back into my Zen place, where everything flowed smoothly and I was the one that was in charge. Once I was finished I turned off the faucet, opened up the sliding glass door and emerged with the steam billowing out of the stall. The feeling of soft Egyptian cotton towels on my skin was another one of my personal pleasures. I started to feel a lot like myself again after I shaved and got dressed.
I had enough time to make it to the Espresso place a little early. I hopped into my car and sped off down the coastal highway with my window down and my music up, feeling completed with my sunglasses on. I then glanced over at my empty passenger seat and almost sighed. When Brian was sitting in that place with his window also down and his Dolce and Gabbana sunglasses placed delicately on the bridge of his nose, I felt connected with him. I knew we were both basking in the Californian glow that we had grown so accustomed to. Now that I was attempting this new serious relationship, I felt as though he should have been there with me in my car.
I made it to the cafe with fifteen minutes to spare, so I took the liberty of ordering a couple of soy lattes and some of their little Crème brûlées that we had last time I was there with Greta. As they were being made, I took a seat near the back of the cafe, but stayed noticeable for when Greta came in and tried to find me.
Surely enough, Greta wasn't too far behind me and came in only a few minutes after I had. She spotted me at the table and walked towards me. She was wearing a bright yellow dress with matching flip flops and her hair all done up in rhinestone chopsticks. She still looked significantly darker even though she had only spent a just few days on a tropical island. Greta looked so pretty for an older woman. She had the slightest of crow's feet and her laugh lines only served to make her even more pleasant looking. When she was close enough, I stood up and welcomed her with a tight hug.
"Hello," I cooed profoundly. "It's good to see you."
When she pulled away she smiled proudly at me, gripping my shoulders with her dainty hands. "You look so good Zack. You look brighter than usual."
I laughed a little. "I wonder why that is."
"Have you been keeping busy?" She asked as we sat down.
I wanted to say, 'If you mean gettin' busy, then yes.' But I knew I couldn't. "Yes I have."
"Well of course you have, you're Zachary Baker!" She exclaimed.
I forced a giggle before handing her one of the lattes I bought for us. "So how was the trip anyway?"
"Oh you know, white beaches, water clear like liquid glass and palm trees. It was just like California only hotter and you know... not California. But enough about that, you know about my trips. Tell me how things are going at the restaurant. How is Brian coming along?"
I rolled my eyes slightly. This was what I didn't want her to mention. But I knew I couldn't change the subject or she'd know something was up. Then she would pry it out of my mouth. Greta could read me like the simplest picture book.
"Things are fine. You know, same old. Nancy is doing a lot of administration and call answering."
Great cocked a well maintained eyebrow. "What about Brian?"
"Brian is alright." I said as I stirred the whipped cream in with my latte.
"What do you mean by alright?" She asked me with a tone of suspicion.
"I don't know. He's okay." I tried to say as nonchalant as possible.
"You're not telling me something." She said.
Fuck. I knew that she'd figure something was up. Even when I didn't try to make it known, she was able to sift right through me and find it herself.
"Maybe I don't want to say what it is." I said quietly.
Greta leaned back in her seat and crossed her arms. That knowing look was on her face. "Zack, you're like my son. What could have possibly happened that you can't tell me?"
"I can tell you, but you'll think I'm an idiot."
"I know you're not an idiot Zack Baker."
I sighed loudly. "If I tell you, promise you won't say anything to anybody else. No matter who it is."
Again, Greta gave me that look. I needn't even ask her to keep my secret when I knew that she would.
"Okay, you know the night of your party?" I asked, to which she nodded insistently.
"Well... something happened." I said, eyes wide.
Greta shook her head. "Like what? I can't read your mind Zachary."
I sighed in frustration. Admitting to her that I had sex with Brian was nerve wracking and a little embarrassing. There had never been any other instances where I'd hooked up with a guy before. I didn't know what she would say. I feared for her response.
"Me and Brian kinda..." I paused to sigh again. "We kind of had sex."
Greta stared at me with her mouth shut. I felt the crests of my cheeks redden and start to burn as her eyes looked me over.
"You had sex with Brian?"
I nodded, willing myself not to stare directly into her eyes, for fear that I might dissolve into my seat with shame. Greta thought I was an idiot. I shouldn't have even told her. I knew I should have kept it inside of me.
"Where?" She asked, to my surprise.
"Uh, umm... on the beach near my house."
Suddenly, Greta began to laugh. She shook her head slowly while giggling. I started to get confused. I didn't see the humor in that at all.
"For some reason that does not surprise me." She stated.
"What!?" I exclaimed.
"You've always been in love with yourself. And you and Brian are one of the same."
"Except he's not a clean freak OCD case with no friends."
Greta frowned. "You have friends Zack. Lots of people know you."
I waved my hand. "Whatever, that's not the point. The point is I royally fucked myself over. If my dad were alive he would punch my face in."
"He would do no such thing."
"He would!"
"What happened after? You have to tell me." Asked Greta, getting deeply curious about my revelation.
"Well, we're dating now, apparently."
Greta's mouth dropped. "Dating!?"
I nodded. Then a waitress came over and set down our Crème brûlées in front of us and set out two small spoons to eat them with. Once she smiled and was gone I looked back at Greta who was almost beside herself with my confessions. She looked more afflicted than I did, but in a way that was very different.
"You're dating? How did you start dating?" She earnestly requested answers.
"Well, I was at his house last night and-"
"You were at his house!?"
"Yes, and his housekeeper saw us in bed together."
She laughed at me after that. "So this is what you get yourself into when I'm gone?"
"Yes. I completely switch my sexuality and start dating my co-workers. It's really nothing to be proud or happy about."
Greta pressed a white paper napkin to her lips and stopped laughing. "So, are you in love with him?"
"In love?" I paled.
"Yes. Do you love Brian?"
That was the question I had been trying to keep from entering my thoughts since that first night on the beach with him. Though I couldn't get Brian out of my head, I imagined how much more fun it would be if he was with me, how sexy he looked with no clothes on and how when he asked me to be his, my heart was throwing over hurdles in my chest, I couldn't bring myself to say it.
"I... I don't know."
"Zack..." Greta grasped my forearm, peering at me with a look of concern. "Don't be afraid of it. Love can attack you anywhere, at any time. It's alright to be in love."
"But my promise to my father..."
"Zachary, I know you love and respect your father's words, but you can't let him get in the way of your life now. I'm sure if he were alive right now he would tell you to go along with this just like I am telling you right now. He may have wanted you to carry on the name, but he probably didn't know you were going to end up with another man." Greta told me.
"Because it wasn't supposed to happen." I said bitterly.
"You can't expect your life to go exactly as planned. Life is spontaneous and unpredictable. You have to learn to go with what it gives you, or you'll become... a basket case for Christ's sake! Zack!" She practically cried. "Don't deny yourself something that you want. You never have before in your life. You're a Baker. Take what you want. You will thank yourself in the end."
I had to laugh at least a little bit. "What a valiant speech, Gret."
"Listen to me Zachary, I'm saying this because I want you to have a full and happy life," Greta claimed. "If you love Brian, don't be ashamed of it."
"What about work?" I inquired.
"Need you even ask? When you're working, you remain professional and set a good example. Maybe... everyone at Milan Verde doesn't have to know?"
I nodded in total agreement. Greta always had ways to help everything make sense to me. I ate a spoonful of the baked vanilla custard and pondered as I tasted the faint flavoring of cinnamon liqueur.
This was a turning point in my life. Do I let it all go and give my romance with Brian and chance to bud and to flourish into something potentially beautiful? Or do I stick with my instincts and keep our discretions exactly how they were? I knew I had some serious talking to do with Brian if I was going to take the winding path that everybody seemed to want me to go down. I was standing at crossroads, and both paths were unforeseeable, dark and mysterious.
This felt like a shot in the dark. I hadn't the slightest hunch as to where I was going to go from there. I was just going to lie back with my eyes shut and hope this current didn't lead to disaster.
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