Word Count: 525
Liam Gordon first met Aidan Costello while browsing the middle aisle of their local Aldi. They both reached for the last inflatable giant hammer. Neither needed an inflatable giant hammer.
“Do you, ah, maybe, want to grab a drink?” Liam said as he brushed his fingers nervously through his dark hair. Aidan barked a surprised laugh, and Liam quickly backtracked. “Ah, I mean, eh,” he laughed, “I was only joking. Of course, you don’t want to go for a drink. You don’t even know me. I could be a serial killer.” He laughed again. “I don’t know why I said that. I’m not a serial killer. I mean, unless you’re… into that type of thing? God, why did I say that? Jesus, I’m not a killer, and I don’t want to be.” Under his breath, he whispered, “idiot,” then louder, “Look, I’m sorry. I’m just going to go before I embarrass myself even more.”
Aidan’s grin grew wider and wider as Liam talked himself in circles. He held out his hand. “Hi. I’m Aidan, but my friends call me Danny.”
“Liam,” Liam said as he gripped his hand, “but everyone calls me Gordo.” His hand was warm and dry, a contrast to Liam’s own disgustingly sweaty and clammy palm. “Jesus, sorry,” he said as he wiped his hands on the side of his trousers.
“So, Gordo, about that drink… It’s only 11 am, but I could sure go for a cuppa. Would you like to join me?”
“Thanks. I mean, yeah. Yeah, I would. Danny. Thanks.”
Liam was a goner. Their tea date went much more smoothly, and in the space of a few days, he already couldn’t imagine his life without Aidan in it. He fell hard and fast. Everything shifted, reframed around Aidan. His favourite food became a thing to share with Aidan. A terrible movie became a source of in-jokes, as they found more and more outlandish ways to make the film make sense. The place Liam usually went to be alone and recharge became their place.
So the day Aidan said it wasn’t working for him anymore and that he was seeing someone else was the day Liam’s whole world came crashing down around him.
“Don’t say goodbye,” Liam said, “just lie to me one last time.” He leaned in to kiss Aidan on the mouth, but Aidan turned away at the last moment. “Come on, Danny, baby, don’t do this to me.”
“I’m sorry, Gordo… Liam, this isn’t what I want anymore.”
“And what about what I want?”
He sighed. “Liam,” he said flatly, “don’t do that.”
“Don’t do what? I don’t care that you’re seeing someone else, I don’t. I can look the other way, I swear. You can have them, I don’t mind, just so long as you have me too.”
“Desperation isn’t a good look on you, Liam.”
“Don’t call me Liam, I’m Gordo, your Gordo.”
“It’s over. I’m leaving. And I’m taking this with me.” He turned and walked out of the room, snagging the inflatable hammer, their inflatable hammer. It made a little squeak when he knocked it against the doorjamb as he passed.
The sound faded away to nothing.
Header image created with AI assistance.
