A couple of notes:
This is a prequel to Bittersweet Irish Cream but it's not their story, it's Connor's. It takes place a little over a year before Ethan comes to town. Jack does show up in the first part.
This is a sequel to Surprise Date but you do not have to read it unless you want the backstory of them. This is a stand alone story.
Connor is a bisexual male but this is an MF story, Connor and Afia.
It's a slow burn. Sex doesn't really happen until the end.
-KK
~~~
(Circa December 2006)
Two weeks before Christmas Afia heard the chime of the door but was busy counting pills to pay attention to the next customer. "One second," she called out.
"Afia."
His voice made her heart leap. She looked up and saw her best friend, his blond hair in a buzz cut, covered in a camouflage jacket and pants, brown boots and holding a black duffle bag, a soft smile on his face.
"Connor!" she shrieked. If she could have she would have jumped over the long counter to get to him, but instead she ran around and jumped in his arms, and he instinctively dropped his bag and caught her.
Connor breathed a sigh of relief. Just like last time, Afia's face was the only face he was eager to see. He held onto her tightly as she wrapped her arms and legs around him, her small frame being swallowed by his. He felt her breathe into his neck and take in his scent, and he found himself doing the same to her hair. Time should have stopped right then and there so he could hold onto her forever, but eventually she slipped her legs down and he gently let her go.
Afia held onto him and caressed his face. "You're home," she said softly.
He smiled back. "Yeah, I'm home, for good."
While his smile was bright it did not reach his eyes and she noticed. They were clouded and a bit hooded, like he had been holding back for a long time. "You didn't write me back so I didn't know when you were coming home," she said.
He shrugged. "Sorry about that. I just needed to concentrate on finishing some things up and as soon as it was done I just got on the next plane." He smiled at her again. "It's so good to see you, Lovie."
She wanted to ask if he was okay but she knew the answer. After what he had just been through no one would be okay. Instead she lifted up on her toes, kissed his lips softly and said quietly, "I'm so, so sorry Connor."
His smile faded and his eyes instantly began to glisten. He did a small intake of breath and let it out slowly. "I gotta go. My mom is in the car, she just picked me up from the airport and they're having some kinda family dinner. You want to come?"
Afia remembered she was at work and looked back to see her father watching her intently. She turned back to him. "I can't leave yet, my shift is over at 3pm. But I can stop by later?"
"Yeah, let's plan it. I'll call you when the coast is clear."
"Okay." He gave her another smile. "I missed you."
"Not more than I missed you," she replied. He gave her a genuine wide smile and then kissed her cheek.
He looked up as Mr. Williamson and Amara, Afia's older sister, came around to shake his hand. "Corporal McIntyre, it's good to see you, son," her father said. "Good to have you home. And thank you for your service."
Connor shook his hand and said, "It was an honor, sir."
Amara hugged him tightly. "You look good, Connor. Don't be a stranger, okay? Come over for dinner when you can."
"Oh well, you know I'm not going to say no to that," Connor said a bit smugly, showing a glimpse of his regular self. He turned to give Afia another hug. "I'll call you, okay?"
"Okay," she said. He kissed her cheek again and headed out of the Williamson Family Pharmacy, with one last glance back at his best friend and smiled. She smiled back before he closed the door.
"Afia," her father began to lecture her, but she cut him off.
"I know, Dad. I know. But... Connor needs his friends right now. He needs me. And I'm going to be there for him regardless of how his father feels about it."
He was about to say more but Amara put her hand on their father's shoulder. "It will be okay, Dad. We know Connor won't let anything happen to her, even from his own family members. I trust him. You should too," she said.
Afia was grateful for her oldest sister's support. Her father was not as confident but he let it go for now. He turned around and went back to work. Amara followed, leaving Afia to stand in the middle of the pharmacy by herself. She dug into the pocket of her white coat and took out her cell phone, calling the other person she knew Connor needed.
"Jack? Connor just got back. He's home for good."
~~~
Connor hid in his room after all the guests had left. He was grateful to be alone in his thoughts but also scared of himself, of what he might do. He rubbed the wrist band tattoo on his right wrist with the letters VB hanging off the inside of it, mostly to remind himself that he was past the hump, and just needed to move forward. It wasn't a smooth rub anymore, now there was a scar just above it, straight across the wrist line.
He rubbed the tattoo monotonously and tried to clear his mind. About an hour later he heard the doorbell ring.
Mary Kate, Connor's 18 year old sister answered the door. "Hello?"
"Hi, Mary Kate. I just came by to see Connor," Afia said.
"And who should I say is here for him?" she asked.
Afia's eyes narrowed at her. "Afia," she said trying to control the edge in her voice. Of course the girl knew who she was, but why give her the satisfaction of acknowledgment?
The girl blinked at her as Connor came down the stairs. "Move, MK." he told his sister.
She rolled her eyes at her brother but floated toward the living room. Connor reached over and gave Afia a hug on top of her three quarter length bubble jacket with a fuzzy winter hat and gloves to match. "I said I was going to call you," he said.
"And I knew you weren't. So grab your coat and let's take a walk."
"It's like five degrees outside. Why don't you come in?" he asked.
She shook her head. "Nope. Come take a walk with me."
He sighed but grabbed his boots, his double insulated camouflage jacket, hat and gloves and headed out with her. They walked down his block in comfortable silence, words not always needed between them. She broke the silence when they were a couple minutes into their walk.
"So how was it? First day back is probably overwhelming."
"Well, the house was full of my aunts, uncles, cousins and my dad's Lodge buddies so that was fun," he said sarcastically. "I had to put on a face and play 'The Good Son' for them for a good two hours before they started heading out."
"That sounds like a nightmare."
