“So you didn’t always want to run a cafe? Or you regret getting into the hospitality business?” Bailey had thought Tom seemed so passionate about Take Two—tired and overworked but loving it regardless. At least that’s how it appeared when he observed Tom interacting with his customers.
Tom’s leaned forward, forearms on his thighs as he answered. “Ilovewhat I do now. It’s what I didbeforeopening the cafe that I regret. Too many wasted years.” Tom’s eyes clouded before he blinked and smiled. “What about you? Did you try to become a physiotherapist?”
Bailey shook his head. It was something he was never going to achieve. “I couldn’t afford it. Plus the more I thought about it, physio was more Stuart’s dream than mine.”
“What did you want to do?”
“I liked the idea of teaching.”Shame no one else shared my dream.He pushed aside those thoughts. It was a long time ago now.
“It’s not too late. You could try going to university now or a bit later as a mature age student.”
“Maybe.”There’s no way that will happen. Would I even want to go back to studying? To be a teacher?
Tom held his gaze again with those big brown eyes. He spoke with so much sincerity. “It’s not too late to do anything you want to do, Bailey. You should follow your heart. Don’t let a career that isn’t right for you suck you dry.”
“Voice of experience?”
“Maybe.” Tom’s word echoed Bailey’s.Maybe. Tom straightened. “Anyway, I should probably head out soon, given you’ve got an early shift tomorrow.”
Bailey laughed. “So do you. Don’t you have to open at sparrows?” He looked at his watch. “It’s only ten. How about a coffee for the road?”
Tom followed him to the kitchen and together they made coffee. They returned to the couch and conversation turned to lighter topics. Bailey was disappointed when, despite sipping slowly, he could see the bottom of his mug. He didn’t want the evening to end.
“Are you free to go to the movies this week?” Tom asked as he put down his empty mug. “I’d love to see you again.”
Bailey’s regret at being busy for the rest of the week was tempered by the thought that Tom wanted to spend time with him. He also liked that Tom was upfront about asking him out, not holding back like Bailey himself would most likely do, too afraid to put himself on the line. Tom’s approach gave Bailey the confidence to say what he was feeling.
“I’d like that, a lot. But unfortunately I can’t make it this week. Perhaps next week?”
“Oh.” Bailey could see the disappointment on Tom’s face but Tom recovered quickly. “Next week would be great.”
“I’m not trying to put you off. This is just a bad week for me. I have to work over the weekend—one of the reasons I hate working a rotating roster—and the other nights I have a commitment.”
“Oh. That’s fine.”
“I’m not making excuses, I really do have obligations.”
“It’s okay, you don’t have to explain yourself to me.”
“Oh, there’s nothing secret about it. Not really. Remember how I was telling you about the street kids?” At Tom’s nod, Bailey continued. “I met them through a mobile library service.”
“You volunteer for a charity?”
“Not exactly. I sort of started one of my own. I kind of love reading—”
“Never would have guessed.” Tom smiled and gestured towards the overflowing bookcase. Books lined the shelves and were stacked in piles on the top, plus in high towers on the floor beside the bookshelf.
“Anyway, I wanted to do something for the kids and the older people who are living it rough. They don’t necessarily have access to books, and stories bring me so much joy….”Fuck, I probably sound like the biggest nerd.
“Hey, it’s great that you’ve found something you love to do, and amazing that you’re sharing that with others.”
Bailey’s cheeks heated at the praise. “Thanks.”
“So how does it work?”
“I collect books from people who are happy to donate. Then I take them around in my van a few nights a week. I have a few places I stop and a small group of people who stop by. I don’t like to let them down so I try to keep to a firm schedule.”
“Isn’t that dangerous, hanging out on the streets?”
