Graham couldn't sleep at night. It was almost 5 a.m. and all he could think of was the last conversation he had with his father.
"What do you mean I'm wasting time? I'm dating all the women you wanted."
"I wanted you to choose one, not to date every single one of them."
"You should have made the list shorter, then."
"No. I should have just picked one myself."
"Decide who'll be my future wife then. What's stopping you?"
Salvatore was about to lose his patience at this point. However, he doesn't want Graham to marry a random woman. He wants him to have the illusion that he has chosen her by himself, at least.
"I'll give you 4 months to find a worthy wife", the father finally stated, not letting room for any sort of argument. "Otherwise… you already know the consequences.
Graham shakes his head as if he could get rid of the pressure he feels with just that movement.
Sadly, it's not the first time in his life that he has felt trapped. Although he's tried many times to open the door from that cage created by his parents, they always find a way to keep it shut and locked.
His sister is the one who has been able to escape from her own cage. And since her first day in freedom, she barely ever pays them a visit.
Graham thought he'd finally be free when he moved to his own house, too. Myrtle and Salvatore Larson, however, haven't let distance ruin the life they had planned for his son since the day he was born.
All these troublesome feelings kept Graham up last night until he couldn't take it anymore and decided to get ready for the day.
The good thing is that he is used to staying awake overnight. During college, he would study until the sun rose, making sure that he could get the highest score in every test.
Another good thing is that he'll be seeing Aiden today. And that's the only fact that could fuel him with energy to eat breakfast and drive straight to Millers' apartment.
"Did you miss me so much that you arrived earlier?" Aiden asks as soon as he opens the door of Graham's car. However, he doesn't give him time to respond. "Oh, let me make a wish."
"What are you talking about?" Graham looks around him with confusion, blaming his lack of sleep for not understanding the conversation.
Aiden closes his eyes as if he were about to blow the candles of his birthday cake. A few seconds later, he opens his eyes and explains his actions.
"I bet that not many people have seen you in a pair of shorts. Especially after reaching adulthood."
The brown-haired man rolls his eyes before starting the engine of the vehicle.
"Look at you wearing long sleeves when it's hot outside. Plus, how could you possibly know that I rarely ever wear shorts?"
"You're a workaholic and you don't seem to work out regularly. Plus, you've always worn a suit to our meetings, even during your free days", Aiden replies, trying his best to keep the attention off his odd selection of clothes.
"I didn't know you were also a detective."
"What can I say? I pay attention to the people of my interest."
Graham doesn't even try to hide the blush that makes his cheeks turn slightly red. Instead, he focuses on driving and changes the topic.
"Play some music if you'd like. The woods are on the other side of the city."
"I'm guessing you're asking me because I'd call your music boring", Aiden comments with a grin, linking his phone with the car's computer.
"Of course you would."
The ride to Rayholm woods is filled with Aiden's quiet voice as he sings every song from his playlist. Though Graham finds it a little annoying, this feeling fades every time he sees the happiness in his companion's face.
If he had to give up on some silent and peaceful time just to see that bright smile, Larson would do it for the rest of his life.
They finally arrive at their destination. Though the sky is completely cloudless, the weather is fresh among the trees.
"We can come back to have a meal here", Graham says after getting out of the car in the parking lot.
The red-haired man looks at the restaurant that's to their left. It seems to have the same owner as the zip-line.
"Sure."
"Follow me now. Unless you have changed your mind already."
"And lose the chance to experience the feeling of flying? I don't think so."
"Would you like to be a bird?"
"You're asking that as if you could turn me into a bird."
"How do you know that I can't?"
"I'm sure you don't believe in that kind of stuff. Do you?"
"You're right once again. Are you sure you're not a secret detective?"
"I promise I'm not", Aiden says with a forced chuckle, lifting his hands up as if he was surrendering after getting caught red handed.
"I'm starting to not believe it. You actually have a job that could help you stalk pretty much anyone."
"Now you're blaming me for stalking you? Who is the one who kept taking their dates to my restaurant?"
"Is it a crime to take a friend to a place with very tasty food?"
"No, but I'd consider it a crime to treat them as friends when they clearly liked you as something else."
"I'll have to plead guilty on that one. But those girls just weren't my type."
Aiden lowers his head, hiding the fact that he's considering asking a question he isn't sure he wants to ask: "Am I your type?"
A few seconds later, he decides to shut his mouth and continue walking in silence until they reach a small cabin surrounded by tall trees.
"Come here", Graham requests before leading the way inside the establishment to rent the equipment for the zip-line.
Once they've paid the fee, they're taken farther into the forest in an orange Jeep Wrangler. The instructor tells them the basics of the activity and all the information related to their safety.
"This is higher than I remember", Graham states after exiting the vehicle and looking up at the cable that almost blends with the sky.
"If you think it's high from here, just wait till we're up there."
The guide makes sure that they're wearing the safety equipment properly before leading the way to the beginning of the zip-line.
"Are you nervous?"
"Yes", Aiden admits from the wooden platform, trying his best to not look at the ground to avoid feeling dizzy.
Graham's smile fades when he sees Millers' frightened expression. He was about to joke around but he knows it's best to not make Aiden feel bad for not wanting to do the tour anymore.
"Hey, it's ok not to do this out of fear. We can do something else."
"No, no. I'm fine with this", Aiden claims nervously, adjusting his gear with trembling fingers. "I just need a little time to breathe."
"I'll go first, then. I'll be waiting for you on the other side", Larson reassures with a wink before telling the guide that he'll be the first one.
The green-eyed man feels flustered. He really is trying his best to not let his sudden fright keep him from enjoying a brand new activity for him.
Graham is quick to start the journey, remembering perfectly how exciting it was the first time he came here and hoping that his companion can have the same fun experience.
"Are you ready?" The guide asks Aiden after a few minutes have passed and it's confirmed that Larson is safe at the end of the cable.
"Yes", he replies before taking a deep breath and looking at the sky.
Though it's scary at the beginning, Aiden smiles when he feels the fresh air messing with his long hair. As his velocity increases, he relaxes his muscles and starts focusing on the magnificent view around him.
Walking through the forest and gliding above it are two completely separate things. While the first one can be amusing, the latter is almost magical, as if only fantastic creatures should be the ones experiencing it.
He closes his eyes at some point, imagining he's one of those fantastic creatures that can fly wherever he wants.
The journey is so enjoyable that Millers doesn't notice that he's about to arrive at the end of the ride. It's until his speed decreases that he opens his eyes and sees Graham waiting for him. His smile grows wider.
"You did it!" Graham says excitedly while looking at Aiden with pride.
"My legs feel wobbly", he replies with a giggle, trying his best to stay on his feet instead of taking Larson's helping hand. "I'm ok, thank you."
"Would you like to go again?"
Millers looks over his shoulder, remembering the thrill he felt when he was standing on the first wooden platform.
"I'd love to. However, I think we should eat something now."
"Sure. Let's go."