They’dalways taken their coffee the same way—with milk, but without sugar—which wasconvenient.
“Nervousabout seeing this place? Because we don’t have to if you don’t want to.”
“You’dturn back now after we’ve come all this way?” Declan asked.
Ashshrugged, tearing a chunk off his muffin and stuffing it in his mouth. “I don’tlike to see you suffering. And if you’re not eating, youmustbesuffering.”
Thatwasn’t entirely fair—of the two of them, Declan generally ate a lot less thanAsh, and always had. But Declan loved breakfast, and pastries. Pastries forbreakfast should have been enough to tempt him.
“I’mnot turning back now,” Declan said. “I came here to get this off my mind so Ican focus on the future. I gotta do it, even if I’m dreading it.”
“Youwanna talk aboutwhyyou’re dreading it?” Ash asked.
“IfI knew, I’d tell you. I guess it’s just… it’s big, y’know? Life-changing, even.Kind of a dick move to will someone something and put a condition like gettingmarried on it. Especially, I mean… the guy was gay. He couldn’t get marrieduntil a couple of years ago. What if I couldn’t marry whoever I loved?”
Ashraised an eyebrow. “Who can you not marry?”
“NatalieDormer,” Declan said. “I mean, legally, sure, but…”
“Youlovelookingat her. That’s not quite the same as love.”
“Icould be a good husband,” Declan objected.
“Idon’t doubt that, I just think she’d need to know you exist first.” Ash sippedhis coffee. “I mean, I agree it’s kind of a dick move, but… I dunno. I wouldn’twant to run a brick-and-mortar business by myself. Maybe he was trying toprotect you from that. Or maybe he thinks marriage is a mark of maturity, or…something. I dunno, I didn’t know the guy.”
“Neitherdid I,” Declan said. “That’s kinda the major issue here. I have no idea what anyof this is about, or why me, or… anything. I don’t get it.”
“Maybethe letter will shed some light.” Ash shrugged.
“Maybe,”Declan agreed.
Ashchewed on another chunk of muffin, making happy sounds. It wasreallygood.
Smalltowns always had great bakeries, though. It was a universal law.
Declanseemed lost in thought, which might have been a good thing under othercircumstances, but Ash wasn’t inclined to let him stay that way. Not right now.
Notwhen he had so much to build up in his mind and get anxious about. Declan wouldnever have admitted it, but he had one hell of a nervous streak.
Ashwanted to save him from as much distress as possible.
“Thiscoffee is good,” he said between mouthfuls of it. “Not as good as yours,though. You could show whoever made this a thing or two.”
Declanshrugged. “He seemed nice. And judging by the sounds you made while you atethat muffin, he’s got other talents.”
“Yeah,well, you still make better coffee,” Ash said. Declan kept an actual espressomachine in his apartment, and he knew how to use it. He was secretly a hugenerd about coffee, and Ash was more than happy to benefit from his hobby.
Thatwas how they’d met, after all. Ash had been crying over a boy, Declan had madehim coffee and come to sit down with him. Somehow, that had led to thembecoming inseparable.
Ashwas definitely grateful. He was glad to have a friend like Declan.
“Ithink that’s why you keep staying over,” Declan said. “For the coffee.”
“Iwon’t pretend I don’t consider it a perk of hanging out with you,” Ash said. “Ican do the talking, if you want.”
Declanshook his head. “I’ll be fine. I’m relaxing already.”
“Good.”Ash hesitated, and then leaned his head against Declan’s shoulder.
