“He seemed okay,” Rusty said. “Cute kid.”
He hadn’t let go of Blake’s hand yet, and Blake didn’t really want him to. It was nice to feel wanted.
“She’s adorable. And he’s married to his childhood sweetheart now, and I’m so happy for him,” Blake explained. “He deserves it. He’s had it rough.”
“So is he an ex, or…?”
“An old friend. We kissed once when we were in college. It was awful. Like kissing a brother.”
“I can honestly say I’ve never had that experience,” Rusty said, wrinkling his nose.
“Well, count yourself lucky.” Blake smiled wryly, pushing open the door to the bakery.
The smell of sugar, coffee, and freshly-baked bread filled the air around him immediately. He couldn’t help taking a deep breath, breathing in the warm, comforting scent, and grinning at Marcus.
“If you’re coming to check on that cake again, it’s still there,” Marcus said.
“I’m here for more of your coffee,” Blake said. “My husband is picky.”
“Oi,” Rusty said from behind him. “Not picky. Just used to a better caliber of coffee.”
“You sound like you’re from Melbourne,” Marcus said.
Blake turned to stare at him. “How did you know?”
“The accent plus the coffee thing? Kind of a giveaway.”
Rusty grinned at him. “I like this man, and I trust him to make decent coffee.”
Marcus seemed pleased by that. “Oh, I’m gonna rock your world.”
Blake looked between the two of them and sighed. They were like mirror images of each other. Not physically, but in terms of flirting with everyone they ever met…
Rusty had found his long-lost twin.
“Do you want a cupcake?” Blake asked, eyeing the beautiful pastries he’d noticed yesterday but hadn’t been in the mood for.
“What’s a cupcake?” Rusty frowned, his brow furrowing deeply.
“It’s… do you not have cupcakes in Australia?” Blake stared at him. Didn’t everyone have cupcakes?
Rusty paused for a beat before breaking into a broad grin.
“Asshole,” Blake murmured. “Well, I’m having one. I deserve it for putting up with you.”
“I had you for a second,” Rusty said.
Blake sighed. Rustyhadconvinced him, just for a moment, that he’d never heard of a cupcake.
He wasn’t mad about it. Not really. It was hard to be mad at Rusty.
“You two sit down,” Marcus said. “I’ll bring coffee and cupcakes over. Which ones do you want?”
“The most chocolate one you have,” Blake said. “And whatever Rusty wants.”
“Surprise me,” Rusty said. “I trust you to pair your own cupcakes with your coffee.”
Marcus snorted, but a tiny smile turned up the corner of his lips.
