Page 22 of Adonis

“The goat’s cheese wrap looks good.”

“I’ll have it ready in no time.”

Connor leaned his shoulder against the doorframe. “You do all the baking?” he asked. He thought Laurence cooked with his dad, but seeing all the scattered utensils, Laurence had clearly been making himself busy back here baking.

“I have a talent for it.”

Connor repressed a grin. “You do, do you? And who told you that? Your dad?”

Laurence lifted his chin, a confident smile curving his lips. “Have you tasted the cakes I make? My work speaks for itself.”

Connor chuckled. A small, amused splutter that was more a smile than anything else.

Laurence’s eyes shone, and he beamed, apparently thrilled that he’d gotten a good reaction from Connor.

“Have you tried any?” Laurence asked.

“Not yet.”

“What are you going to try first?”

Connor hadn’t exactly been planning on trying any, he didn’t have much of a sweet tooth. But it felt criminal to even consider turning Laurence down. “What’s your favourite?”

“The sticky toffee pudding. I make it with dates, and I make the caramel that gets poured on top. It’s delicious.”

“Because you’re so talented. Right?”

Laurence’s smile widened. “Right.”

“What are you doing?” Nick’s voice came in sharp, hard. Connor swivelled his head to see a vicious scowl directed at him.

“I’m getting lunch,” Connor said.

Nick’s glare was as lethal as it was tiresome. “And that involves boxing him in there?”

“I’m not—” Connor glanced in. Hewasleaning against the doorway, and Laurencewasinside the room. His mood tanked. “For christ’s sake, we were just talking.” He kicked off the doorway, freeing Laurence from where he’dobviouslybeentrapped.

“Nick!” Laurence’s voice was pitched high in anger.

The raised voice caught Trevor’s attention. “What’s going on over there?”

“Nothing,” Nick said.

At the same time, Laurence said, “Nick is being mean to Connor.”

Nick shot an irritated look at Laurence, but Laurence’s glare was far more fearsome. Trevor sighed. “Nick,” he said, leaving the stove to come and stand by them. “We talked about this.”

“Connor was—”

“We were just talking,” Laurence interrupted Nick, furious. “And you came over and ruined it.”

“Boys.” Trevor looked between his two sons, the gears behind his eyes ticking as he thought about how to navigate the tensions. Movement at the till caught Connor’s eye. A guy stood there, waiting to pay.

Connor broke away from the squabble to go find out what he wanted. By the time Connor had sorted the bill for the guy, Nick was back, stewing in furious silence. Based on the scowl, Connor guessed he’d been scolded inside.Good.

Nick soon got over his silence: dousing down Connor with every sly insult he could muster. Connor was contemplating violence when they finally flipped the closed sign.

Trevor packed them all into the car to head home. Connor was in the back with Nick since Nick didn’t want him next to Laurence near him. Connor would throw a thousand punches Nick’s way before throwing even a dirty look in Laurence’s direction.