Page 67 of Cream & Sugar

A small chuckle escapes me. “Right. Tea?”

“Just water, thanks. Any more caffeine and I’ll have an aneurysm.”

I fetch us a glass each while Freddie plonks himself down on the sofa. Jester follows suit, leaping into his lap and curling up in a ball.

“He’s shameless.” I shake my head as I place our waters on the coffee table and sit next to Freddie.

“He’s gorgeous.” Freddie rubs under Jester’s chin.

We sit for a few moments, listening to him purr. As the silence stretches out, all my worries from the car come crashing back. I sit up straight and suck my teeth. “So about back there, in the café, I—”

Freddie holds up a hand, silencing me. “You’re fine, Shaun. You don’t need to apologise. Or explain. I just wasn’t sure what to do. If I could’ve helped you, I mean.”

A heavy warmth fills my chest. He was worried about me?

“That’s so nice of you, Freddie. It’s okay, though. Sometimes I just need to…”

“Go and hide in a toilet?” Freddie grins.

A dry huff of laughter escapes me.

“Yes. Sometimes I need to go and hide in a toilet.” I give a limp little shrug. “I’m working on it.”

I take a sip of water. Freddie’s hands are busy with Jester.

“How are you feeling now?” he asks.

Oh gosh, here we go.

“Like a wrung-out sponge,” I say. “Thanks for coming round. In the car, I wasn’t sure. I thought maybe I’d freaked you out or something.”

Freddie shakes his head. “Nope. No freak outs from me. I’m just glad you’re okay. And if there is anything I can do—”

“You’ve done plenty.” I smile, gratefully. “I had a great time today. You’re a cool guy, Freddie. I’m, er, I’m very glad I hired you.”

Wow, Shaun. Smooth. I clear my throat.

“What I mean is… thank you, Freddie. Despite everything, you really made my day.”

“Likewise.” Freddie looks at me, a keen glint in his eye. “You were saying something. Back in the café, I mean. Before Mister Moustache came along with his free samples. Something about feelings—” I start stammering some half-baked explanation, but Freddie cuts across me, “—you don’t need to say it now, not if you don’t want to, that is. I just thought you should know that, well, in case there’s any doubt…”

He angles his body towards me, tipping a disgruntled Jester off his lap in the process.

“If you think you might be, I mean if you’refeelingwhat I think you’re feeling,” My face grows hot. My heart’s beating so hard, it’s threatening to burst through my ribs. Everything starts to shudder as my nerves give in to overwhelm once more. How could they not? Nothing I’ve experienced comes close to this. I grit my teeth, desperate to stay in the moment.Deep breaths.

My hands start to shake, and Freddie reaches out to hold them.

“What I’m saying is the feeling is mutual. I like you, Shaun. I mean, I really,reallylike you.”

Oh my god. Hewhat?I blink at him, lost for words. Is this happening? Thiscan’tbe happening!

“Shaun?” Freddie cocks his head in that adorable, puppy dog way. “Say something.”

I try, I really try, but no words come. I can’t believe it. It wasn’t just him being flirty; he actuallylikesme. That makes things… I don’t even know what. Harder? Worse? Better than I ever could have dreamed of? Or all of the above.

Freddie seems to clock that I’ve lost the ability to speak. He edges closer, only a foot between us now.

“Okay,” he licks his lips, “just nod or shake. I think you like me too, don’t you?”