Page 35 of Should Our Hearts Catch Fire

“I’m so sorry about him,” Gabriel carries on, now sounding a little frantic. It…should not make Ellis feel all fluttery. “He’s chaos incarnate, I swear. You have no idea how many times I’ve thought of slipping a tranquilizer into his coffee.”

An unexpected laugh burst out of Ellis. “Perks of the job.”

“Huh?”

“If someone pisses you off, you can take it out on their drinks,” he explains, remembering how he was convincedGabriel would spit in his coffee after the shit he’d pulled the first time around.

Gabriel chuckles, looking a little taken aback, like he hadn’t expected for Ellis to have the ability to make jokes.

“Believe it or not, I’ve never felt like doing that. Most of our customers are pretty lovely, and those who aren’t usually don’t come back anyway.”

“I did. I came back,” Ellis says, feeling uncertain all of a sudden. Gabriel has been perfectly polite—friendly, even—but that doesn’t mean he actually wanted Ellis to come back. He’s probably just too nice to say it.

But what about all those times he’s smiled at Ellis? Is it just an act?

Suddenly, Ellis feels like throwing up.

“You did,” Gabriel says simply, but it doesn’t feel simple at all. There’s tenderness in his tone, and his expression, and he's looking at Ellis like he knows what he’s thinking. He’s been doing that a lot, actually.

“I was a dick the first time I came here,” Ellis says.

Gabriel gives him a smile that’s infinitely patient. “You were obviously stressed out of your mind. We all have off days, I’d never hold that against you.”

Ellis swallows thickly, his heart starting to pound. “Most of my days are off days.”

Gabriel frowns. “Well, your brother doesn’t remember who you are, and, from what I hear, you’re the big boss now? That’s a shitload of stress and responsibility. Trust me, you’re doing just fine.”

When Ellis only stares at him, Gabriel deflates, remorse filling his features. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. It’s none of my business—”

“No,” Ellis stops him. “No, you’re… Please, don’t apologize.” He runs a hand over his face in frustration. How did they end up with Gabriel apologizing to him? That’s not what he wanted.

He can’t believe how well Gabriel can read him. Talking to him makes Ellis feel exposed, stripped bare with all his dark secrets out there in the open.

What he doesn’t understand is why it’s not as scary as it should be.

It’s kind of…nice. That there’s someone who can see through the layers of bullshit into his very soul and not judge him for it. Dangerous, but nice all the same.

Someone clears their throat. Loudly.

“Shit,” Gabriel utters, frantically perusing the amount of dockets that have accumulated while they were having a heart-to-heart. “I’m sorry. Orders have piled up like roaches.”

“No, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to distract you.”

“It’d be hard not to. You’re a very distracting man.” Gabriel makes a desperate sound, somewhere between a groan and a sob. “God. I totally have a date with the cold room after this.”

Ellis laughs, really laughs, tears springing to his eyes while his heart slams against his ribs like he’s had ten espressos in a row.

Gabriel stares at him in stunned silence, his mouth slightly agape and eyes half-lidded. Then he licks his lips, Ellis’ gaze instantly drawn to them. His hammering heart comes to a sudden halt before starting to beat even faster.

Gabriel’s eyes slide shut for a moment. When they open, they have that golden glow Ellis was sure he imagined the first time around. To be fair, he’s not sure he’s not imagining it again. He’s been experiencing a lot of weird phenomena lately.

Reaching for a sharpie, Gabriel scribbles something on Ellis’ cup. Excitement flutters in Ellis’ stomach. Gabriel has already written down the order, so that means this must be one of his messages, right?

When he’s done, Gabriel pushes the cup and the paper box with the cinnamon roll towards Ellis, his eyes wide and hopeful.

Ellis reaches for the items, a jolt of electricity zapping through him when their fingers brush.

He swallows, whispering for some reason, “Thank you, Gabriel.”