Page 43 of Should Our Hearts Catch Fire

“Is it?” Ellis quirks an eyebrow and makes a show of looking around. “Where can I read these conditions?”

“It’s on the front door. In very, very small print.”

“I see.” He presses his lips together. “What am I allowed to do then?”

Gabe shrugs. “Sip coffee. Chill.”

“And Netflix,” Zeke blurts out.

Ellis blinks at him confusedly. “What?”

“Hm? Oh sorry, sometimes I talk to myself.” He waves a hand and laughs. “Let me give you some privacy.” Which apparently means stepping towards the coffee machine four feet away and pretending to polish it.

“I will kill you,” Gabe mouths at him, then plasters on a smile as he turns back to Ellis. “Seriously, Ellis, you’ll work yourself into an early grave. And if you die here, you’ll turn into a ghost and haunt the place. We’d lose all our customers.”

“People pay good money to visit haunted places. I’m sure you could turn it around.”

“He’s not wrong,” Zeke says, dropping the act of minding his own business. “Hey, that’s actually a great idea! Maybe we could—”

“We’re not turning the café into a haunted house.” He’s so done with Zeke’s occult ideas. His offer to brew a love potion andsneak it into Ellis’ drink was the worst of all. Morally speaking. Practically, it would probably only end up giving Ellis a case of diarrhea.

“You won’t let me have any fun!” Zeke cries.

“You and I have very different definitions of fun,” Gabe grumbles, turning his attention back to Ellis, who’s watching him with intrigue. “What?”

“Nothing. Just…you’re so young. Sometimes I forget you own the place.”

“Co-own,” Zeke quips.

“And how old do you think I am?” Gabe inquires.

Ellis cocks his head, eyes raking all over Gabe’s face and causing a warm, tingling sensation in his belly. “Twenty-three? Twenty-four?”

Gabe laughs. No one ever guesses right. “In your defense, I do get asked for my ID a lot. But I’m 29.”

Ellis stares. “No, you’re not.”

Gabe chuckles. “I’ll take it as a compliment.”

Ellis looks perplexed by the revelation. What does Gabe’s age matter, anyway? “You have some good genes. Honestly, I’d never have guessed.”

“No one would. What about you? You can’t be older than 35.”

“34. Though, I suppose my job has added some wrinkles.”

Gabe doesn’t like the insecurity in his voice. “Well, if it has, they look good on you.”

“Thanks,” Ellis mumbles, sounding embarrassed. God, this man is so freaking precious. He looks around a little helplessly.

“Gosh, I’m sorry.” Gabe wants to face-palm. “I’m taking up your time when you need to work.”

“I don’t mind,” Ellis says quickly.

“Okay. Cool.” Gabe tries not to grin like a total loon. “Having your usual?”

“I’ll skip the cinnamon roll today, I’ve already had breakfast.”

“Hmm. I guess a man can’t live on cinnamon rolls alone.”