Page 60 of Should Our Hearts Catch Fire

“You probably know better than me since he’s your regular. I mentioned him yesterday. Name’s Ellis?”

Yup. There it is. Jordan totally knows.

“Right.” Gabe sighs, giving up all pretense. “I don’t think he’s a regular anymore.” He expects some pitying looks, or half-baked words of comfort, but Jordan surprises him again.

“Oh, he is. Believe me.” His expression turns a little more serious. “He’s been a little busy this week. Family stuff.”

Is that supposed to be an explanation as to why Ellis hasn’t shown up the whole week? And does that mean there’s something new going on with Cal? Now that he thinks about it, Gabe hasn’t seen him or Dawson in a few days. That’s unusual.

Whatever it is, it’s not his place to pry.

“So, one dirty chai on oat?”

Jordan’s brows rise slowly. “I thought he gets this disgustingly strong black coffee.”

Gabe shrugs. “He’s been trying new things.”

“Yes, I’ve heard,” Jordan replies, his tone heavy with implication. “Shocking. Doesn’t sound like him at all.”

“It doesn’t?” Gabe can’t help but ask. It only confirms his previous assumption that Ellis has never dated a man.

“Nope. I’ve known him for seven years and he’s, like, the most predictable person ever.”

Gabe douses the spark of hope before it starts a fire. He needs to be logical about this. “He’s had to make a lot of changes lately. I suppose changing his coffee order isn’t such a big deal in the grand scheme.”

“Probably not,” Jordan says amicably. “Not like dating someone new. Especially if that someone is not his usual type.”

Oh-kay. So Ellis told himeverything.

“What’s his usual type?” Gabe asks, trying not to sound too eager. He can guess the answer anyway.

Once again, he stands corrected.

“Leeches. Narcissists. You know; the works.” He sounds bitter and angry about it, which makes Gabe like him a little more. “I can see how the idea of dating someone kind and genuine could throw him for a loop.” He gives Gabe a meaningful look.

Gabe’s breath catches, his heart hammering against his ribs. Fuck, he’s hopeless. “Anything else?”

Jordan hums thoughtfully. “Ellis has a soft spot for blondes.” He smirks, likely at Gabe’s dumbstruck look. “You know what? I’m gonna take a couple of croissants too. Hangover food.”

Taking a second to adjust to the sudden change of topic, Gabe blurts out, “Cinnamon rolls. Ellis likes cinnamon rolls.”

Jordan’s smile overtakes his whole face. “Make it one croissant and one cinnamon roll.”

“On it.”

Making the drink and packing everything up give Gabe a bit of a reprieve, but not much. He’s glad Zeke is in the kitchen and can’t witness the disaster that Gabe is. His hands shake with excitement and anxiety as he steams the milk, nearly burning it, and he struggles looking at Jordan as Jordan collects his order.

“Thanks, Gabe,” he says softly, probably sensing how much of a mess Gabe is. He hesitates before leaning in, speaking softly despite no one else being around. “Hey. I’m not saying you should wait forever. But…be patient with him, okay? He’s one of the best people I know. Scratch that. Heisthe best.”

“I know,” Gabe says, a little choked up. “Thank you, Jordan.”

Jordan nods, then gives a wry smile that has an amused edge to it. “At least now that I know why you shot me down my ego isn’t so bruised.”

“Used to people falling at your feet, are you?” Gabe retorts, fighting a smile of his own. After the heart-to-heart they just had, he feels a deep sense of kinship towards Jordan.

Jordan shrugs, lips twitching. “Usually kneeling before me, but yeah.”

“I have an old knee injury. We wouldn’t work out anyway.”