Page 67 of Should Our Hearts Catch Fire

Suddenly, Gabriel twirls around, twice, and ends up facing the front of the shop. It doesn’t seem he’s seen Ellis, continuing ‘mopping’ and swinging his hips to the beat.

Ellis knows the exact moment Gabriel notices him, because he goes from energetic and unhinged to stock-still. His eyes are wide as they stare at Ellis, and it takes him several seconds to move again.

He props the mop against a table and pulls his phone out, the music dying at once. He looks like a skittish animal as he slowly walks to the door, and damn if Ellis can’t relate. It makes him feel a little better that he’s not the only one out of his element.

The apron Gabriel’s wearing today saysBetter latte than never, and Ellis almost laughs at the synchronicity. He truly hopes it’s not too latte.

Holding Ellis’ gaze, Gabriel flicks the lock open. There’s a faint blush on his cheeks, making him look so much younger.

Ellis’ heart leaps into his throat when the door is suddenly not in the way. It occurs to him this is the first time they’ve stood so close without anything between them, and is surprised at how much of a difference it makes. Right now, they’re not a customer and an employee. A CEO and a barista. They’re just…them.

“Is there any chance you didn’t see that?” Gabriel says in lieu of a greeting, face scrunched up and so red it looks sunburned. It’s unfairly endearing.

“See what?” Ellis says seriously.

Gabriel laughs, the sound sending a shockwave through Ellis’ body. “Thanks. Um…” He looks over his shoulder. “We just closed, but I can make you—"

“No, that’s… I know,” Ellis hurries to say. “I was hoping to catch you before you left.”

“Oh.” Gabriel licks his lips. “Because…”

“I didn’t want to talk with other people around. And with a counter between us.”

Gabriel presses his lips together as if he’s fighting back a big smile. It doesn’t work. The skin around his eyes crinkles and two dimples appear in his cheeks, the sight knocking the breath out of Ellis.

“I’d like that.” He steps aside to let Ellis in.

Ellis gets a whiff of cookie dough as he brushes past him, wondering if Gabriel is baking something. As he steps further into the café, smelling only cleaning chemicals and coffee, it occurs to him the scent must be coming from Gabriel. He wonders if he would taste cookie dough if Ellis leaned in and kissed him. The thought doesn’t exactly shock him. It’s not the first time he thought about kissing Gabriel, but it’s the first time he actually thinks like he might.

One step at a time.

“So…you an Elsa fan?”

Gabriel groans and shoots him a betrayed look. “You couldn’t keep up the pretense so I could save face, could you?”

“Sorry. If it makes you feel better, I rather enjoyed the show,” Ellis says, attempting to keep a straight face and failing.

Gabriel huffs. “Well, it’s not like this would be the first time I made a fool of myself.”

Any humor that Ellis felt disappears. “I’m sorry for pulling that disappearing act.”

Gabriel, always too nice for his own good, takes pity on him. “It’s okay. I know. Dawson was here today. I heard about Cal. Are you okay?”

Ellis blinks, confused. This isn’t what he had in mind, and it still takes him a minute to remember that Cal and Dawson are regulars at the café and that they talk to Gabriel about personal stuff. Clearly even more than they talk to Ellis.

It’s been three days since Cal was discharged, and Ellis has checked on him a few times, only getting some short, ambiguous response that didn’t lessen his worries in the slightest. And this morning he texted Dawson as well, but didn’t get a reply until hours later. Something’s been going on that he doesn’t know about, but something is always going on. That’s not an excuse for avoiding Gabriel after he opened himself up to Ellis.

“I’m okay. It was a bit of a health scare, but Cal’s fine. I already gave him a speech.” That earns him a small smile. “I wish I could blame everything on him but…I don’t want to lie to you.”

“You never have to lie to me,” Gabriel says, his hands twitching at his sides as though he wants to reach out for Ellis. And fuck if Ellis doesn’t want that too.

“Yeah. I’m starting to get that.” He laughs nervously. “I’m sorry about Jordan. He has a big mouth and tends to meddle in other people’s business.”

Gabriel grins. “We have something in common, then.”

“Oh no, not at all,” Ellis disagrees. “You’re a completely different breed.”

Gabriel laughs. “Okay. But really, don’t apologize for him. He actually put a stop to my pity party.”