Page 8 of Should Our Hearts Catch Fire

They’ve been getting doggie visits at the café since they’d opened, but it had never occurred to Gabe before to make treats for them. Not until he saw Donut’s squishy face for the first time a couple of weeks back when Cal and Dawson brought him in. He didn’t know what was cuter; Donut himself, or the happiness radiating from Dawson. It’s no wonder Dawson was beside himself, considering all the years he’s spent working at the shelter but never being able to have a dog because Cal wouldn’t let him. Now he’s basically a walking sunbeam of joy.

“I wish I could have a dog,” Gabe says melancholically as he feeds Donut the biscuit, melting a little when Donut munches on it with delight.

“Does your place not allow pets?” Dawson guesses.

“They don’t. And to be honest, I probably can’t afford it anyway.” Just the thought of the vet bills makes his bank account cry. He’s not broke or anything, but he hasn’t yet left the budgeting stage of life. Exchanging a look with Dawson to check if it’s alright, he feeds Donut another biscuit. “It’s not fair. I just want someone to spoil.”

“And obsess over,” Zeke comments, smirking knowingly. He scrams when Gabe shoots him a murderous glare, saluting to Dawson and Cal before he disappears into the kitchen.Good,because Gabe wasthisclose to strangling him.

“You’re like an old married couple.” Dawson chuckles, then smiles softly. “You will find someone to spoil, Gabe.” He tugs on the leash. “In the meantime, we’ll keep bringing Donut around. Or you could join us at the shelter for some volunteering.”

“I’d love to, but my only day off is Sunday. But maybe we can arrange something.”

“Hit me up anytime, and I’ll make it happen.”

“Thanks.” After giving Donut one last pet, Gabe walks behind the counter, washing his hands before returning to the till. “So, your usual?”

“Yeah, thanks. Cal’s too.”

“On it.”

Gabe starts scooping chai and chocolate powder into two respective cups. No mysterious messages come to him today, so he doesn’t write anything on the cups aside from the names and a little heart. He’s found it’s a good thing when no messages come to him. Usually they only do when a person is feeling down or going through some struggle. So this probably means everything is going well in the Reeves’ household. Finally. God knows those two deserve it. Especially Dawson.

“Dawson?” he hears Cal ask.

“What?” Dawson looks at his husband, then at the pastry display Cal is standing next to. He gives a resigned sigh. “Fine, pick one. And you,” he points a finger at Gabe. “Don’t try to sneak him anything.”

Gabe clutches his proverbial pearls. “I would never.” He totally would. Hell, he totally has. Cal’s donut obsession is too damn endearing to not indulge it.

“I’ll have the Cherry Ripe, please,” Cal says, so freaking polite all the time. He’s eyeing the donut like it’s manna from heaven.

See? How is Gabe supposed to stay unaffected? But Dawson is watching him like a hawk, so no sneaking more donuts today.

Tongs in one hand and a paper bag in the other, he fetches a donut from the display and hands it to Cal, who’s likely seconds away from having drool drip out of his mouth.

They all look at Donut when he lets out an impatient whine and walks around in a circle.

“I’ll take him outside,” Cal volunteers with a smile that’s just this side of tight.

Gabe suppresses a snort. From what he’s heard, Donut constantly has a bone to pick with Cal.

“Okay. I’ll be right out.” Dawson hands him the leash, pressing his lips together when Cal takes it from him like he’s being handed a weapon.

“You look good. I take it things are going well?” Gabe asks when Cal’s out of earshot. He takes the cups over to the coffee machine, and Dawson follows.

“Yeah. Really well,” he says, a shy smile playing on his lips. He ducks his chin and rubs the back of his neck. “I think we’ve had our second first date.”

“Yeah? What did you do?” Gabe asks, wanting to soak up the happiness radiating off Dawson. It’s so rare that he gets to recharge from someone else and not the opposite.

“Cal was intrigued by that Paint ‘n Sip place around the corner, so I made a booking for us.”

“Oh yeah, I’ve been to that one. It was fun! Did you like it?”

Dawson hesitates on that one. “Eventually. It was…unnerving. Holding the brush after so long, you know?” Almost five years, if Gabe remembers correctly. “But then I kinda sank into it and—” He waves his hand vaguely through the air,chuckling a little. “Honestly, the best part about the whole thing was Cal’s painting.”

“He’s that good?” Gabe asks with surprise. He doesn’t know Cal all that well, but he doesn’t seem like the artistic type.

“He’s thatbad,” Dawson corrects, his shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter. “So I tried to pick something easy peasy, right? Basic shapes, not much detail…” He trails off and pulls out his phone, giving the screen a few swipes until he finds what he’s looking for. “This—” He turns the phone so Gabe can see. “Was supposed to be a cactus.”