Page 90 of Should Our Hearts Catch Fire

“I always thought it would be stress that killed me. But cinnamon rolls? I’ll take it.”

Gabriel winces. “Okay, my bad. No jokes about you dying, please.” His hand hovers over the stacks of cups. “Size?”

“Above average,” Ellis says, smirking. The bad pun was worth Gabriel’s stunned reaction.

As he’s scrambling for a response, Zeke calls out, “I bet.”

Ellis blushes. He didn’t mean to speak so loud.

Gabriel’s head snaps to him. “Hands off. I called dibs.”

Ellis gives him a raised eyebrow, his heart pounding with the unexpected display of possessiveness. “Called dibs, huh? Thanks for asking my opinion.”

Gabriel fixes him with a haughty look. “Your opinion was loud and clear last night.”

God, Gabriel is killing him today. Well, every day, but especially today. It seems that getting access to Ellis’ dick has broken what little control he had over his brain-to-mouth filter. And he doesn’t even look sorry for what comes out of said, and admittedly kissable, mouth.

Ellis clears his throat. “I’ll have a large.” As he longingly peruses the pastry display, he remembers something Gabriel told him yesterday. “And two dozen donuts.”

Gabriel goes silent, then chuckles. “You going to see Cal, or what?”

“No. Just figured I could make Monday a bit more digestible for people at work.” Which is a nice bonus, if not the main reason. Now that he knows the financial situation of the café, he wants to support it as much as he can.

Thankfully, Gabriel doesn’t look suspicious. If anything, his eyes soften, as they often do when he’s looking at Ellis. “Always thinking of other people, aren’t you?” Before Ellis can formulatea response that doesn’t involve stuttering and babbling, Gabriel has grabbed a large paper box and a pair of tongs. “Flavor?”

“Surprise me.”

Gabriel likes that answer, his face lighting up. He’s quick but mindful as he fills the box to the brim, then hands it to Ellis.

“Zeke!” he calls out even though Zeke is just a few steps away.

“Yeah, yeah,” Zeke grumbles, swapping places with him. “Hey, hot stuff,” he greets, lips pulling into a sly smirk. It looks very wrong.

“Uh, hi…” Ellis presses out. “I’ll just…yeah.” He scurries towards Gabriel to wait for his drink.

“Ignore him,” Gabriel says, giving Zeke a side-eye. “He’s trying to get a rise out of me.”

“I can see he’s succeeding,” Ellis notes with amusement. “Does he know?”

Gabriel’s expression morphs into one of guilt. “It was kind of written all over my face this morning. Probably still is.”

“Yeah, I feel like everyone at work will know too. Amanda will know for sure,” he realizes with mild horror. “That’s my PA,” he explains when Gabriel looks at him askance.

“Does that bother you?”

Ellis hates that Gabriel even has to ask—not that he can blame him. Ellis hasn’t exactly given the impression of being ‘out and proud’.

“Nosy people? Yeah. Them finding out? No.” He just doesn’t like mixing work with his personal life. It’s bad enough he’sfriends with Jordan, but the guy practically bullied Ellis into befriending him.

Gabriel looks at him as if Ellis handed him a puppy, all starry-eyed and soft-looking. He leans over the counter, gesturing for Ellis to do the same.

Then he half-whispers, half-growls, “I really wanna kiss you right now.”

Instantly, Ellis’ gaze drops to his lips. “Would the management be okay with that?”

The lips in question curl at the corners. “Oh, they’d be game. Believe me.”

“Okay.”