There’s a queue of people all across the width of the shop. A rectangular machine sits on one end of the counter, a man standing behind it, his hands moving constantly. A younger man is jumping back and forth between the people waiting, chatting and laughing with them.
“Looks like we caught them during a rush.” Dawson checks his watch. “Lunchtime. No wonder.”
“Is this a bad time?”
“Not really. But I usually try to avoid the rush hour. Makes me feel bad to come here when they’re swamped.”
“Oh. Do you want to come back later?”
Before Dawson can reply, one of the men behind the counter calls out, “Dawson! Hey!” He waves, a big grin on his face. Then his gaze shifts to Cal, eyeing him curiously.
Waving back, Dawson chuckles. “Looks like we have to stay now. That’s Gabe, by the way. He bakes all the stuff you see here.”
They walk to the end of the line, waiting their turn. As it moves, they end up standing in front of a large glass display filled with all kinds of food. Cal’s mouth waters even though he can’t recall what any of it tastes like—or if he’s ever had any of it in the first place.
“What would you like?”
What would he say if Cal told him he wants to try everything?
“I’m not sure. I can’t really…” He stops himself. Maybe reminding Dawson how much he’s forgotten isn’t a great idea.
Dawson seems to get it anyway. His lips form anoshape, but he quickly plasters on a smile. “That’s okay. Everything here is good, but I can pick some of my favorites, see if you like them.”
Cal gives him a grateful smile. “Yes, please.”
Dawson looks at him oddly, but starts pointing at various desserts, telling Cal what’s in them and asking if he wants to try them. Cal just keeps nodding, trusting Dawson to take care of it.
When it’s their turn, Gabe jumps in front of them with that huge grin of his. There’s an energy about him that has Cal’s skin prickling with awareness, but not the bad kind. He can’t quite put his finger on it.
“Well, hello,” Gabe says to Dawson, then looks at Cal. “And you brought a friend.” His gaze is calculating. Not unkind, but not warm either.
Dawson seems uncomfortable. “This is Cal. Cal, Gabe.”
Gabe’s eyebrows flick up. “Ah. The husband,” he says without inflection. It’s hard to read his reaction.
Cal manages a terse nod, feeling tension descend around them.
“Cal was discharged today and he’s craving something sweet after all the hospital food. So I brought him to the best place on the Coast.”
Gabe’s eyes flick between the two of them, settling on Dawson with a smile. “You flatterer. But you’re not wrong.” He winks and looks at Cal with an unreadable expression. “You were there for a while. How are you feeling?”
“A little out of sorts,” he admits. “But Dawson’s helping me to adjust. He visited a lot, so that helped.”
Gabe cocks his head, and, for a split second, Cal swears that the outer ring of his irises glows gold. But then he blinks, and it’s gone. Must have been Cal’s imagination.
Surprise flashes across Gabe’s face, his brows flicking up and his mouth parting on a silentoh.He leans forward to rest his forearms on the counter. “You must feel really lucky to have him.”
He doesn’t phrase it like a question, but Cal feels compelled to answer anyway. He shifts his gaze to Dawson, who seems shy all of sudden, his cheeks pink.
“Very lucky. I don’t know what I’d do without him,” Cal says honestly, watching in fascination as the flush spreads from Dawson’s cheeks to his whole face and ears.
“Hmm,” Gabe hums. “Lucky indeed.” He pushes himself up. “So, what are you having?”
Taken aback by the abrupt change, Cal says, “Dawson will pick for me.”
The corner of Gabe’s mouth twitches. “Okay.” He looks at Dawson expectantly.
“Let’s go with a cinnamon roll, a donut, and an almond croissant.”
