Chapter 21
Chapter
Twenty-One
As Trent entered the bakery, Leo looked up from kneading pie dough. He smiled. “You’re here!”
“Am I late?” Trent glanced around as he took off his coat. He’d gone upstairs to the family apartment in order to change and quickly wash before coming downstairs to work. But since he wasn’t actually scheduled to start work this early, he didn’t understand how he could be late.
“No.” Jasper smirked. He sat on a stool, mixing ingredients in a massive bowl. “But since you didn’t come home last night, we wondered if you might be preoccupied and come in later than usual.” He and his twin shared a glance.
Trent laughed along with his brothers. And for a second, he wished he and Malachi were still in bed and Trent had turned up later than usual.
But he would never do that. He could never leave his siblings in the lurch. Especially since Jasper was unwell and needed his assistance.
“Our little brother is all grown up!” Leo teased.
Trent chuckled. He glanced at Jasper, noticing that he seemed alert this morning. But that wasn’t unusual. He often faded throughout the day and left early. Trent made his way to the sink and the dishes his siblings had already used.
“So you had a good night with the siren?” Lachlan stood at the stove, adding water to the simmer pot.
Lachlan had not been at the Christmas markets yesterday when Trent had told his siblings his evening plans. It seemed Lachlan had been filled in on the family gossip. That was no surprise.
“I did. Malachi is very nice. We had a good night.” Trent tried to stop his face from bursting into flames.
“We’re glad. But you let us know if he doesn’t treat our baby brother right. We’ll have words with him.” Leo winked.
Jasper gave a nod. Trent shook his head. He rolled his eyes at their ridiculousness and turned to the dishes. He bit his lip. He wondered if he should tell them that it hadn’t actually been a date. That it had been a misunderstanding.
Maybe he would tell them later about it not being a date. If it came up again.
Something brushed against his leg. Trent glanced down. A black cat rubbed against his ankles.
“Morning, Kit.” He leaned down to pat Lachlan’s cat-shifter familiar and partner.
After getting enough pats, Kit sauntered off. Lachlan smiled affectionately at Kit as he lay down on a cushion where he often slept when in cat form.
For a while, they worked silently. Whenever the bell above the front door tinkled, either he or Leo went to serve before returning to the back area.
Lachlan poured sugar into a mixing bowl. He reached out a hand, and a spoon flew to it. He began to stir. Lachlan was the strongest hearth and kitchen witch amongst the siblings.
The bakery came alive for him. The door opened to welcome him. Lanterns lit. Utensils flew to him, desperate to be used. His bread never burned. His stews and syrups never bubbled over.
Trent looked away. The bakery loved Lachlan. And of course, Lachlan loved the bakery. The bakery also loved his other siblings. Trent got the sense that the bakery was ambivalent towards him. Like it didn’t really mind if he was here or not.
That was fine though. Completely fine.
As long as the bakery didn’t hate Trent, he could still work and help his siblings.
That was what mattered most to him. But that was why he didn’t often bake on his own.
His food just didn’t feel like it had been baked by a hearth and kitchen witch.
It never felt infused with love or care.
It didn’t have healing or protection properties.
Wulfric, who wasn’t even a witch, baked better than Trent!
Trent also avoided opening or closing the bakery, since that often involved preparing and thanking the bakery, and required a close connection with it. He didn’t have that.
Which was fine. Just fine.
That was why Trent focused on assisting others. After he finished washing up, he helped Jasper, who was making a Christmas fruitcake. Trent blanched and chopped almonds. When he brought them over, Jasper took them.
“Thanks, Trent.” Jasper poured the almonds into a bowl, his facial features pinched.
Maybe he had a headache? Leo kept stealing glances as his twin brother, obviously concerned.
Since the accident, they’d bickered less. It was as if Jasper just didn’t have the energy. For Trent’s entire life, their bickering had been a background noise. He’d never thought he’d one day miss it.
Trent wanted to ask if Jasper was okay. But he knew better. So he just kept assisting Jasper to make his work easier and so he could reserve his energy.
A while later, Cas fluttered into the bakery. Today, he dressed in red and white. “How was your date?”
“He didn’t come home last night,” Leo said. The bell tinkled, announcing a customer. Leo glanced towards the front of the bakery. He scowled. “Fuck,” he muttered. “Lord Percival Everflame is back.” He did nothing to hide the disgust from his voice as he went to serve the phoenix.
Cas frowned. “Leo really hates him, doesn’t he?” Then he turned back to Trent and smiled. “So your date went well? Tell me all about it!”
“It was good.” Trent paused. “But it wasn’t actually a date.”
Cas dropped to the floor. His wings stopped flapping. “What do you mean?”
Trent shrugged. “I wasn’t clear. I asked if he wanted to go with me to the Christmas markets. He thought I meant as friends. He isn’t interested in a relationship.”
“I’m sorry, Trent.” Then Cas’s eyes narrowed. “But you stayed the night.”
“Well, after we realised the misunderstanding, we decided that we’d still…you know.” Trent waved his hands randomly around in the air, hoping his brother would understand what he meant.
Cas placed a finger beneath Trent’s chin and lifted his head, making Trent meet his eyes. “You had sex?”
Trent bit his lip. He gave a nod.
“And you are all right with that?”
“Of course!”
Cas raised a brow.
“I am.” Trent paused. “I would have liked if he was interested in more. But he doesn’t want that. And I was the one who suggested we still have sex.” Trent tried to remember if that was true. The night before was a bit of a blur. A sexy, fun, happy blur.
“Well, that’s good.” Cas’s wings fluttered, and he lifted off the floor once more. “And you know, Graal and I started out as nothing serious. Just fucking. I’d had that recent breakup. I didn’t think my heart was ready to love so soon.”
Then Cas smiled, eyes twinkling. “Now Graal and I are as happy as can be. Funny how things work out. So I wouldn’t give up on your siren just yet.”
Then he flew off to start working, and Trent went back to washing up.
He couldn’t wait for tonight. He paused, realising he didn’t normally look forward to his nights. Usually, after helping Ordelia with Ruthie and Michael, he just ended up home alone.
But tonight he’d be with Malachi! And they would have sex again! His skin prickled.
It wouldn’t be romantic. No chance. No matter what Cas said.
Cas’s and Malachi’s situations had been completely different. Cas had broken up with a dickhead boyfriend. That was very different from losing your mate.
He felt a pang in his chest as he thought of what Malachi had gone through. He’d had a mate, and his mate had died. It was too sad for words.
Trent rubbed the sponge against the side of the bowl. He knew he could never compare to someone’s mate. There was no point in hoping he could.