Chapter 33
Chapter
Thirty-Three
“So does Malachi know how to use those tentacles?” Leo waggled his eyebrows as he measured ingredients.
Chopping dried cranberries, Trent let out a laugh. “Um…”
“Look at you blush! The sex must be good. Don’t think I haven’t noticed that you haven’t spent a single night at home in ages.” Leo paused. “What is it? A week? Have you been with Malachi every night for a week?”
“It’s actually been over a week.” Trent put the dried cranberries to the side and moved on to chopping dried cherries. “Probably more like two.”
“Two weeks! You’ve been at the emporium fucking Malachi every night for two weeks!” He clapped Trent on the shoulder. “Good work, little brother.”
Trent laughed again. But he kept his eyes on the dried cherries. He couldn’t look into Leo’s eyes or he would combust.
“But you say you’re just friends?” Leo glanced towards the front of the bakery where Malachi sat. “That right?”
“We are.” Trent gave a sharp nod. “Just friends.” He really wished he could stop saying that. The words depressed him.
“Right.” But there was something in Leo’s tone that sounded off.
“What?” He glanced at his brother. “What is it?”
“Nothing.” Leo gave him a pointed look. “But just to clarify, you’ve been fucking every night. But not just been fucking, right?”
“Well, no. We’ve been eating together, talking, and making Christmas decorations.”
“Christmas decorations?” Leo paused. “That’s actually sweet. And today you went with him to the lake. Then he came here to meet your family. Not to mention that you spend every single free moment you have with him.”
“I mean… We’re friends,” Trent said, but he could feel the hope rising inside him. “We’re good friends. That’s what good friends do. Right?”
“Yeah.” Leo gave Trent a long look. “But I see the way you look at him. And I see the way he looks at you.”
“How does he look at me?” Trent’s stomach filled with butterflies.
“He cares for you. That much is clear.” Leo smiled. “And I think he looks at you in a way that doesn’t just suggest friendship.”
Could that be true? Or was Leo seeing things that weren’t there?
“I’m just saying, I don’t quite buy the whole ‘we’re just friends who fuck.’” Leo began to put the measured-out ingredients into a large bowl. “That’s all.”
Trent’s heart thumped rapidly. So it wasn’t just him who thought Malachi might be falling for him? Others could see it too. But Leo had recently fallen in love with Percy the phoenix. Maybe he was just seeing everything through the eyes of a newly smitten man.
Leo glanced towards the front of the bakery. “And look who’s waiting for you.”
Malachi stood near the counter, staring at him.
With a smile, Trent came around to the front of the bakery. “Finished?” He wiped his hands on his apron.
“It was all delicious. Like everything from your bakery.” Malachi held up the plate and cup. “I wasn’t sure if I should leave them on the table or bring them here.”
“Here’s fine.” Trent took them. “So did you enjoy your visit to the Magic Bakery?”
“I did.” Malachi reached into his pocket.
Trent shook his head. “No need for that. It’s my treat.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
Malachi dropped his hand. Trent stared into Malachi’s light-blue eyes.
Could Leo be right? Was Malachi starting to see him as something more than a friend? Could he be falling in love with Trent? The fiery hope burned in his chest.
“Trent!” Lacy came up beside him. She wrapped an arm around his waist. Turning to Malachi, she smiled. “I’m Lacy. Are you Malachi, the one who has captured my brother’s attention?”
“Ah. Yes.” Malachi nodded. “That would be me.”
Lacy beamed. She glanced between them. “You’ve been spending so much time together.”
“That’s because Trent and I are friends,” Malachi blurted. “Good friends.”
Lacy’s smile dimmed. And so did the hope burning in Trent’s chest.
“Oh.” Then she smiled wide again. “Well, I’m glad he’s found such a good friend.”
“That’s right.” Trent’s smile felt brittle. “We’re friends.”
Malachi glanced towards the door. “I should get going. I need to return to the emporium. It is almost opening time.”
Trent swallowed and nodded.
“Well, it was nice meeting you, Malachi,” Lacy said. “I hope I see more of you.”
“You too.” Malachi glanced between them. “Goodbye.”
“Bye.” Trent stared after Malachi as he left the bakery, the bell above the door tinkling.
“You okay, Trent?”
No doubt Lacy found Malachi blurting out that “Trent and I are friends” odd. Which it was.
Lacy had just been commenting on how the two of them had been spending lots of time together. But Malachi had felt the need to make it crystal clear to his sister that the two of them were friends. Just friends. Nothing more.
It had been firm. No wiggle room. Malachi clearly didn’t want Lacy misinterpreting their relationship.
It seemed Malachi hadn’t changed his mind about Trent at all. There was no softening. No developing of feelings. No chance of falling in love with Trent.
Trent licked his lips, trying to ignore the sharp claws of pain digging into his chest.
This was Trent’s fault. Malachi had been clear. Trent had been the one who’d let his feelings influence his expectations and hopes.
Lacy continued to stare at him. Trent realised he hadn’t answered.
“Of course I’m okay.” Trent forced a smile. He pointed to the back area. “I should keep working. I’m assisting Leo.”
“Okay.” She nodded, but her gaze lingered. “Let me know if you need anything.”
He nodded but otherwise didn’t answer. “I’m back!” Trent forced the cheer into his voice as he came up beside Leo.
Leo glanced at him. He frowned. “You all right, Trent?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” Trent smiled as hard as he could.
“Are you missing Malachi already? It’s cute to see my baby brother all caught up in his feelings.”
Leo didn’t know the half of it. But Trent laughed and let the words be. Although, his laughter sounded hollow to his own ears.
Thankfully Leo didn’t notice. Or if he did, he didn’t comment.
Luckily, Leo didn’t need his help much longer, so Trent could see to the dishes. It gave him time to think. Or more accurately, mope. Trent washed one of their cauldrons.
I can’t believe I let myself think that Malachi might want something more than friendship from me.
Thankfully, Malachi’s words had put a stop to those foolish thoughts.
Problem was, Trent just really liked Malachi. He liked him and wanted him and yearned for him.
His eyes stung. He blinked rapidly.
Can I really do this? Can I really just remain friends who fuck?
Because Trent knew without a doubt that each day they spent together, he was falling more in love with Malachi. Could he really be friends whilst wanting so much more?
He’d thought he could. But that was before he’d realised how much it would hurt to be so close to what you wanted whilst still being so very far away.