Chapter 21

Chapter Twenty-One

Henry

THE ONE brIGHT spot about picking up an extra shift on this particular Saturday out of all Saturdays is the special guests I'm expecting this afternoon. They called the café a few days ago and specifically asked when I might be working, and I'm buzzing with excitement as I wait for them to walk through the door to join the eleven a.m. playtime group.

First, I have to help usher out River's ten a.m. yoga class, then get back behind the coffee bar with Sebastian and dish out drinks and snacks. Thank goodness I have both of them today. They're fast and efficient, and they know their work well. River charms his yoga class. His students leave bubbly and refreshed, several stopping by the coffee bar for something to take with them on their way out.

His students barely exit before I have to get the next group of patrons ready, however. I leave Sebastian at the bar and head out the two doors that lead into the entryway. People already stand in clusters, chatting eagerly. I have to summon upbeat energy for them, but it's a struggle. I've got Alex on the mind after that incredible morning we shared. It leaves me both sleep-deprived and buzzing.

A couple slips in, standing at the back of the group. A fresh wave of excitement hits me when I recognize Gabriel and Trent from the Boyfriend Café. Trent casually slides his arm around Gabriel's waist, and Gabriel leans in to speak softly. Whatever he says earns a sliver of a smile and a headnod from Trent, which I've learned is quite a lot of reaction from him. It's funny how they can act so different but look so similar. They're roughly the same height. They have the same dark eyes, the same dark hair. Trent's is shaved along the sides. The tattoos peeking out of his leather jacket also help distinguish him from his husband.

I catch Gabriel's eyes, and he flashes me a toothy smile. I smile right back, but I can't say hello yet. First, I have to get the group into the café. I give them the usual spiel about not letting the cats out, not bothering a cat who seems irritated, making use of the toys all throughout the room, enjoying the coffee bar during their hour. I've said these words so many times that I don't even have to think about them as they come out.

With that, I usher the group inside. They immediately disperse in search of cats and treats. The kittens draw a crowd as usual. They're ready for playtime even in the middle of the day. I'm happy to see Old Babs get a bit of attention as well, though. She lets a little girl pet her while she lies in a sunny window.

Once everyone seems settled (and I've answered the usual questions), I drift toward Gabriel and Trent. Trent is crouched on the ground letting one of the cats sniff his hand while Gabriel reaches for one perched up high.

"Is he friendly?" Gabriel says.

I look up. It's Tux, a one-year-old shorthair with a white belly and paws that contrast with his pitch-black fur.

"Oh yeah," I say. "He loves a chin scritch. Come on down, Tux. Gabriel will pet you."

It takes a little coaxing, but Tux tip toes his way lower on the perch, until I, and Gabriel, can reach him. I pet him first, letting him feel safe, then Gabriel takes over. He scritches under Tux's chin as instructed, and soon the cat is utterly in love with him.

This is apparently how Gabriel was when he worked for the Boyfriend Café too. He and Trent worked there before my time, but out of the original crew, they were always the ones who came back to visit the most often, mostly because Gabriel's sibling, Avery took over the café when I was working there. Gabriel and Trent often worked as a pair, their strange opposites-attract energy winning over customers.

I wish I could have seen it in person. I had to meet them later, during reunion parties in Brooklyn. Some of the original crew still try to get together for New Year's. I've gone a couple times, but flying across the country is expensive. Besides me and maybe one other former Boyfriend Café server, Trent and Gabriel are the only ones who live on this side of the country. Even so, this is the first time they've come to my café.

"So, it's not exactly a Boyfriend Café, but what do you think?" I say.

Trent straightens up from his crouch and nods, which I assume is approval.

Gabriel keeps petting Tux when he responds. "This place is adorable . I love it. I can't believe we've never been here before."

"Well, Tripp Lake is a bit of a drive from Seattle," I say, "and it's not like there's much else out here. I'm sure it's more exciting staying in the city."

"It's fun," Gabriel says, "but it is nice getting away sometimes too. We're going to do a little hike after this. Are there any you recommend?"

Heat tries to crawl up my neck at the mention of hiking. My mind can't help flashing back to the last time I went on a hike, a hike where I happened to kiss a straight guy who might not be so straight.

I gather myself and give them an answer. This is a question I get fairly regularly here. I should be better at answering it, but it takes me a moment to steady myself. Thankfully, a customer comes up to me after with questions about adoption, and I have to excuse myself to chat with them.

The hour passes quickly, but part of me is grateful to see it go. It's been a very long morning, but the last couple hours of my shift should be pretty quiet. We don't have any more scheduled, official playtimes, so Sebastian and I mostly need to handle random customers stopping in out of curiosity. He'll even close, so I can take off if things get slow enough.

"Can I get you two anything?" I say to Gabriel and Trent.

They linger after most people leave, and I make them chai tea, their favorite. I bring it to one of the café tables, where Gabriel already sits with a cat in his lap. Tux is batting at Trent's pant leg, but Trent ignores him.

I sit with them after setting down their tea. I chose a leftover pastry for myself. My stomach grumbled the moment the rush passed and I got a second to breathe.

"Thanks," Gabriel says. "Do we pay up there?"

I wave aside the offer. "Don't worry about it. It's just tea, and Chloe doesn't mind. That's my boss. She's cool."

"Well, we appreciate it. I was looking up some of the easier hiking trails around here. What do you think of this one?"

Gabriel turns his phone toward me. It displays all the information for one of the hikes nearby, but it's a favorite for tourists and will be absolutely mobbed today. I suggest a different, similar trail instead, and Gabriel nods along as I describe it.

"Perfect," Gabriel says. "It's lucky you know the area so well."

"I should, but I haven't actually been out hiking much until recently. A … a friend is in town and wanted to get out there one day."

My slip does not go unnoticed. Gabriel quirks an eyebrow. Trent's gaze sharpens.

"A friend, huh?"

I huff out a sigh. I'm frankly too wrung out and keyed up and confused to bother playing coy with them.

"Okay, not exactly a friend," I say. "He started as an acquaintance from high school, but things have … changed."

Gabriel leans closer and perches his chin in his hands, and I feel like I'm in the Boyfriend Café sipping tea with my charming servers all of a sudden, spilling my troubles to them between classes at City University of Montridge.

"I didn't know we'd get juicy gossip from coming out here," Gabriel says. "We just wanted to come visit because it sounded cute."

I scrub a hand through my messy hair. "I didn't either. Things have been, uh, interesting."

"Go on…"

The details pour out of me, the hike, the couch, the bar … this morning. I keep reiterating that Alex is straight the entire time, but I know even without Gabriel's smug little smile that he's not buying it.

"You know, there was a time when Trent thought he was straight too," Gabriel says, jerking his head at his husband.

Trent nods and holds up his hand, adorned with a wedding band uniting his life with Gabriel's. Extremely un-heterosexual behavior.

"Some people don't know until later," Trent says. "Be patient."

"I'm trying!" I say. "It's hard. He's… He's hot. And when I can get him alone, he seems like he really wants this. It's just the rest of the time when he's sort of distant, but I think it has more to do with his family than me. I don't know. Maybe all of this is about his family. He's here to help them out, but they've been breathing down his neck the whole time, and I get the impression that he's kind of doing this to defy them. Oh God, I hope he's not only defying them. I hope I'm not some experiment to make his parents mad. I don't know what I'd do if…"

"Breathe," Gabriel says. "Slow down. It's been, what, two weeks?"

"Something like that."

"Okay, so this guy has a lot on his plate, even without some kind of sexual awakening. It's no wonder he's a little closed off at times. He's probably under a crazy amount of stress."

Weirdly, Gabriel's words calm me down, slowing my frantic thoughts to something more coherent.

"That's … that's a good point."

Gabriel reaches across the table, taking my hand. The contact is gentle and instantly soothing.

"Give him a little time," he says. "He's probably as confused as you are."

"What if we don't have that much time?" I say. "What if he goes back to San Francisco and never figures it out? What if he disappears on me one day?"

"Then call me and I'll drive up here and we'll eat an entire carton of ice cream while watching ‘Legally Blonde.' But until then, give him a chance to find himself, and to find you , okay?"

What Gabriel is saying makes perfect sense, but my heart doesn't want to accept it. It's simply too terrifying to leave myself open and raw and hope Alex decides he wants me. If he doesn't I'll have no defense, no shield. I'll be an open wound.

"Hey."

I startle when I realize it's not Gabriel taking my hand anymore, but Trent. The contact jolts me out of my head.

"You deserve someone good," Trent says. "If he's not ready to treat you right, he's not worth it."

I swallow as Trent's careful, precise, quiet words sink in. It's a hard truth, but a truth nonetheless. I force myself to nod, not trusting myself to speak.

"I'm sorry we don't have something more inspiring to offer," Gabriel says, "but you can always reach out to us. I hope you know that. Avery spoke very highly of you, and as far as I'm concerned, the whole Boyfriend Café is family to me forever."

"Thank you. I really do appreciate that."

I stand, hugging them goodbye. Maybe hugging them a little harder than necessary. I need their warmth and reassurance. It's hard watching them leave the café, but I know Gabriel meant what he said. We're family. If this thing with Alex really goes sideways, he'll be there for me. And that's the best reassurance I'm going to get.