15. CHAPTER 15

CHAPTER 15

Each day Dorsey came up with another concoction for the fall and he was basically floating. That Mercury loved each of them only made it that much better. Well…that and the fact each of them were selling out like crazy.

As scary as it was, Dorsey rented out a booth at the Halloween Festival. Shit!!! Was he crazy? Part of him was certain he was.

He clutched Mercury tightly. "Please tell me this won't be bad." Yeah, he was begging to be reassured the morning of the Festival.

"You will be amazing," Mercury promised as his lips pressed against his temple.

The thing was, Dorsey damn well knew Mercury was his biggest supporter. What he didn't know was whether or not he was being honest or supportive…or–and fuck he hoped not-he was just there because he felt he had to be.

That would have made him like Dorsey's…even as he thought the word father, he shuddered.

Even as the thought went through him, Mercury held him tighter as he reassured Dorsey. "Everyone is going to love your treats. Every single one of your balls are super tasty."

There was something about that phrase that had Dorsey giggling his ass off.

That Mercury also chuckled only made it better. "I'm glad you got the joke," Mercury said.

Damn, but he needed to relax and just enjoy life. He'd started doing that before becoming focused on this stupid fair. It was the weekend before Halloween. His favorite time of year. Of course, he enjoyed it. Right?

He sighed. Okay, yeah, he couldn't deny he'd been stressed about creating each flavor. It was mostly fudge, but he also had two popcorn balls and one candy corn ball. It was one of the reasons he'd loved the name of Tasty Balls. As much as Dorsey loved fudge, he also enjoyed other treats and enjoyed creating them.

"I promise," Mercury told him even as his arms surrounded Dorsey. "Everyone is going to love everything you've made."

Was it wrong to cling to that thought?

Nodding, Dorsey lifted the first of the boxes. Mercury took them from him. "I've got them, sweetness."

In all, there were thirty large boxes of different flavored balls. Once they were all in Mercury's SUV, they headed to the grounds surrounding the casino. Not only were they set up for the fair, but it showed off Roped Adventures . The outdoor rock climbing and zip lining company that was just one of the many businesses Cedar Falls had fostered.

As nervous as he still was, Dorsey also felt so much better with Mercury by his side.

From what Mercury had learned, many businesses had come to fruition thanks to the town's people. It started years ago, despite the previous mayor doing everything he could to stop it from happening. Not that Mercury actually knew anything about Donald Murphy, but… he'd heard too many stories not to discount them.

It took them nearly an hour to set up Dorsey's booth, but Mercury wasn't about to complain. Nor was he going to leave his boy's side that first day. His sub needed him there, and Mercury wasn't going anywhere.

"Two dozen of those apple streusel balls, please ," Jesse begged as he basically collapsed on the counter of the booth. "Parker is in love with them, but don't even get me started on Lily. I swear that girl is ready to come here and steal all of them for herself."

Jesse's eyes widened once he'd realized what he'd said. "Not that she'd ever…" He waved a hand around for several minutes. "You know, steal. But she would show you those puppy eyes to get them all."

Mercury handed the larger box to a laughing Dorsey, having already put it together. "Did you want some of the pumpkin lime balls, too?" Dorsey asked, knowing damn well Jesse did.

"Fuck yes," Jesse exclaimed. "But puhlease put them in a different box because, according to them both, lime is ‘nasty'. Got nothing on that, but as long as I get them their favorite treat, as well as me, I honestly don't care."

Mercury chuckled even as he put together a smaller box.

"By the way, are you going to go through the haunted woods?" Jesse asked them.

Damn if his sweet boy didn't bounce in anticipation. "I can't wait," Dorsey squeaked out.

"This is the only festival I prefer out here," Jesse admitted. "There is no way we could easily hold a haunted anything in town." He shifted his hand up and down. "Mostly. It might work if we created houses, but when it comes down to the woods or a house, I'm voting for woods every damn time. Especially when that means involving Bigfoot."

Mercury did his best not to roll his eyes at the mention of the mythical beast. He knew Jesse considered the giant not only real but also believed that one day, the monster would somehow stroll through town to prove he was alive.

"By the way, thank you so much for providing your balls for the Community Center's opening," Jesse said as he took the boxes in hand.

Mercury hadn't known much about the Community Center until Dorsey offered to make some treats for their opening. He'd been damn proud of his boy for willingly donating ten dozen fudge balls to the event. It wasn't for another month, but it was the opening that had been the talk of the town.

The previous event had been about a group home for gay boys. Mostly. In reality, The Wilde Side would take anyone in the LGBTQ+ community. The home had the ability to handle both male/female/trans with seclusion for anyone who identified as such.

"I'm happy to help," Dorsey murmured. "I know The Wilde Side is open, but should I send more food?"

Was it possible to fall more in love with this man?

Jesse placed a hand on Dorsey's arm. "Don't get me wrong, Cedar Falls needs to help them more, but I'm fairly certain offering more sugar to teens isn't the way to go."

It took all of Mercury's control not to laugh out loud.

He placed a hand on Dorsey's lower back. "Sweetness, maybe we could find another way to help."

Dorsey nodded vigorously. "Of course."

"Actually," Jesse told them. "Crow is arranging a Christmas Festival to help continue to fund them." He grabbed the two boxes close as he said that. "I've suggested coming before," he said to Dorsey. Now, he was clearly including Mercury. "But, now I insist, Monday, ten in the morning. That's when we get together to discuss all festivals. That includes the ones that fund certain charities."

That was when Dion warned Mercury to stay away from the office. According to his mentor, that was when certain people in the community came together and often got–again according to Dion–out of control. Considering that Jesse was one of those people, Mercury could understand why Dion had suggested that he not show up.

Oddly enough, he found Jesse…well, funny–mostly. His mentor barely tolerated Jesse. Not that Mercury could exactly blame him. But that said, he hadn't really given a shit that he was over the top drama.

Don't get him wrong, Jesse was often…extra. Still, the few times he's interacted with him–other than when he'd caused Dorsey stress–he'd found him more ridiculous than malicious.

That said, he wasn't willing to have his boy traumatized by Jesse's vivaciousness. It might often be fun, but sometimes it was just…too much.

How Parker dealt with it all the time, he had no clue.

"I'll be there," Dorsey said resolutely.

"Me too," Mercury promised because there was no way he would let his boy deal with it alone, especially since Dion had tried to warn him away from the group.

It would mean texting Dion because there was no way he was about to join this group, or more importantly let Dorsey do so without knowing what the hell was going on.

Even as he thought that Mercury pulled out his phone and texted his mentor.

Instead of getting a text back, an hour later, he stared at the man he considered one of his best friends. That was until he saw the laughter on his face.

"You are well and truly fucked," Dion told him.

"What?" he exclaimed.

Dorsey looked from Mercury to Dion and back again as if he had no clue what was happening.

Since Mercury hadn't a clue either, he couldn't help his sub.

That only made Dion laugh harder. "Come on," he gestured for Mercury to follow him. "I promise, I'll…mostly…explain."

The thing was, Mercury didn't believe him. Still, he promised to return even as he followed Dion.

"You might not realize it," Dion told him. "But Dorsey was completely ‘adopted' by Jesse and his friends."

Huh?

"That means, every single thing Dorsey does, which includes dating you, belongs to them." Dion chuckled, but like… What?

"I'm sorry, what does that even mean?" he asked.

"I warned you away from those Monday morning meetings because they are both chaotic and intrusive. But they also invade your life. Technically, it is Dorsey's, but since you have claimed him, that now means you." It wasn't what he wanted to hear, but somehow, Mercury had known it to be true. Too many people had mentioned things.

"Don't get me wrong," Dion added. "They are fucking insane, but they are some of the best people you will ever know."

Deep down, Mercury already knew that to be true.

"Come," Dion said. "Let me show you around. I won't deny, they are an odd bunch, but…everything I know about them is good. They pour everything into this town and do everything they can to ensure each person is taken care of."

Dion tapped his shoulder. "Why do you think Tasty Balls is doing so well?" Then he shook his head. "Don't get me wrong. He truly makes phenomenal fudge, but when the townspeople have decided Dorsey would succeed, he's going to. It's one of the best parts of Cedar Falls. It also means, once drawn in, you are part of it."

The thing was, Mercury wasn't so certain that was a bad thing.