“Awesome. Then Gen can get the Orlando groom’s cake going, and I can work on the wedding cake.”
“Divide and conquer, no?”
“Yes. This is amazing. If we can pull this off, we’ll be caught up and maybe work some reasonable hours this week.”
“I am at your service. I can bake for ten hours a day if that is what we need to do to catch up.”
Briar smiles. “A power baker. Nice. Now I won’t be the only one around here.”
“Is this a bad thing?”
“No, I just get teased. All in good fun though. No one ever means anything maliciously. It’s like working with a bunch of brothers.”
“That sounds okay to me.” I clap my hands. “Shall we get started? One hundred macarons will not bake themselves, no?”
Briar grins. “Nope.”
An hour passes, and Genesis arrives, quickly finding his place, and the three of us spend the morning baking and frosting and filling. We’ve moved to the front counter since Briar likes customers from the other shop to see us creating. It’s a good idea.
Hours later, my tummy growls loud enough that we all hear it and start laughing.
“We should break for lunch,” Briar suggests.
“Five more macarons filled, and I agree,” I reply.
My eye catches on a group of men entering the other side of the bakery. I smile when I see Apollo and Jude heading our way. When the door between the two sides swishes open, my whole body fills with excited energy.
Jude waves, walking straight to Briar, whose neck he kisses as Briar finishes stacking a cake layer. The blond one leans over the counter stealing a kiss from Genesis. Luca, I think, is his name. My eyes shift up to Apollo, who is leaning sideways against the counter, his sexy smirk firmly in place.
“Good first day?”
“It’s been lovely.”
He glances down at the trays of filled macarons. “Those are pretty.”
“Thank you. They are for a birthday party tomorrow.”
“You made all of these this morning?”
“Yes.”
“Wow.”
“The life of a baker, no?”
“I guess so. You ready for lunch? We came to snag you boys.”
“I am starving.”
Cairo comes over to our side, squeezing between Luca and Gen behind the counter. Gen complains, playfully pushing both of them away from his cakes. He’s a perfectionist, which one must be to make the best creations, and I admire his dedication to his work. So far, it seems Briar, Gen, and I are compatible. This is good news.
“Sushi or sandwiches?” Jude asks.
“Sushi,” Gen and Cairo reply at the same time, making Luca laugh.
“I’m so hungry,” Briar says. “I want a sandwich.”
I look to Apollo. "What do you want?”
His eyes search mine just a few seconds too long. “Whatever you want, Felix. I’m easy.”
“I do not love sushi,” I whisper. “But they usually have teriyaki chicken or something I can eat.”
“I vote sandwiches,” Apollo says to the group, winking at me.
“Yeah, I’m down with sandwiches,” Jude says.
“Why don’t we go to Vic’s?” Luca says. “They have that nice outdoor patio.” He turns to Cairo and Gen. “I’ll take you boys for sushi tonight.”
“We’re so spoiled,” Cairo says.
“Deserved,” Luca says, kissing them both.
A flair of jealousy lands in my stomach. I want to be in a relationship. I want stolen kisses at lunch time, and a man who wants to make sure I eat exactly what I want that day. I put the final macaron in the box. At least I have half of that with Apollo.
We all head out, walking down the sidewalk a few blocks until we get to the sandwich shop Luca suggested. Jude and Apollo insist on buying lunch for everyone, and I can tell from the easy acceptance this must happen often. I order a Cuban sandwich to continue my celebration of all things Miami, and we find a nice outside table in the shade.
The conversation is pleasant, laugh out loud funny at times, and I find myself nearly giddy with joy that these are my new friends. Cairo and Genesis provide most of the entertainment while Luca gazes at them like they are precious gems. Jude is always touching Briar, sharing bites, kissing, whispering. It’s sweet. When I glance at Apollo, he’s watching me with a sweet smile on his lips.
“I have to believe,” he begins, “when I’m surrounded by all my friends like this, that love is coming for me too.”
“Yes. It is bittersweet, no? I love seeing men in love and openly sharing affection, but it twists the knife of loneliness a little bit.”
“It does.” Apollo reaches up and tucks some of my hair behind my ear as the gentle breeze tosses it around. “You won’t have any problem finding someone once you get out there a little more. You have an amazing personality, and well, you’re pretty.”
I smile, willing the blush creeping up my neck to stay away. “Thank you, Apollo.”
“You’re welcome, Felix.”
After lunch, we all return to our respective shops. We still have plenty of baking to do, and before I know it, it’s almost three in the afternoon. Unlike the past few days at home when I felt tired midday, I feel energized.
Briar pats my back. “You killed it today.”
“Thank you. It is good to be swinging the saddle again.”
Briar’s brow pinches. “Uh…”
“Oh. I said that wrong, didn’t I?”
“Do you mean back in the saddle?”
“Euh.” I tap my chin.
“Oh. Back in the swing of things?”
I perk up. “Yes. That's the one.” I laugh. “I get so confused. I speak English fluently, but the slang is hard to remember. I have been gone so long too.”
“We can teach you slang, boo,” Genesis says. “It’s like one of my many strengths.”
Briar laughs. “Let’s wrap up and get out of here.”
“Yes, but a question first, please.”
Both men look at me.
“I want to take Apollo to dinner on Thursday for helping me adjust. Do you have suggestions of a good place?”
“What’s your goal?” Gen asks.
“Goal?”
“Yes. You have three options. Romance, Hookup, or Friends Only. What is your goal?”
Briar shakes his head. “Gen.”
“It’s a valid question.”
“Those are the only choices?” I ask. “Euh.”
“Oh, I get it,” Gen says, raising one eyebrow as his mouth forms a pout. “The elusive fourth option—Let’s See How it Goes.”
I nod. “Yes. That one.”
“Then I know the perfect place. I’ll write it down for you. It’s got a nice upscale-but-casual ambiance. It’s intimate without being too romantic, so lots of opportunity for chatting. And the food is divine. Price range?”
“Oh, it doesn’t matter.”
“Why? Are you independently wealthy?”
“None of your business, Gen,” Briar scolds.
“It’s okay.” I’ve perfected my response to this. It’s not that I like hiding my trust fund, but I’ve learned the hard way that people treat you differently when they know you don’t need the money. “I have some savings I can use, and I am still staying at my parents’, so my overhead is low.”