Page 99 of Game On

Dorian’s business was small potatoes by comparison.

Okay, it wasn’t small potatoes. But it suddenly seemed stupid to have kept it from Matt and Charlie—the two people he was closest to in the world—for this long.

“Hey.” He tugged Charlie’s elbow. “Come with me for a sec?”

Charlie shrugged. “Sure.”

Dorian led him out of the kitchen, catching Matt’s eye in the process. He tipped his head to the side, indicating Matt should follow, then led his cousins to his office door.

“Whoa,” Charlie breathed. “Are we being given access to the sacred office? I haven’t been in there since you moved in.”

“It’s definitely not as tidy as it was then, so lower your expectations.” Dorian pushed the door open and stood aside to let them through, his palms sweating and his stomach lurching as he watched them take everything in.

His office was a mess, pure and simple. His product samples still took up the coffee table and the floor space between it and the wall. Poppy’s bed was up against the wall beneath the window. His desk was a disorganized pile of Post-it notes, pens, notes jotted down in three different notebooks, and four empty water glasses. And his disassembled boxes were still stacked in one corner.

“What is all this?” Matt approached the corkboard with its product photos listed under each seasonal heading.

Dorian swallowed hard. “It’s for my new business.”

Gasping, Charlie clutched Matt’s arm. “Matt. Is he finally going to tell us?” he whisper-shouted.

“Maybe if we don’t spook him,” Matt whispered back.

Crossing his arms over his chest, Dorian stared them both down. “Ha ha,” he deadpanned.

“What’s the new business?” Matt drifted to the right, taking in the other half of the board. “Are you going into... marketing?”

“Or... product research?” Charlie guessed. “Product reviews?”

“Consulting?”

“Freelance social media?”

“Web design?”

Dorian huffed, only a little bit amused. “Do you want to keep guessing or should I tell you?”

“Were we close?” Charlie guessed.

“Nope.”

“Tell us.” Hands in his pockets, Matt turned to face him. “And then you can tell us why you decided to tell us now.”

Suddenly, with two pairs of curious eyes on him, Dorian faltered. He shifted on his feet. Scratched his elbow. Ignoring his mounting nerves, he said, “I launched a new seasonal subscription box that will feature products from small businesses in BC.”

Although Matt’s expression didn’t change—because that was Matt, stoic as ever—he cocked his head in interest.

By contrast, Charlie bounced on his toes. “That’s so cool!”

Dorian wasn’t sure if it was relief that weakened his knees or plain old gratitude. Either way, he sank onto the couch with a light gasp.

“Now the headings make sense.” Matt rapped a knuckle against the first one. “Guessing this is your first box and the products that will be in it?”

“Yeah,” Dorian rasped. “That’s right.”

“What’s the name of your box? Do you have a logo yet? Who’s doing your web design?” Charlie volleyed, barely taking a breath. “Are these samples of products you’ll have in your box? Do you have a favourite? Can I try one?”

A little unmoored, Dorian stared at him. “Um...”

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