Page 29 of Flake It Til You Make It

“And you’re going to get the job,” Rocco said. He slipped his coat on, and Taylor took advantage of his last chance to touch him, smoothing the fabric over his shoulders.

“I sure hope so,” Taylor said.

“Goodnight,” Elaine called out as they headed through the door, Taylor’s hand brushing the small of Rocco’s back.

“I should walk you back to your place,” Taylor said as they stepped out onto the sidewalk. It was cold, now, and the sky looked like snow might be threatening.

“Well, it wouldn’t be a proper date if you didn’t,” Rocco teased, wrapping his scarf around his neck. He shivered a bit, and Taylor didn’t think, just grabbed his hand and tucked into his bigger one, squeezing it carefully to try to warm it.

He was cold, that was all. And someonemightsee, theoretically, and then they could say they’d watched as Taylor walked Rocco Moretti home after their date, holding hands.

Taylor told himself firmly that was what mattered as they walked down the city streets. What everyone else saw, not the firm pressure of Rocco’s hand in his, warming him from the inside out, even though it was colder than his own.

“This was really nice,” Rocco said quietly as they turned the corner, where Jolly Java sat, light glowing out from its lantern next to the door.

He stopped and tilted his head up. It was still early, and there were a handful of people wandering around, taking advantage of the festival time to get some last-minute shopping in.

Would it be anyone who’d recognize them? Taylor didn’t know.

But he also knew if this had been a real date, he’d do this, no questions whatsoever.

So he leaned in, murmured,“just say goat cheese,” and brushed his lips quickly over Rocco’s cheek.

He pulled back, hypnotized by the look in Rocco’s dark eyes—the surprise, and the pleasure. Rocco’s hand went to his cheek and he pressed his fingertips to it, like he wanted to feel it.

Rocco didn’t say that he’d needed togoat cheese, and maybe he didn’t need to. The fact that he hadn’t wanted to was obvious enough.

Neither did you.

“Well, uh, have a nice night,” Taylor said, trying not to stammer. Shoved his hands back into his own pockets so they wouldn’t find their way back to Rocco’s body.

“You too.” Rocco flashed him one last of those smiles, and Taylor turned and walked off.

Telling himself the whole time that if he didn’t leave right then, he wouldn’t have wanted to leave at all.

Chapter 5

“And here I thoughtafter your big date, you’d be on top of the world,” Rebecca joked gently as she leaned against the big stainless steel prep counter running the full length of the back kitchen of Jolly Java.

“I’m notnoton top of the world. Just trying to get these chai buns in the oven,” Rocco said. He continued carefully rolling out the dough.

It was early morning, just after six, two days after his big date with Taylor.

And as many times as he had reminded himself that itwasn’ta date, that Taylor had absolutely no reason to call or text him, that he had Taylor’s number and he could certainly reach out if it mattered so goddamn much, he couldn’t quite convince himself. Or thatcorner of his heart that was stuck on the fact that his evening with Taylor had been one of the best first dates he’d ever been on.

But it wasn’t really a first date. It was afakefirst date.

Rocco was tired of reminding himself of that fact.

“You waltzed in here the next morning like you’d just been swept off your feet. And then by closing yesterday, you were as grumpy as I’ve ever seen you.” Rebecca was trying to be kind, he knew that. Which is why he didn’t tell her to shut up or get out of the kitchen or leave him alone.

Rocco couldn’t tell her that reality had come creeping in, along with silence from Taylor, bursting his happy bubble, and then there was the fact that ithadn’tmade a single bit of difference. By eleven, Jolly Java was still empty.

He’d known it would take time, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t still frustrated.

“Oh wait, did henotcall you?” Rebecca continued.

No. No, he didn’t call me. Or text me. Or send out any smoke signals.

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