Page 31 of Flake It Til You Make It

“Uh, no, but it’s fine. He will,” Rocco said confidently.

With a trickle of regulars returning to Jolly Java, admittedly because they’d “heard that he’d brought pumpkin spice backandthat you’re dating Taylor Hall, that nice man at Town Hall,” Rocco was newly committed to the plan.

Okay, maybe he liked Taylor a little too much, but that was normal right? They were both single, attractive people, and Rocco could admit that it had been awhile for him. He’d been too busy buying this place, remodeling it, and getting it up and running before festival season started. And Taylor’s dry spell sounded like an eternity compared to Rocco’s own.

Which really . . .that begged the question why that was?

Were they to the point in their “relationship” where Rocco could ask that question?

“That’s the attitude,” Rebecca said. “He’s probably just busy. Obviously this is Griff’s busiest time, but the mayor’s office isn’t exactly slacking either.”

“I’d think not,” Rocco said.

“You still want to go to the ornament party?” Rebecca asked.

Rocco was a little surprised she’d asked. He’d fully been expecting to get dragged there, whether he wanted to go or not. And he found he did kindawantto go. If only to make his tree slightly less depressing.

“Yeah, I do,” Rocco said.

She smiled. “Awesome. Meet you there?”

“Yeah, sounds good.”

“And after, there’s a Grinch cocktail calling my name,” Rebecca claimed.

“Is that the special this month? That bright green monstrosity?”

“It’s like an apple martini, butspiced. With a caramel drizzle. It’s freaking delicious,” Rebecca argued.

Rocco nearly said, “Taylor likes caramel, I should have him try one,” but at the last second, he kept his stupid mouth shut.

It was bad enough that Taylor was beginning to feel like an omnipresent force in his mind. He didn’t need Rebeccaoohingandahhhingover how cute the pair of them were, too.

“I do like how they make an espresso martini,” Rocco said.

“How you drink that much caffeine right before bed is baffling. I’d be awakefor hours.”

“We Morettis practically drink espresso in the crib. We’re used to it by now,” Rocco pointed out dryly.

Rebecca laughed. “Alright, if you think you can handle it.”

“I canalwayshandle it,” Rocco said confidently. He did feel like he’d gotten a little of his normal swagger back. Hewasgood at this. He just needed the town to see it, and they would. With a little time, and Taylor’s help, theywouldcome around.

“Good,” Rebecca said and pulled him into an unexpected quick hug. “I hated seeing you all pissy and diminished. That’s not you, Rocco. And he’s going to text, he will. If he doesn’t, well, that’s his loss.”

“He’s gonna text,” Rocco said. It was easy to be confident about this, because Taylorwouldtext, eventually. He needed him, just like Rocco needed Taylor.

But by the time Rocco pulled on his scarf and was heading down towards Santa’s Workshop, the toy shop where the ornament party was hosted, just down the street from Jolly Java, Taylor had not texted and his confidence had deflated a little.

Rocco was debating pulling his phone out and sending Taylor a text himself, something along the lines ofwhat the hell, dude—but he told himself he’d do it after the workshop. Give him a little time to calm down, and maybe sound less outraged that Taylor hadn’t contacted him after their (fake) first date.

But when he pulled open the door, immediately spotting Rebecca at one of the long tables dotted with craft supplies, there was a very familiar face next to her.

Taylor freaking Hall, in the flesh. Not too busy to text Rocco, not even close.

The only thing that made Rocco feel better was the shock on Taylor’s face when he noticed Rocco approaching.

Taylor hadnotexpected to see him tonight.

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