by Aidan Wayne
“Got it,” said Jerrell as he took sheets of cookie trays off the cooling rack and set about bagging them.
Melody didn’t leave. Since she was usually all over the place, Jerrell figured she’d say what she wanted when she wanted to. He concentrated on his cookies, shuffling over a little when she went to stand next to him and started bagging too.
“I saw the Doc wanted to talk to you again today,” Melody said after a couple minutes of them working in silence.
“He wanted to know why the cheesecake tastes different today,” Jerrell said absently as he bagged cookies and twist-tied them shut. “Told him about the time thing.”
“Which, next time you will tell me, remember?”
“Yes ma’am.” Melody had not been too happy when she’d learned that he’d changed the recipe on the fly. It wasn’t good for customer-continuity, especially when it’d been a special request. “Won’t happen again.”
“What’d he think of it, anyway?”
“He liked it okay, I guess. He was the one who gave me the idea for the mousse.”
“Really?” Melody put altogether too much emphasis on the word. “How interesting.”
“If you say so.” Jerrell concentrated on bagging.
“Do you mind?”
“Mind what?”
“That he asks to talk to you.”
Mind that an attractive guy kept wanting to compliment his work? Really not. “Oh, uh, no. Not at all. It’s, you know, nice. I’m glad that he’s been liking my experiments.”
“Yeah?” Melody sounded like she was grinning.
Jerrell cleared his throat. “How’s Mary doing? Is she any better?”
“Yeah. Thank the lord, she’s almost over whatever she’s got. She said she should be in regular by Saturday, and wants to give you a break Sunday, so you get a couple days off, finally.”
“I can’t say I’ll mind that.”
“Yeah. It’ll also mean you’ll be off cheesecake duty. Though Mary’ll probably want to try the pumpkin one when she comes back.”
“Again,” Jerrell said, not looking up. “Not complaining.” The complicated stuff was fun and he enjoyed it, but it was ultimately Mary’s kitchen. Jerrell could admit to being a little overwhelmed with having to run it himself. It wasn’t the first time, but this was by far the longest he’d done it for. “I’m glad Mary’s feeling better.”
“Don’t get too comfortable with the idea of going back to second baker,” Melody said, gathering up the already-bagged cookies before starting for the door. “You know you’re taking over again the minute she goes on maternity leave.” She grinned at him over her shoulder. “This was a good test-run.”
Jerrell decided to not think about that, and finished bagging the cookies instead.
Chapter Three
“Jerrell! Get out here!”
Jerrell made a face and put down his pastry bag. This was the third time in three days he’d been called to the front. He was never called out this often. What was going on now?
He poked his head out of the kitchen. Melody, busy with a counter full of customers and a line almost to the door, jerked her head in the direction of the front corner table.
Oh.
Rafi wanted to talk again. Jerrell felt an absolutely uncalled for flutter in his stomach as he walked over.
“Hi?” He glanced down and saw Rafi had ordered one of the pumpkin mousse cups Jerrell had whipped up. Oh. Okay, so Rafi clearly really liked pumpkin. “I’m uh, I’m sorry we don’t have cheesecake today. Melody wants to wait until next week to serve it again.”
“I’ll have to live with that disappointment,” Rafi said, sounding amused. “But I was excited to see these on display today.” He gestured at the cup. Jerrell rubbed the back of his neck and tried to fight down the grin. The guy was just happy about a pumpkin trifle, geez. Calm down.
“You gave me the idea so… I hope you like it.”
Rafi looked delighted. “I’m happy to have inspired you. It’s very good. My new second favorite item.”
“Second favorite?”
A grin. “After the cheesecake, of course.”
“I hope Melody decides we should keep serving it, then,” was the only think Jerrell could think to say.
“Me too.” There was a pause and then Rafi said, “I hope you don’t mind that I keep asking to speak with you.” He sounded careful. “I come here so often, it just seems a shame that I don’t know you yet. But I don’t want to impose on your time. Especially since you’re on the clock.”
Right. Rafi was being the typical friendly regular. See? Jerrell told himself. That’s all this is. He tried for a smile. “I don’t mind at all. It’s, uh, it’s nice to have someone in mind who’s enjoying my stuff. I mean, you know, like with the trifle. You gave me the idea, then you ordered it and told me it was good so–” stop talking before you let something slip and make Rafi uncomfortable “–so now uh, I know at least one person likes it,” he finished lamely.
Rafi glanced down at this plate, then back up at Jerrell. ”Well,” he said after a moment, tone playful. “By all means, keep me in mind when you’re working, then.”
Jerrell was not made to handle this. “Okay,” he said, throat dry. “Um. I’ll let you get back to your trifle. I’m glad you like it.”
Melody smirked at him as Jerrell fled to the kitchen. Which, Jerrell felt, was entirely uncalled for.
***
Rafi didn’t show up on Thursday. Or, well, he might have, but he didn’t ask to speak to Jerrell if he did. Jerrell kind of found himself missing him. It had been nice, in the middle of work, to be pulled out of the kitchen for a compliment. The fact that Rafi was stupidly attractive didn’t hurt either.
It was the same thing Friday too. Amid frosting cupcakes and taking scones out of the oven, Jerrell was almost tempted to ask Lindsay or Tanush if Rafi had come in.
Which was ridiculous, frankly. The man was a regular, but he hadn’t even known who Jerrell was before this week. And Jerrell could say the same thing about him. He’d complimented Jerrell’s stuff a few times. That was it. No big deal.
Instead of letting his brain tailspin over “the Doc”—and Jerrell was curious as to what he was a doctor of—he threw himself back into making the pastries and tried not to fall asleep. A full week and a half of doing all the baking for the cafe by himself was definitely taking a toll. He had decent stamina but man, it was wearing him down a little. He was really fucking glad that Mary was feeling better, and had popped in to say that she’d take over Saturday and Sunday herself. Jerrell was planning on sleeping through most of the weekend.
When twelve-thirty finally rolled around, Jerrell hung up his apron, washed his hands again, double-checked that everything was put away proper, and left the kitchen. He was looking forward to maybe a nap, and then food, and then grocery shopping. Possibly grocery shopping before food. He’d been so busy with work, he’d sort of let chores fall by the wayside. His cupboards were getting pretty bare.
The counter was as busy as it always was at this time of day, so he only waved at Melody to signal that he was going, intent on leaving out the back like he usually did.
But Melody held up a finger and beckoned him over, stepping away from the counter.
Confused, Jerrell walked up to her. “Yeah?”
“Done for the day?”
“Um, yeah. And the place is spic and span for Mary to take over again tomorrow.”
Melody grinned. “That’s my boy. You enjoy your weekend. You deserve the break.”
“Thanks. I’ll see you Monday.” He turned.
“Before you go,” Melody said. Jerrell twisted to look at her. She was smirking at him. Now what?
“Did you, uh, need something else?”
“The Doc’s been waiting for you to get off shift,” she said quietly as she nodded her head in the direction of the front corner table. Jerrell followed the movement. Rafi was sitting there. Rafi was there. At like, twelve-thirty in the afternoon,
which, judging by previous pattern, was at least an hour after he usually came by. Jerrell might be staring. “Jerrell,” Melody hissed, “Close your mouth and say hello.”
“But he always comes in at eleven,” Jerrell said dumbly. “At least, that’s what I thought. That’s when he’s been here the rest of this week.” Or the three days Jerrell had seen him, anyway.
“And he asked us yesterday if it was alright if he stayed to talk to you when you got off shirt,” Melody said brushing some powdered sugar off Jerrell’s shoulder. “It’s not something I’d let just anyone do, but he’s been coming in on the regular for months and we all know him pretty well. And you two seemed to be getting along. He’s a very sweet man.”
Jerrell blinked at her. There was no way. “Are you… trying to set me up with a customer?” With Rafi?
Melody rolled her eyes. “Lord. You’ve worked for me three years now, see if I can’t make a judgement call. Whatever he wants to ask you, you can always say no, and I’ll chase him out myself if it’s necessary. Now get.”
There was never a point to arguing with Melody. Jerrell sent her one last frantic look, then walked over to the front corner table.
Rafi had been bent over a tablet, but when Jerrell approached, he looked up and smiled. “Good afternoon,” he said.
“Yeah, uh, hi.” Jerrell swallowed. “Melody said you wanted to see me?”
“I hope you don’t mind,” Rafi said. “I know you’re no longer working. Please, I don’t want to take up your time if–”
“No, no, it’s okay,” Jerrell said. “Do you want me to, uh–” he made an aborted motion at the empty chair on the other side of the small table.
Rafi nodded at it. “Oh, yes. Yes, please sit.”
Jerrell sat and fought the urge to pull out a napkin to fiddle with.
“I’ll try to be brief,” Rafi said. “I know you just got off work and have things to do. I just wanted to do this when you technically weren’t working. It felt less like keeping you captive that way.”
“Okay?” Jerrell said. Damn it, Melody had him all wound up now. But what could Rafi possibly–
“I’d like to take you out,” Rafi said, expression earnest. “If that’s not too forward of me.”
Chapter Four
Jerrell stared at him. “On a date?”
A nod. “If you were interested.”
“I–yeah. That–okay?”
Rafi smiled gently. “A little taken aback?”
A little? “Sort of,” Jerrell said weakly. Was this–was this really happening right now?
“I’m sorry if it was presumptuous of me,” Rafi said. “If you say no, that’s perfectly alright. I only hope you don’t mind my still coming in to the café.”
“Of course not,” Jerrell said quickly. He took a breath. “And… sure. Yeah. I’d love to go out with you.”
Rafi smiled brighter. He really was stunning. “Let me give you my information, and we’ll decide on when and where, shall we?”
“Y-yeah. That sounds good.” Jerrell pulled out his phone, already running through his schedule in his head. He was free this weekend, but would saying so make him sound too eager? And he had his VA meeting Monday, and usually didn’t feel like doing much else after it was over. So Tuesday? If it even worked with Rafi’s schedule.
“I’m, ah, available tomorrow,” Rafi said, startling Jerrell out of his thoughts. “If you are, and you don’t think that’s too soon.”
“Tomorrow sounds great,” Jerrell said with probably too much feeling. Gave him a lot less time to work himself up.
“Perfect. Would you prefer to do lunch, over dinner? You’re probably used to baker’s hours, aren't you? I wouldn’t want to keep you out too late.” A grin, this one playful. “And I’d be very tempted to.”
Oh man, okay. Actively being flirted with. Which meant Jerrell hadn’t been making something out of nothing those other times.
This was happening.
“I don’t think I’d mind,” Jerrell managed to say, though he had to look at the table to do it. “But yeah. Lunch would be great.”
Rafi reached out to tap Jerrell’s clasped hands, light brown touching dark. Jerrell picked his head back up. “I’m really looking forward to it,” Rafi said softly.
“I–yeah.” God, could he be any more of a mess? His crush was asking him out, and Jerrell didn’t even sound like he wanted to go. He tried for a smile, probably nervous but definitely honest. “Yeah. Me too.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Rafi said. His hand twitched forward, as if he wanted to touch again, but then he simply clasped his hands together and set them on the table. “Now then, where would you like to go?”
“Oh, I–” Jerrell shook his head. He got the feeling Rafi’d go along with whatever Jerrell suggested, and he’d much rather the other man pick someplace he liked. “Your preference. Please.”
The playful grin returned. “This is my own bias, but how do you feel about Indian?”
Jerrell bit his lip. “I like it a lot.”
Rafi’s eyes crinkled when he smiled and it was unfair. “Glad to hear you’re partial. I know just the place.”
After Rafi gave Jerrell the address of the restaurant and they’d picked a time, Rafi sighed. “I’m afraid I have to go.”
“Right, of course.” Rafi was probably a busy man, and he’d already changed up his schedule at least partially for Jerrell today. “Do you… could I walk you out?”
“I’d love that, thank you,” Rafi said, moving his chair away from the table and–rolling.
Oh.
Oh.
Chair.
Jerrell, how are you so oblivious.
Rafi’s expression turned just a little sad. “Is something wrong?”
Of course not. Jerrell was just an idiot. “No, nothing. Sorry,” Jerrell said, standing up quickly. “I was… pie!” Because that was the first thing he could come up with? Stupid, stupid–
“Pie?” Rafi asked as they made their way over to the door. But at least he didn’t look anything but amused now.
Jerrell tried to go with it. He’d drifted off into pastry-land enough before with Rafi that it probably sounded believable. As opposed to him trying to cover up the fact that he’d been so gone on Rafi’s smile he hadn’t fucking noticed his crush used a wheelchair. Not that it mattered in the least that Rafi used one; Jerrell just felt pretty dumb for missing that detail about him. “I just–I had a new idea for a pie. Sorry.”
Rafi grinned. “Sounds promising.”
“Um. Maybe? Not pumpkin though.” Probably not pumpkin. Except that Rafi liked pumpkin. They had a go-to pumpkin pie recipe that Mary had perfected over the years, but maybe Jerrell could come up with a play on the traditional–
“Jerrell?”
Jerrell winced. “Sorry. I uh, I get caught up in my own head a lot. Sorry.”
Rafi shook his own. “Don’t apologize. I get the feeling that I’ll be enjoying whatever it is you’re thinking up. And it’s wonderful that you’ve found something you’re so passionate about.” He smiled up at Jerrell. “Maybe when we have more time, you could share some of those thoughts with me.”
Jerrell’s cheeks went hot. Everything Rafi said just made Jerrell like him more. “Okay.”
“I’m parked over here,” Rafi said leading Jerrell toward a black BMW parked in a handicapped spot. “Thank you for walking me out.”
“No problem,” Jerrell said. He still felt kind of stupid. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Oh yes,” Rafi said with a final smile. “As I said, I’m looking forward to it. Until then.”
Jerrell nodded and gave him a shaky smile back, then turned around to start his walk home. Without Rafi right there being incredibly distracting, Jerrell’s mind started whirring again, filling with questions. Most of them varieties of what did he see in me.
Jerrell didn’t get asked out a lot. Not on dates. He was a big guy whose default look was “intimidating” for all he tried to ton
e it down, and a lot of people didn’t like that. And those who did…
He tended to attract a certain type. And when he’d come out and tried to enter the dating scene, the guys who showed an interest in him had put him into a very specific box. A box he was all too familiar with, being black. This dominant, alpha-male idea that Jerrell had no plans in living up to, even if he’d had the confidence to do so. Which he really didn’t. Something that was pretty obvious the moment he opened his mouth. It usually only took him stumbling through a few sentences before guys moved on. That or they didn’t care to listen to him at all, because they were only interested in one thing, and it wasn’t dates.
He’d tried some dating apps before, succumbing to loneliness, but hadn’t had much luck there either. Too many messages from guys who “introduced” themselves by describing what they wanted Jerrell to do to them.
But Rafi, a man who looked like he should be on the cover of GQ and was a doctor to boot, had talked to him enough to know Jerrell didn’t fit the image he projected against his will. And wanted to take him on a date anyway.
Rafi checked none of the usual boxes. He was older, put together, and just from the few brief conversations they’d had, didn’t seem like the kind of person to push someone into a stereotype. He also had Melody’s approval, and as a black trans woman, she knew plenty about people making negative assumptions. She tended to dole approval out sparingly, having dealt with altogether too many stereotypes herself.
Rafi’d been worried about infringing on Jerrell’s space. That counted for a lot, in Jerrell’s book. There’d been plenty of people who hadn’t given him that consideration.
But while Jerrell was tentatively excited to go out with Rafi, he also felt a little off-balance in the deviation from the usual pattern. He got propositioned a lot. Overt stuff. Gentle flirting was new.
