One of Charlie’s favorite things about working at the town library was that his friends and family could come in and see him whenever they wanted.
Today, Marcus had dropped by with the product of a new recipe he was testing out—peanut butter cupcakes with salted caramel frosting.
“Can we get married?” Charlie asked, taking another bite. He’d dated Marcus for a few weeks, but it had quickly become obvious that they were better off as friends. Being married to a baker would have had its perks, though.
Extremely fattening perks, but Charlie could have lived with that.
“So they’re good?” Marcus asked, holding his hat in front of him with both hands as he waited for a verdict.
“They’re awesome. Everything you make is awesome,” Charlie said.
Marcus smiled shyly, looking down at his feet. “Thanks. Are they gonna work for fall?”
“Oh yeah.” Charlie licked his lips, glancing over at the door as it opened. “They’re a little sweet for hot days, but I could imagine sitting in your bakery and eating one of these while it rains outside. And making embarrassing noises while I did it.”
Marcus broke into a grin at that. “That’s the goal. I actually bake these to lure cute guys into the bakery.”
“I am extremely cute,” Charlie said. “And they’d totally lure me in. I think you’re onto a winner, here.”
The automatic doors slid open again, and Charlie glanced around Marcus to see who was coming in. The disappointment when it wasn’t Scott made Charlie cringe. Was he really that desperate?
It didn’t feel like desperation. He just wanted to spend more time with Scott.
“Are you waiting for someone? ‘cause you’ve looked at the door something like a hundred times since I got here.”
Charlie sighed. He’d been trying to pretend to himself that he wasn’t pining, but that didn’t change the fact that he was.
“There’s this guy,” he started, pausing when he saw the way Marcus’s face changed.
The look Marcus was giving him was so sympathetic that it made Charlie wince. He obviously wasn’t hiding his hopeless crush all that well.
“You haven’t told him you’re interested,” Marcus said.
“Not yet, no. I mean, there was a little light flirting, but nothing serious. I can’t decide whether I think he’s straight or whether I’m telling myself that so I’ll give up and not get hurt. I dunno. Crushes suck.”
Marcus snorted. “Preaching to the choir, man. Sometimes good things come of them, though.”
“My crush on you did,” Charlie said. “Being your dedicated guinea pig is pretty great. And I like hanging out with you, too.”
Once he’d gotten over his inital crush on him, Marcus had become one of Charlie’s best friends. Maybe Scott would be like that, too. Charlie was always happy to make new friends.
He just also wanted a boyfriend.
“So tell me about this guy,” Marcus said, pulling a chair out from under the desk and settling down on it.
Charlie couldn’t stop himself from smiling at the thought of Scott. “He fosters shelter dogs and he’s studying to be a vet and he has these gorgeous blue eyes that look like they can see right into your soul and he’s built like Captain America. He’s basically perfect.”
As aware as he was that he sounded pathetic, Charlie couldn't help singing Scott’s praises. There was no point in pretending that he didn't have a serious crush on him. He’d just have to suffer through it.
“Aren’t college students getting a little young for you?” Marcus raised an eyebrow.
“He’s not a college student. I mean, he is, but he’s older. It sounded like he took a break after high school. He’s definitely my age. Maybe even a little older than me.”
“Gotcha. Not actually cradle-robbing.” Marcus nodded. “So does Mr. Perfect have a name?”
“Scott,” Charlie said. “Which I didn’t think of as a sexy name until very recently.”
Marcus chuckled. “I think it’s a sexy name, but your type isn’t my type. When are you asking him out?”
Charlie groaned at the thought. He was having enough trouble trying to build a friendship with Scott, asking him out seemed like the relationship equivalent of climbing Mt. Everest in the dead of winter right now.
“Maybe never. We’ve got a kind of… tentative friendship thing going on, but I only ever talk to him when he’s in the library. I don’t know. It seems like a helluva risk to put myself out there.”
“A handful of weeks ago you were complaining to me that you were never gonna find love,” Marcus pointed out. “Which you won’t, if you never even try. I mean, I know you know that. I know you’re tired of relationships not working out. And I know you got hurt last time, but you can’t let that stop you.”
Charlie groaned again. He hated it when people were right.
“I know,” he said. “I know, okay? I’m just terrified of rejection.”
“Hey, his loss if he rejects you. I can write you a reference if you want.”
Despite the tight little bubble of anxiety building in his stomach at the thought of Scott rejecting him, Charlie laughed. “I wish prospective boyfriends accepted written résumés and references on request. I could totally sell myself on paper.”
“You’re great,” Marcus said sincerely. “Seriously. He’d be lucky to have you.”
“Thanks.” Charlie smiled wryly, not sure he should believe that.
“I was lucky to have you,” Marcus added. “And I like you a lot better as a friend than a boyfriend, but that doesn’t mean you’re not a great catch. If he’s the right person for you, he’ll see that. That’s how it works.”
“You’re such a sweetheart.” Charlie sighed. “How come you don’t have a boyfriend?”
Marcus blushed to the tips of his ears. “I’ve got an eye on someone. Just waiting to make my move.”
“And yet, here you are lecturing me about making a move.” Charlie raised an eyebrow. They were both a little hopeless when it came to risking rejection.
“This is a do as I say, not as I do moment,” Marcus said. “I’ll get there.”
“So will I.” Charlie glanced over at the door, his heart sinking again when it wasn’t Scott coming through it. He didn’t come in every day—or even every other day, or on any schedule Charlie had figured out yet—but that didn’t mean there wasn’t a tiny spark of hope every time the door opened.
Charlie was in deep with Scott already. He couldn’t remember getting so attached to another person so fast.
That probably meant he’d eventually have to say something. Maybe rejection wasn’t so bad.
It still seemed safer to warm him up a little first.
“Your guy would be lucky to have you, too,” Charlie said belatedly. He meant it. Marcus was one of the good ones, they just hadn’t been quite right for each other. The spark had been missing.
The sex had still been fun, and Marcus had been a warm, attentive partner while it lasted. He was a great friend, and Charlie wanted him to be happy.
“You think?” Marcus asked.
“I know. You deserve someone great.”
“Yeah, well,” Marcus shrugged. “So do you.”
Charlie wasn’t necessarily convinced, but he really hoped that was true.