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“Definitely.”
Marc polished off his ice cream quickly, and Riley took the last few sips of his float. When they were ready to go, Marc practically bounced from the store.
Darius’s shop was an easy walk from the ice-cream store. When they turned onto the street where it was located, Riley froze. “Do you see that building? The one with the sign?”
Marc nodded, giving him a look like he thought Riley might have lost his mind.
“It’s perfect.”
“For what?”
Riley didn’t answer. He kept walking until he was standing right in front of a turn-of-the-century structure. The building was for sale. There were a few tenants in it, but many of the spaces seemed to be unfilled.
“This is it,” Riley said.
“What are you talking about?”
“This is the perfect space for Susan and me to have our bakery.”
Riley pulled out his phone and snapped some photos, including one of the contact information for the seller. Maybe the realty company could tell him how to rent a space from the current owner. There weren’t any signs in the empty shop.
“I thought you hadn’t decided whether or not you were staying in school.”
“I haven’t, but either way we’re going to have a bakery eventually.”
He peered into the window to get a closer look. There was a display counter and a door leading to a small kitchen. It must have been a cafe, bakery, or coffee shop before. He turned, seeing how the street would look from inside. There was a park across the street and tall, sleek buildings, a great city feel. But the inside was cozy and intimate, and the historic building was gorgeous.
“You think there’s any chance Susan and I could afford it?”
Thorne could afford it. No, Riley was doing this on his own.
Marc frowned. “It looks like it needs a lot of repair. Maybe that’s why it’s up for sale.”
Riley knew he was right. They didn’t need a fixer-upper rental space for the bakery. They needed something cheap, in a great location, with a working kitchen—a Goldilocks space—which was never going to happen. “It’s just so perfect. Can you see it?”
Marc stepped back into the street.
“Be careful,” Riley admonished. “Did you even look?”
Marc grinned. “I sensed there were no cars.”
“Asshole.”
Marc crossed all the way and looked from the far side of the street, a hand over his eyes to shield him from the sun.
“You’re right,” he said when he returned. “It’s perfect. I can just see you in there at the counter, handing out your life-changing cupcakes, and Susan rushing out from the back with a new tray of turnovers. Have you come up with a name yet?”
He shook his head as he looked longingly into the vacant shop. “I know it’s a long shot. But I’m going to call just to see what they’re asking.”
“You better, or I’ll call for you,” Marc said.
“You would, wouldn’t you?”
“Not if Thorne beats me to it.”
Riley winced. “I’m not planning to tell Thorne just yet.”
“What?” Marc’s disapproval was obvious. “Riley, he’s your partner. You should talk to him.”
“How many of your boyfriends have you really talked to?” Riley knew the question was unfair, but he couldn’t take it back.
“This may shock you, but I’ve never liked the assholes I’ve dated as much as I tell myself I do at the time.”
Riley smiled at him. “You’ll have to try harder than that to shock me.”
Marc ignored his comment. “You and Thorne. What you have is real.”
“Sometimes it’s hard to talk to him.”
“Do you give it a chance? A real chance?”
Yes. No. “Can we skip the sage advice right now and go get his fucking suit?”
“Oooh, I’ve hit a nerve.”
Riley didn’t bother denying it. “I’m being an idiot, but I can’t seem to stop myself.”
Marc gave a loud sigh. “If only we all had the secret to not being an idiot. The world would be a much better place.”
“True.”
Marc narrowed his eyes at Riley. “You aren’t special, you know.”
“Thanks, you’re a real friend.”
“In making stupid decisions, I mean. I moved to California for Hamilton. He was a self-centered ass who was using me.”
“Okay, I agree. You are also an idiot.”
“And so is Thorne sometimes, but you love him.”
Riley sighed. “I’ll tell him when he gets back tonight.”
“All right. Good enough.”
Riley looked at the number of the building he’d fallen in love with. Eighty-eight. “The tailor shop has got to be close by. It’s at number ninety-two.”
Marc pointed to the adjacent building. “Is that it?”
Riley followed Marc’s line of sight and saw the sign on the side of the building that listed the tenants. Tailoring by Darius was listed fourth. “Yes, that’s the one.”
“Then let’s go meet Mr. Magic Hands.”
They were both laughing at Marc’s comment when they pushed through the door of Darius’s shop.
There wasn’t anyone at the small counter, just a sign indicating that they should ring the bell if they needed assistance.
