“For an intelligent man, he can be really stupid.” Orsen gritted his teeth, then stabbed at his cake. Looking at it, he asked, “Caramel fudge?”
“The one and only. Amazing too, so don’t stab at it too much. Enjoy its gooey goodness.”
“Can I ask you a personal question?”
“Shoot.” Cody licked his spoon, then watched Orsen. “What is it?”
“Do you and TJ you know, er, swap?”
Cody’s eyes widened. “Ah. Do we switch?” Cody sat back and Orsen had the feeling he shouldn’t have asked that question. Itwas a personal question, and he went to tell Cody it was fine, but Cody answered. “Not really, but that’s more me than him.”
“You don’t need to say anything. Forget I asked.”
“After everything I went through.” Cody touched his wrist and Orsen saw the faint scars on it. “I can’t bottom, and I have an incredibly understanding man in TJ who accepts that.”
“What happened?” He reached over and touched the scar, surprised that Cody let him.
“I was a mess, Orsen. I’d left here and I… I fucked up my life for a year or so, then one night things escalated, and I almost died. Things were done to me even after I said no.” Cody looked away, his eyes staring off somewhere Orsen couldn’t see. “I knew I was going to die,” he murmured, “but I kept thinking about TJ and then I was saved.”
“Mama and Jedson.” Orsen had met them briefly when they were leaving, and Mama had given him the best mom hug he’d ever had.
“Yeah. They picked me up and put me back together. I owe them so much, but they only want me to be happy.” Cody looked back at Orsen. “Don’t accept someone who can’t see you for who you are, and I include Santino in that. I think you’re great together, but he needs to get his head out of his ass, or he could lose you, so I suggest the club, and we party and make sure Santino finds out. Don’t worry about TJ. I’ll suck his brains out, and then we’ll be fine.”
Orsen spluttered, then laughed. “I should be used to the things you say.”
“I like to keep you on your toes.” Cody took a bite of his cake and moaned. Pointing his fork at the cake, he mumbled, “So good.”
Orsen nodded in agreement. He hadn’t had a bad cake or pastry from Tea for Two? yet. Every time he came in and triedsomething new, it was better than the last. They kept getting better and better. “Are these all made here?”
“Most are. Hang on.” Cody twisted in his seat and shouted, “Sherri? Are these all made here?”
“The caramel fudge one isn’t, but now that I know how to make it, I’ll be giving it a go over the weekend. Why?”
“We love them. You make excellent cakes.”
Sherri blushed and waved Cody’s comment away. “Since you brought those boys in, they come in a couple of times a week and now their moms come in as well, so I should be thanking you.”
“Free cake?” Cody sat up and fluttered his eyelashes, which caused Sherri to laugh. “One slice each. Please!” Yes, Cody was begging for cake, but Orsen would beg too because it was some good cake.
“Fine, but only because it’s you.”
Cody jumped up and practically ran over to the counter. “What do you want, Orsen?”
“The orange cheesecake, please.”
A minute later, Cody came back with two slices of cheesecake and two fresh teas. Jasmine for Orsen and green tea and lime for Cody. Orsen picked his cup up and inhaled the aroma. He loved trying the different teas here. He had some that had become firm favorites and some where he thought he’d throw up and swore to never have again.
“Right. Me and you. This Friday.” Cody grinned. “Let’s plan.”
***
“Are you sure they’ll let me in?”
Cody put his phone away and grinned. “Yep. That’s a good ID and we don’t mention to TJ where I got it from, do we?”
Orsen mimed zipping his lips, then grinned. “I’ve never been to a club before. Are there lots of hot men?”
“Very hot.” Cody waggled his eyebrows. “None as hot as TJ, but good eye candy.”
