Page 21 of Topped

“I’ll bring everything over in minute,” Alex said as I tapped my phone against the card reader. He looked at me for a second. “You’re one of the guys who runs Lick It!, right?”

“That’s me. Milo,” I said with a casual smile.

“Cool. Do you guys supply businesses? We’d like to offer proper milkshakes and ice cream floats in the summer, but I’m not fucking making ice cream. I’d rather use good, local suppliers.”

“We’ve not, but it could be something we do in future, especially if you’re interested,” I said. I wasn’t about to say no to a business opportunity like this. Not without discussing it with Darcy and Alfie first—Darcy would be the one keeping up with the supply after all, and Alfie would be able to do all the shit like pricing. “We’re closing over the winter, but if you’ve got a number or email, I can talk to Darcy and Alfie and then maybe we can meet up to discuss it?”

“Sounds good.” He grabbed a blank Novel Tea loyalty card and scrawled his details across it. “Here. Drop me a message whenever you wanna chat.”

“Cheers.” I shoved the card in my jacket pocket, hoping I’d remember it was there later.

Rupert was waiting patiently behind me, and I grinned as I turned to him, gesturing at the tables. “Where do you want to sit?”

“I don’t mind,” Rupert said.

“You pick.”

He looked for another second, then led us over to a small table at the back, slightly tucked away, with two comfortable, squishy-looking chairs on either side of it. “Is this okay?”

“Perfect!” The chairs were gorgeously comfy and easy to sink into. If I wasn’t careful, I’d end up staying here for the rest of the afternoon instead of getting back to work. But it wasn’t like we were busy. Nobody would notice if I took a nap here instead.

“That’s nice of Alex to ask about supplying them,” Rupert said, hanging his coat over the back of the chair before he sat down. He was wearing a mustard-coloured knitted jumper, and it was the sort of thing only he’d make sexy.

“Yeah, it’s cool. I just need to ask the others, and figure out a way to do so that doesn’t make Darcy panic.”

“Do you think he would?”

“Maybe? I don’t know.” I leant back in the chair and crossed one leg over the other, thinking deeply for a second. Maybe I shouldn’t be talking to Rupert about Darcy, but sometimes it helped to have an objective person in the room.

“He was really stressed out this summer—we hit the ground running a lot faster than we anticipated, and then he and Owen decided to forget communication was a thing. I guess, I don’t want to stress him out again. But it’s more because I want to protect him, not because I think he’s incompetent. Darcy’s the most determined person I’ve ever met, and if he wants something, there’s no point standing in his way. The shop is his dream, and he made it come true. I can’t imagine wanting something so much that you bend your whole life into figuring out how to make it work.”

“It’s incredible really,” Rupert said. There was a tiny hint of sadness in his eyes as he glanced away which puzzled me, because didn’t he feel the same about the sweet shop? After all, why would you run a retail or food business in this economy unless you really wanted to.

“Yeah but, surely you get it? I mean, you opened the sweet shop, right?”

He shook his head. “No, it was my uncle’s business. I took it over when he died.”

“But you like running it, don’t you?”

“I suppose,” he said. He looked so glum and it instantly made me regret this conversation. I hadn’t wanted to upset him. This whole outing was supposed to be fun.

“Oh! I showed Alfie some of those links you sent me for suits,” I said, leaning forward in my seat and smiling brightly, hoping the change of subject would distract him.

“Did he like them?”

“Fucking loved them! He’s ordered a couple of bits to try on, but he’s super excited.”

Rupert’s face lit up and it sent warmth rushing through my chest. “I’m so glad. What did he order? If you don’t mind me asking.”

“Hang on, I’ve got the links. Let me show you.” I pulled my phone out of my pocket and scooted my chair around the side of the table so we were closer together.

Just because it was easier to show him things, obviously. Not for any other reason.

Alex brought our food and drinks over while we were deep in conversation about Alfie’s suit options, but that didn’t stop us. We continued chatting at speed between mouthfuls of sandwich and cake and quick sips of our drinks. The food was great, but I barely registered the taste. I was too focused on the beautiful man sat next to me, whose eyes danced like starlight whenever he was interested or excited, and whose mouth had the most stunning curves.

In all these months, I’d never really noticed just how utterly gorgeous he was. It was mesmerising.

“Do I have something on my face?” Rupert asked, touching his lip self-consciously.