I know I had a meeting at 9 on the dot, but I was nervous. I was about to come face to face with a man I've only heard about. I was about to meet the man who had no idea I knew how big his boyfriends dick was. That's nerve racking, only because I don't really know how to keep cool under pressure. If James came up, who knows…I might slip and say. "Oh yeah I know him. I've sucked his dick." Not gonna go over well for me. So sitting in my car, for two minutes past nine was really the only way I could calm myself down. The N*SYNC radio on Pandora helped too.
I got out of my car, wrapping my scarf around my neck once and putting my bag over my shoulder. The quaint little hole in the wall bakery was brightly lit up with Christmas lights already up, and there was a scent of Vanilla and Cinnamon all around. It felt homey and safe. Helped me walk in. When I got in a small bell dinged overhead, making a short guy behind the counter pop up, holding a tray of freshly made muffins. It was a shock to see him. The main reason being, he didn't really look like the type to work at a bakery. He had his right eye brow pierced, along with the right side of his bottom lip, tattoos covering up and down his neck and on the little bit of skin I could see on his arms. He also had huge gauges in his ears, and short brown spikey hair. He was wearing a plain long sleeved grey shirt, with the sleeves pushed up on his arms. But was still wearing the biggest smile I had ever seen on anyone. "Hi! You must be Logan!" I smiled small and walked further into the bakery seeing it almost completely packed. I frowned slightly, wondering how he knew I would be me, but brushed it off. "I'm Carlos. Kendall told me to send you back when you came in so follow me. And please if you see something that looks delicious take it. We also have a fresh pot of coffee brewing right now." I nodded slowly walking towards him, as he set the tray of muffins on the counter and threw a dish cloth over his shoulder. "Hey guys…if you hear that beeper go off, just yell for me. I won't hear it myself." I turned to see a man, sitting in a booth with what looked like his family, all smiling and eating, nod to Carlos. "Alright Logan…Kendall is in the back, back getting in our new shipment of materials but he wants to give you a tour of the place so you can get a feel and then I think he's gonna be talking business, business. He wanted me to make sure you got everything you needed while you're here, so if you need something just get my attention and I will be your right hand man."
"Thanks…I usually have a few guys work with me, but it's been hard to get anyone now a days." We walked back into a huge, clean and bright looking kitchen. There were several people all around stoves and ovens and counters, laughing and doing their job. Carlos looked over at me, both of us at the same eye level and frowned.
"Interior Decorating…you can't get people to help?" I laughed and shrugged blushing. "Oh…oh my God…that's right." He stopped, grabbing my arm and shook his head. "You're the guy who got attacked and almost killed a year or so back, right?" I blushed even harder and swallowed hard looking down between us. "I'm sorry…I just…wow I need to get a longer shovel if I'm gonna be talking to you. Let's go find Kendall." He let me go, and turned quick, walking off. I followed fast grabbing the strap of my brown leather messenger bag on my shoulder and unbuttoned my black pea coat. Carlos pushed open a heavy looking door, and stepped out onto a loading dock, where a truck was being unloaded, by two guys. I immediately buttoned my jacket back up and stood behind Carlos. The two guys noticed us first, but then two more guys who were standing off the side, talking and laughing quietly, spotted us. One of them, a tall blonde holding a clip board smiled big, quickly signed the paper and handed it back to the other guy. The tall blonde turned to us and walked to us, shoving his hands in the pockets of his jacket. "Kendall, this is Logan. Logan this is Kendall Knight." Carlos moved out of our way, and pulled down the sleeves on his shirt. I smiled small at Kendall and moved forward extending my hand. Kendall also moved forward, but didn't go to shake my hand. Instead he pulled me in for a big, warm hug. I awkwardly hugged him back, but pulled away fast.
"You look nothing like how I imagined you would look. I thought you would be taller." I laughed, genuinely and shrugged. "No matter…you still have the job. Short or not." I smiled small and nodded watching him turn to Carlos. "How is everyone doing out there?"
"Good. The Smiths are on their second helping. But I told them they could have 20 helpings and we wouldn't care." Kendall nodded and smiled small turning to me.
"So Logan…can I get you anything before we start? I hate to do business on empty stomachs or cold hands. A motto my mom always told me. 'If you send a friend away hungry or cold, you have no friend.'" He nodded to the door behind me and I turned walking beside him.
"Actually…if you have any hot cocoa I would love some." Kendall pushed the door open for me and we walked back into his bakery. As he walked in front of me, he took of his coat, and I glanced to his butt. It was nice. I looked up fast, hearing Carlos behind me and cleared my throat. "You know…usually when I start a job I just get right into it. There is no emotional connection." Kendall looked over his shoulder at me as he pushed open the door to the front room, and I smiled. "You've made me feel more at home in the two minutes I've been here, than any other person in this town." Kendall smiled wide and walked me behind the corner in the front, all the way down to a two private booths, in the back. I got in first, taking off my jacket as I sat. When I sat down, I put my jacket by my body and set my bag on the floor by my feet. Kendall took a seat across from me, while Carlos came by with a coffee pot and a coffee mug. He set it down and poured some for Kendall while turning to me.
"I'll be right back with your hot cocoa. Also some fresh doughnuts." I smiled politely and watched him walk away before turning my attention back to Kendall.
"This place is packed this morning. Not that I find it hard to believe." He poured in some cream from a small cup, and nodded glancing over his shoulder.
"It's actually more packed than usual, because it's our free day of the week." He stirred his coffee and took a small sip before looking at me. "Every week we take the money from tips and buy extra ingredients for all our menu items and come in at 3, to start baking. We open the doors at 5 for everyone and anyone. All of families who are having some troubles financially come in, and have breakfast. A lot of homeless people. Anyone is welcome." I sat back staring at him, taking in his complete form. He had gorgeous green eyes, blonde hair, and a smile that could melt anyone's heart. He was defiantly a looker.
"That's amazing Kendall. I've never heard any business owner willing to have free meal days. I've never heard of a business putting in their hard earned money from their work, to help the less fortunate. It's remarkable."
"We do what we can. In the beginning it was just me, coming in every morning, and offering free samples. But it wasn't enough, ya know. The free food ran out, and I had to turn away good, hungry people. Carlos came up with the idea. And he was the first to put in his tips to pay for the groceries. Than everyone kind of just pooled together and now…it's like any other day." He paused, folded his arms on the table and looked down at his coffee. "I honestly believe my employees would work for free if they got to choose. It's part of my hiring process. If you aren't a good honest person, you probably won't work for me. And I can tell who is and isn't." He glanced up at me and smirked. "Half the reason I wanted you to redo the place." I blushed and crossed my right leg over my left. I bent down slightly and grabbed my bag opening it.
"Well…that's very flattering. I'm happy you chose me." I grabbed my black frayed notebook and a yellow folder. I pushed the folder over to him and cleared my throat. "Usually…I start off with a few questions…what your vision is. What your wish list is. What the budget is…all that. The few papers in there are just explaining everything that I'll talk to you about. So, shall we get started?" Kendall opened the folder and pulled out the first page scratching his chin, nodding. Carlos gently stood next to me and set down a cup and a plate of about 8 or so doughnuts. He walked to Kendall's side and nudged him making him scoot over. He set a water bottle on the table and yanked the page out of his hand. Kendall sighed and stuck his tongue out at Carlos.
"You'll have to excuse my best friend. Although he thinks he's in charge he's not." Carlos chuckled down at the page and then looked up at me.
"Just throwing this out there…I am pretty darn handy with a hammer." I could see it in his eyes he felt bad about our awkward encounter earlier. I sat back putting my notebook on the table and pushed up the sleeves of my black cardigan.
"Well like I said…not a lot of people want to work for me right now. After my accident, I guess I had a target on my back. No one wanted to be associated with me. They still don't. So unless you have a time limit…it's just me. And of course if Carlos wanted to help, he can, although I would hate to take him away from working for you." Kendall laughed sitting back and grabbed his cup.
"Yeah I own the place, and it's under my name, but Carlos does a lot of work here. When I suggested hiring an interior designer he asked to be a part of it. So he's all yours whenever you need." Carlos smiled big at me showing teeth and I chuckled. "As far as time limit goes…if it's at all possible I want to be finished before Thanksgiving. I guess that's your deadline. Also…in terms of pay, whatever you usually charge, double it. I'm paying for all the supplies you need. I mean it's my place…might as well put my money in it." I raised my eye brows slowly and he nodded taking a sip of his coffee.
"Also we've already discussed it…we want this place to look completely different, but still have the same feel, if that makes sense?" I laughed and opened my notebook nodding.
"This place could have all the walls pushed down, and still have the same feel. Paint change and new window curtains aren't going to change what you guys do in here. How this place feels is a reflection of what kind of people you guys are. I could never change that." Kendall seemed to brighten hearing that and we locked eyes. In that moment I wanted to tell him I've been sleeping with his boyfriend. It was in the back of my throat…like vomit. But it never came up. All three of us were pulled away from the current discussion by the sound of the bell overhead. We all looked to the door and a sight that would usually make me jump up as soon as possible, made me feel sick. James came walking in, looking exhausted and cold. He took off the beanie on his head and glanced around shoving the beanie in the pocket of his jacket. Carlos got up so Kendall could also get up, and run out to James. I watched with a pained and heavy heart as Kendall went into James's arms and they embraced. Kendall set his hands on James's red cheeks, while James wrapped both arms around his back, pulling him into him. Kendall stepped on James feet and they kissed. In the kiss I could see Kendall's lips move, as he spoke. Whatever he said, it made James look back and immediately glance around the place. I looked away fast and grabbed my cup of hot chocolate. I drank at least half of it, hearing footsteps coming closer. I looked up and set my cup down just as Kendall was back at the table.
"I'm so sorry for how rude that was…just walking away. Uhm Logan This is my boyfriend James. James this is Logan." I stood up quick and extended my hand at James. He looked at my face before looking at my hand and taking it. Much like every other time he touched me I was set on fire. I didn't even care that his had was ice cold. We shook hands, but pulled away quick.
"Nice to meet you James." I locked eyes with him, getting lost in his hazel orbs, before realizing we were in the company of others. More importantly Kendall.
"You too Logan…Kendall can I steal you away for a minute? I'm on my lunch and I just wanted to talk to you." Kendall rolled his eyes and smiled kindly at me before turning to James and taking his hand. "It was nice to meet you Logan." I waved softly as they walked away, and I cringed seeing James shove his hand in the back pocket of Kendall's pants. I looked down at the table and took my seat again sighing out. I started to organize my papers, while Carlos sat across from me, and I cautiously looked up. He was giving me a big smile. I smiled back and he chuckled leaning forward, folding his hands on the table between us.
"This might seem really, really inappropriate. And you will probably hate me and back out of working for Kendall but I want to ask you something." I raised an eyebrow and he leaned even closer. "Are you seeing anyone?" My mouth parted open just a little and he sat back hard. He started to blush. He looked down, rubbing the back of his neck shaking his head. "I'm sorry…I."
"Are you going to ask me out?" He looked up, biting at the piercing on his lip and shrugged. I blushed and sat back playing with the papers of my notebook. "This is going to sound really confusing but…" I stopped seeing James and Kendall walking back out form wherever they went, both smiling. James pulled Kendall in, by grabbing the back of his head and they kissed hard. Kendall laughed loudly before pushing away and wiped at James mouth. James kissed Kendall forehead, and while Kendall wasn't looking, James looked over at me. I felt my heart snap. I turned to Carlos smiling big and cleared my throat. "I would love to go out with you Carlos."