"So," Riley said as he lifted the cup to his lips.

"So let me confirm this clearly." Bubba leaned forward and spoke in a lower tone. "If you were the main characters in a movie, this would be the sequel and the genre would be different."

...What? Riley nodded slowly, "Yes." I think...

Eran half-sighed-half-scoffed. "That wasn't clear at all."

"No." Bubba smirked. "It was perfectly clear."

"He's embarrassed," Riley said, brushing back a section of Eran's hair to reveal his resigned expression.

Eran shifted his eyes to Riley and they started to glare, but quickly just narrowed tiredly.

Bubba tapped his fingernail against the glass jar of marshmallows. "Wow," he breathed and audibly 'whispered' to Riley. "How did you tame him?"

Did I tame him? He looked so cute just now, I couldn't help it. If we were at home, he probably would have reacted by kissing me. Am I special? No, he's kinder to everyone---people are after him. But I'm still special right? Riley realised his hot chocolate was no longer in front of him. When he looked beside him, he saw Eran drinking out of it, nodding slightly about something Bubba said.

Eran turned to Riley with eyes that were vaguely challenging, but mostly expressionless---like it was a normal thing for Eran to take drinks from him.

"Hey, Riley," Bubba started. "Eran was just telling me that you're a better cook than me."

Riley frowned. "Eran, you're not supposed to say that to his face."

Eran shrugged uncaringly, "He asked," then took another sip.

Bubba crossed his arms and leaned on the counter. "Okay, so now that you're back on Earth," he looked at Riley, "tell me how you ended up here, getting hot chocolate on the house---you're sure you don't want anything else?"

After a few seconds of silence, Eran spoke, "Whatever cake."

"I'm not sure I know the recipe for that," Bubba patronized. Eran gave Bubba his typical glare. "Riley doesn't make you desserts?"

"Hm, he can't bake."

"Hold on," Bubba interrupted. "Let me take care of these customers." He walked towards the register.

Riley turned his whole body towards Eran and leaned his elbow and arm on the counter. "You don't know that," he tilted his head to the side slightly. "I've never baked for you."

"Can you?"

"Bake for you?"

"Bake in general."

Riley hesitated. The truth was that he'd never done it.

Bubba returned. "Anyway, so Riley, how'd you learn to cook?"

Riley tried to quickly think of an answer. The truth was, as far as he could remember, his dad taught him. Then once his father started taking trips and leaving Riley behind, he decided to expand his skills by viewing TV shows, magazines, and books about cooking. What part of the truth could he admit without getting more questions about his dad and childhood?

"He's travelled to Vienna, Paris, the markets of Colombia, and villages of Ethiopia and Indonesia, and met chefs around the world to gain firsthand knowledge of food and cooking," Eran spoke plainly.

"All before the age of 13, eh?" Bubba asked.

"Of course not," Riley interjected, frowning. "This isn't a fairy tale. It was all before the age of 16." Riley looked at Eran. "Eran, that was supposed to be a secret," he said gently.

"I know, I just wanted to brag." Eran looked slightly dejected.

"Thank you for speaking in my honour." He pet the back of Eran's head twice as he smiled. Really, thank you for being sensitive. He knows there are things we both still aren't ready to share.

"Geez," Bubba started. "Watching you two makes me feel all warm and bubbly inside, but at the same time makes me want to cringe and gag."

Riley wasn't sure how and if he should respond because he wasn't sure whether Bubba was joking or not.

"But!" Bubba clapped his hands onto the counter. It wasn't very loud and the restaurant was nearly empty but both Riley and Eran winced and leaned away. "Tell me what the hell happened."

Riley looked at Eran, figuring it'd be quicker and less risky if Eran answered. Eran took the cue and did so: "He got drunk and confessed. And after some thinking and talking, here we are." Eran pursed his lips and frowned. "What I want to know is how you knew before it even happened."

Bubba pointed to Riley. "He made it obvious." He pointed to Eran. "You're really dense."

"I wasn't..." Riley began, "wasn't... I couldn't handle myself back then." He put his elbow on the counter and leaned his jaw on his fist, and then looked away. Noticing the extended menu, he stood up. "I wonder what's new since last time."

Before he could make his way over, Bubba cleared his throat. "Sit. Back. Down."

Riley looked at Bubba closely and determined that, while Bubba was being slightly playful about his command, he was actually serious. Riley slowly glided back into his seat then darted his eyes guiltily.

"And you." Bubba looked at Eran, but then paused and widened his eyes as if startled for a moment. He seemed to think, and then continued, "Well, let's just say I could tell you wanted to see and know more of him. Then, when he was acting like an idiot, I noticed you were affected by the littlest things he did."

"Hmmm?" Riley leaned towards Eran and then towards Bubba. "Tell me more about it," he requested.

"His face when you said his name, how unsettled he was when you smiled or... basically did anything."

"My cake," Eran randomly demanded.

"Oh, right." Bubba turned towards the kitchen. "Your whatever cake."

Riley was feeling a little uncomfortable at the thought of looking at Eran, so he fought not to glance over. But he felt something tap his knee and ended up looking from Eran's finger to his face.

Eran was laying his head down on his arm, staring at Riley without much expression. He didn't say anything.

He wants to go home. Somehow Riley knew just by looking into Eran's eyes. Riley nodded slightly and flashed a soft smile to let Eran know he understood. I'm pretty sure we aren't having sex tonight, but only 90% sure when he looks at me like that.

Bubba put a plastic carry-out container in front of Eran. Is he supposed to eat all of that? Eran stared at the large piece of cake. Oh, did Bubba just force the last portion of a cake on him? It wouldn't be something surprising for Bubba to do. Eran looked at Bubba and then started to blush. What? Riley thought about the reasons Eran ever blushed. Huh?! Are we supposed to sh-share that like a couple in a romance movie? Riley was stuck in a cringe.

Bubba chuckled. "Bear with me here, I'm about to get sappy," he warned. "What I saw happening made me happy. The fact that it's happened is really great. Even though I know you have some obstacles and you'll need to tread carefully... how can I not support you? Riley is the best thing that has happened to Eran in years," he said to both of them.

It felt at least 4 degrees colder as the couple left the restaurant and walked to Eran's car. They were led by smoky clouds that appeared just by breathing.

Riley reached out his hand to Eran's. "It's dark and no one's really around."

To Riley's surprise, Eran took his hand without complaint. Riley was shocked by how happy that made him and fought back a grin, worrying that Eran might let go out of embarrassment if he saw how delighted he was.

"You're the best thing that's happened to me, ever," Riley said quietly. He felt Eran's hand slip out of his.

Eran was distancing himself from Riley by at least a metre and had put his hands into his own coat pockets. "Damn it, Riley... Embarrassing as hell," he complained in a half-grumble. Riley could see Eran blushing at a hellish degree.