Chapter Text
Isaac stands behind the counter, staring at the backwards letters on the window advertising freshly baked bread and pastries, and waits for someone to come in. The banner over the door proudly states “Grand Opening” and Isaac feels hopeful for the future; he’s on the right path, this is what he’s supposed to do in life. He’s all smiles and pulls and straightens out his apron to make sure it looks perfect, yet his happiness slowly dwindles after an hour and a half of no one coming in or even walking by. He looks down at the cake slices and pastries in the display and it almost seems to him as if they’ve somehow wilted. Isaac walks around and cleans the already spotless tables and rearranges the flowers by the cash register. Perhaps it was just a slow day and he would get more business during the lunch hour. His dream had always been to open a bakery and have it be successful. The first one was achieved and the second was yet to be seen.
Soon enough, as promised, Erica and Boyd come through the front door and the sound of the bell alerts Isaac, who’s in the back room, that someone has come in.
“Mornin’, sunshine!” Erica yells and it echoes throughout the bakery, but at this point, he doesn’t mind. It’s the sweetest sound in the world for Isaac.
He runs out and pulls both of them in for a hug, “I’m so glad you’re here!”
“She was talking to a client, hence why we’re here so late,” Boyd says and they take a seat by the window. Erica was an interior designer and Boyd was a contractor, both of which took up most of their time.
“You know how that woman is!” She turns to Isaac, “Long story short, she’s a bitch!” Erica says and laughs. “That’s pretty much the only reason why I don’t mind taking her money.”
Isaac is standing in front of them and you could practically power an entire city by how ecstatic he is. “What do you want? I could get you some coffee and a bagel. It’s all fresh, I promise!”
“We believe you, we believe you,” Erica says and gives his hand a quick squeeze.
He walks away and gets their food ready, “I would have had a little bit of help, but Derek isn’t here yet.” Isaac is carrying a tray with freshly brewed coffee and sesame seed bagels with plain and strawberry cream cheese spread.
“How is that wonderful stepbrother of yours, by the way?” Erica asks sarcastically and takes a sip of her coffee.
“You’re still not over him dumping you?” Isaac teases.
“Hell no. I don’t ever forget anything once you’ve fucked with me,” she tells him.
Isaac bursts out laughing, “Get over it! It was like, one hundred years ago!”
“Who breaks up with a person ten minutes before a date?!” Erica yells with a mouthful of bagel.
Boyd puts his arm around her and gives her a quick kiss on the temple and smiles, “Both of you were young. Give him a break.” Erica melts and leans into him, pressing a kiss on his lips.
Isaac groans and looks away, “Both of you are making me sick with all this love so early in the day.”
They start laughing and Isaac tells her that Derek confided in him that the only reason he dumped her was because he knew she had stolen his favorite leather jacket. Erica feigns being offended, as she would never in a million years admit that she had indeed stolen the jacket, and goes on a rant about the next time she saw him, she’d tell him off for slandering her character.
The bell above the door rings again and Isaac freezes. Someone else had finally come in.
“We’re totally good luck for you,” Erica says and smirks.
Isaac stands up and walks behind the register. To put it simply, the man who just came into his bakery is absolutely gorgeous. Short, jet black hair, brown skin, and the prettiest brown eyes that could bring a man to his knees and thank whatever God or Gods are out there for creating such a perfect human.
“What can I get you?” Isaac asks and wrings his hands together.
“I’ll take a large coffee with two sugars.” He smiles at him and Isaac feels his knees go weak.
Making a cup of coffee is child’s play, yet he’s having a hard time even holding onto the cup. Once the lid is on, he feels like he’s actually achieved something.
“How much will that be?” He asks and takes out his wallet from his back pocket.
“Three seventy-five,” Isaac tells him and grabs the cash out of his hand, fingers lightly touching his. For a second, Isaac forgets that he needs to make change for the $5 bill he currently has in his hand. He does so and manages not to send the coins flying all over the place. “Before you go,” Isaac continues. He takes the top off the cake stand on top of the display and puts a brownie in a paper bag. “Customers get a free brownie, since, you know, it’s the grand opening and everything,” he rambles.
“Oh, thanks!” The man takes the bag from Isaac and looks around, “It’s nice here. I hope you do well today.”
As he’s walking out, Isaac calls out to him, “Tell your friends about us!” And the man smiles and tells him, “Sure thing!”
Isaac stands there for a moment and you couldn’t kick the smile off his face. Someone, who happens to be extremely handsome, took an interest in his bakery, and even bought something.
“I’m a paying customer. Where the hell is my brownie?” Erica asks him, obviously amused at how smitten Isaac is with this stranger.
“Shut up.”