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“What do you mean, you’re not coming?”
“The boys are sick. I’m not going to put them in a car right now. They… Jack!” Marzia yells as noise can be heard in the background. “I’m sorry, Elio. I promise we’ll make it up to you.”
“I know. Give the boys a hug from me, okay?”
“Will do. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
Elio hangs up the phone, disappointed that his best friend and her family won’t be visiting, and also feeling a little stupid for spending all day in the kitchen now. What is he meant to do with all this food? He can put some of it in the freezer, but the cakes won’t be as good, and he can’t eat all of them by himself.
He takes a picture of the cakes, just to tease Marzia, and he sends it to her.
This is what you’re missing out on.
There’s no answer, but he knows that she’s busy with the twins so he’s not expecting a text back for long. So he begins to put some of the dishes into the freezer, cursing himself now for preparing so much.
Send me some of that soup!
Elio can’t help but smile when he sees his best friend’s text, but it doesn’t take away from the disappointment of not getting to see her.
What am I going to do with the cakes?
He picks up a pumpkin brownie, but after being in the kitchen making these all day - and if he’s being honest, eating half the batter and chocolate while making them - he’s full after just a few bites.
Why don’t you bring them over to that handsome new neighbor? 😉
Elio had only seen his new neighbor once, but it had been enough to make him have the biggest crush on him. To him he looked like a god and every time he left his home he would catch himself hoping to run into him again.
It hadn’t happened though, and he highly doubts that the man whose name he doesn’t even know is sitting at home, waiting for some stranger to show up with dessert.
There’s no point in throwing this food out though, and he isn’t going to give it to his other next-door neighbors. Last time he talked to them was when they accused him of killing their rose bush. Which was not true, by the way.
He puts the apple pie onto a plate and most of the pumpkin brownies into a container, and after having to give himself a pep talk, he leaves his home to go next door.
He almost goes back home after having knocked on the door, but the lights in the hallway get turned on and he knows that he would only be making it weird if he left now. So he takes a deep breath, and he flashes a nervous smile when his neighbor opens the door.
“Hi…”
“Hi. I ehm… I made these for my friend, but she didn’t show up. So I figured, maybe you’d like to have them?” Elio explains nervously, although he can only imagine what the man in front of him must be thinking. “It’s apple pie,” he adds, resulting in his neighbor smiling at him.
“My favorite,” he says, his warm smile enough to make Elio relax, if only a little. “I’m sorry, I didn’t get your name.”
“Elio.”
“Oliver. Nice to meet you.”
Elio hands him the food, expecting to go home now and not see Oliver again until they maybe run into each other when they leave home at the same time. Which could be tomorrow, or a year from now.
“Wait, Elio?” Oliver asks when he turns to leave. “Why don’t you come in and have some of this?”
“Oh, I ehm…”
“Unless you have somewhere you need to be, of course.”
Elio shakes his head, flashing a crooked smile as Oliver takes a step back to let him into his home.
Elio hadn’t even considered that maybe Oliver was married or that he had kids, but just because he hadn’t seen them doesn’t mean that they’re not there. When he enters the house, it hits him that he might be about to meet his entire family though, and he starts to regret coming here. Because he has a crush on Oliver - he has thought about him at some really inappropriate times, he has to admit - and he does not want to meet his partner and kids.
“Sorry about the mess,” Oliver says when they step into the living room. The room is much tidier than Elio’s place, and except for a dirty mug and a pair of socks lying on the floor not a thing seems to be out of place.
“Do you ehm…” Elio hesitates, because does he really want to know? “Do you live alone?”
“Divorced.” Oliver smiles as he steps into the kitchen to make them a cup of coffee to go with the cake.
Elio isn’t quite sure what to say to that, because he’s afraid his reaction would show how pleased he is to hear it. He can feel his cheeks warm when Oliver turns to look at him, that warm, friendly smile still on his face.
“Do you have a family?” Oliver asks. “A partner? I’m not keeping you from them, am I?”
“No.” Elio smiles, feeling his cheeks grow warmer when he sees the grin on his neighbor’s face. “It’s just me.”
Oliver stares at him for a moment longer, something about the look in his eyes making Elio wonder if he had seen him before and thought about him as well. He doesn’t dare ask such a thing though, so he quietly watches as Oliver slices into the apple pie - cutting off two large pieces before putting them onto their plates.
“You take these and I’ll be there in a second.”
Elio feels a little odd, taking the plates and sitting down in the living room where he has never been before. But it gives him a minute to look around, to see what kind of books Oliver reads and the art he has on the walls. Oliver’s interests seem to be all over the place, and it only makes Elio more curious to get to know him better.
“This smells delicious,” Oliver says when he sits down on the couch beside Elio and he picks up his plate. “My grandmother used to make apple pie, but, and don’t tell her I said this, this one looks even better.”
“Thanks.” Elio chuckles, a little embarrassed. “I hope you like it.”
Oliver takes a bite, closing his eyes and making a sound that makes Elio feel things he knows he shouldn’t. Not here, not in front of him.
“Shit, that’s good,” Oliver laughs. “Do you bake a lot?”
“A little.” Elio nods when he picks up his coffee. He almost tells him how it’s his dream to open up a little bakery, but he doubts the man would care to hear his whole life story. So he quietly sips his coffee and he watches as Oliver takes bite after bite, finishing his pie within seconds.
“Sorry to say it, man, but I’m kind of glad your friend didn’t show up,” Oliver laughs. “I need to get that recipe.”
“I can make you another one.” Elio shrugs, feeling a little braver now that Oliver is relaxing back on the couch, coffee in hand. A big, satisfied smile on his face. “Or anything you like, really.”
“Anything? I will definitely take you up on that offer.”
“Good.” Elio smiles. “You take care of the coffee, and I’ll take care of the food.”
Oliver playfully extends his hand, wiggling it for Elio to shake it. Elio hesitates, shaking his head, but then he takes it, his heart skipping a beat when he feels Oliver’s firm grip on his hand.
Oliver grins, still holding onto Elio’s hand, “It’s a date.”