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Plant One on Me
It’s not that no one has ever tried to set Magnus up before. It’s happened plenty of times to various degrees of success. However, an attempted set up by a mother is certainly a first.
And to be honest, it’s a bit off putting. Magnus genuinely likes Maryse, but her Insistence makes him hesitant. If she’s that desperate there must be some red flags that a mother’s rose-colored glasses obscure.
Besides that, he has his eye on Catarina’s handsome neighbor and his imaginary tryst doesn’t leave much for something real.
Gently as he can, as Maryse is a client and hopefully a future friend, he puts a hand on hers and quiets her listing of this son’s supposed virtues.
“Maryse, he sounds like a delightful man, but I’m taken at the moment.”
Maryse puts her hands to her face and laughs.
“I’m so sorry! Luke has just said so many wonderful things about you and you’re doing me this enormous favor. I just got ahead of myself.”
“It’s flattering really, maybe keep me in mind if this doesn’t work out. But for now, how about we get to work?”
He gestures to the empty building that will soon become her bookstore. She follows his gesture with wide, hopeful eyes. This is one of Magnus’ favorite parts of helping people, that excitement and joy. It’s invigorating. And he has more than enough money and time to do it for free or close to it.
“Any ideas? Or do I get to run wild?” He teases.
She has a lovely smile, he thinks when she beams at him. Then she turns her back to him, motioning towards the empty space.
“I have a list of requests in honor of my children, other than that I just want something cozy for my fellow book lovers.”
Magnus nods. “Cozy is simple enough, so what are these requests?”
She turns back to him, her smile even brighter.
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Two months later, Magnus finds himself at Catarina’s for brunch. It’s been a tradition for years that before any big event he cooks with her. Nothing in the world calms him like cooking and Cat.
“So, can I ask what this is all about?” Cat asks, beer bottle in hand as she leans against the patio door.
They’re eating out on the balcony at his insistence. It’s just a bit chilly out but sunny and beautiful and there’s a chance at spotting her attractive neighbor.
“Why aren’t you drinking some of the sangria I made? It’s a new recipe.”
She takes another sip and waits. Madzie trapezes through the doorway and Catarina only looks away a moment to ruffle her hair. Magnus adores his niece but must shake his head at the fact that he’s made a smorgasbord of delicious food and she’s munching on plain bread.
“Ingrate,” he mutters with a frown.
Madzie just beams through a mouth full of the offending bread. “It’s so good! Almost as good as Alec’s French toast.”
He knows he’s being teased and misses the three-year old Madzie who worshipped him simply for existing. Now she’s in cahoots with her mother of all people.
“Well maybe one day I’ll find out,” Magnus jokes.
“Here’s a chance,” Catarina sings into her drink and Magnus whirls to watch as her neighbor comes onto his own balcony. A daily occurrence as he has plants overwhelming his patio that need tending. Magnus can’t begin to imagine what inside his home looks like, though he’d quite like to know.
Alec seems surprised to see others out there, which makes sense as Magnus is normally over here during the evening and Catarina notoriously hates the outdoors.
“Hi Magnus,” Alec says softly, peering over to wave hello to Madzie and Catarina as well.
“Hello Alexander, surprised to see you,” Magnus says trying to sound like he wasn’t planning this entire meal around the other man’s possible appearance.
“I’m out earlier than usual,” Alec concedes. “I’ll be out later so Izzy insists on going shopping.”
Magnus leans in, a twinge of jealousy. “Oh! Hot date?”
Alec snorts. “No, a thing with my mother.”
Magnus nods at this. He knows very little about Alexander but does know he’s got quite the tightknit family. It’s something he admires.
“Well I’m sure whatever you wear, you’ll look stunning.”
“Thank you Magnus,” Alec’s voice is soft and low and Magnus almost throws himself across the balcony to kiss him.
Alec’s abrupt departure gets in the way of that plan though, only getting a wave goodbye.
“He didn’t even water his plants,” Madzie grumbles.
Catarina laughs and gently touches her daughter’s face. “Your Uncle Magnus has that effect on people.
“That I do,” Magnus agrees. “However in this case it’s quite disappointing. I had an entire plan on requiring his help for my event tonight. My client needs plants and who better to ask?”
“I guess you’ll have to find another way to orchestrate a date.” Catarina teases.
“I guess I will,” Magnus jokes, before tucking into some more of his perfectly cooked meal.
Magnus arrives at Maryse’s opening later than he intended. He’d been fighting all morning to get Maryse requested live plants delivered and it put him behind just a little bit.
But more than anything, Magnus knows how to make a respectable and memorable entrance. So, he arrives with a specially picked out bottle of wine, since Maryse mentioned her eldest isn’t much of a drinker but also not a fan of the crowd that will likely be there and in need of a liquid calming. How she ever thought he’d be a good match for him is beyond Magnus. He also is dressed to the nines, so even if he arrived at the opening’s closing, the first thing anyone mentioned would be his outfit.
Maryse greets him immediately, two blondes by her side who bare very little resemblance to her.
“Magnus, you look stunning!”
Beaming, Magnus pulls her into a hug and hands her the bottle of wine once they pull back.
“You mentioned one of your children isn’t a big drinker but may need one. I believe this bottle is just what they need.”
Maryse takes it gratefully, looking genuinely touched at the gesture.
The bespectacled child next to her make a reach for the bottle and she swiftly avoids him.
“Jace, take your brother to his comic corner please.”
With a large smile, the other blond who looks nothing like Maryse does as asked.
“Those are my two youngest sons, Jace and Max. Max is a bit of a handful but worships his older siblings like nothing else. Thinks he’s their age at times.”
His confusion must show on his face because Maryse immediately explains.
“Jace is adopted and Max is my only child taking after his father’s side. I really enjoyed dealing with those rumors right after he was born.”
“I imagine. Did Lucian ever tell you about the story of Clarissa asking if he was her biological father?”
Maryse laughs. “Every chance he gets.”
“So, is Luke here? I need to say hello, we haven’t spoken in weeks.”
She glances around, placing a hand on his shoulder. This event is a bit more crowded than even he anticipated. Maryse and Luke must be quite the popular pair.
“Isabelle invited so many people, it’s hard to find anyone. Lucky for me he’s tall,” Maryse explains, still looking around. “Well there she is! My daughter Izzy, she’s the one talking to Clary. Sister she never had.”
Now Magnus can see the resemblance. Izzy is Maryse aged down, and a lot less conservatively dressed. Magnus approves on sight.
“There he is!” Maryse exclaims, and even if Magnus didn’t know them, he’d know just from the way Maryse reacts she loves the man so much.
Magnus turns happy to greet his old friend and freezes.
“Who is that he’s speaking to?” Magnus knows the answer but asks anyways. He needs to know how and why Cat’s beautiful neighbor is here.
“That’s my son! But don’t worry, no more set up attempts,” Maryse laughs.
Too stunned to properly lie about some breakup, Magnus just nods.
“Of course! But I’d still love to meet him, you go and schmooze my dear.” He kisses her cheek and tries not to sprint towards Luke.
He’s played the long-game long enough. He will feel Alexander’s lips on his if it’s the last thing he does.
“Magnus!” Luke is facing towards where Magnus came from and therefore the first to see him. Alec whirls around.
“Alexander?” Magnus feigns surprise for the second time today. If he weren’t so damn good at what he does he might consider acting.
“Magnus!” Alec greets, sounding truly shocked.
“You two know each other?” Luke asks.
Honestly, Luke is a detective how can he not put that together?
“Yeah,” Alec replies, still seemingly stunned. “He’s a friend of my neighbor’s.”
“Well that’s funny because-“ Luke tries to speak but Magnus is swift to interrupt.
“Well that’s enough of that Lucian,” Magnus all but shouts.
Luke looks between them, the pieces quickly falling together.
“I’m going to talk to Maryse . . . not that either of you care,” Luke replies, strutting off and Alec barely acknowledges his departure.
“So you’re Maryse’s eldest?” Magnus asks, as everything horrifically falls into place for him. Why didn’t he take up Maryse’s offer??
“I am, I guess all of this is thanks to you?” Alec looks around in wonderment.
“The plants?”
Alec laughs and Magnus adores that sound. “It concerns her. She thinks I’m using plants in place of a need of children.”
“Well, I’ve seen you with Madzie. You’d make an excellent father.”
“Thanks, she’s a cute kid. Adores you, in case you didn’t know.”
“Oh, I do! Anytime she does anything wrong Cat tells me I’ve had an influence.”
Again, Alec laughs, looking to his feet. “Yes, I’ve heard that a time or two.”
“So are you an avid reader like your mother? She gave me some fantastic recommendations.”
Beaming, Alec nods. “Another thing that used to worry my parents. My father was this huge social butterfly and apparently I was a quiet child who only spoke to tell people what they were doing wrong. Mom felt guilty because I guess I’m basically the male version of her.”
“A bit taller,” Magnus comments and Alec smiles.
“What about you? What are your hobbies? Besides all of this of course.”
“I consider myself a jack of all trades. I enjoy cooking, dancing, reading, travelling. I’m focusing now on the cooking now, trying new recipes and whatnot. It’s so difficult to find someone to try them all with though.”
Bless him, Alexander doesn’t take the hint for what it is.
“Oh, I’m a terrible cook! I bet Cat has told you, she used to get my deliveries by mistake. Madzie would steal my bread sometimes.”
“The darling adores her carbs,” Magnus agrees. “I’ve actually heard a wonderful review of your French toast.”
That seems to appease Alec greatly, as he cheeks pinken a little. It’s a lovely color on him, though Magnus supposes he looks fetching in any color.
“So uh, what do you think?”
Magnus had found himself to lost in imagining Alexander in every color that he missed some part of their conversation.
“Sorry darling, I missed that.”
The pink deepens.
“Um, I was uh asking if you wanted a meal together sometimes. You’d mentioned wanting to cook with someone and I don’t cook but I’d like to try and,”
Magnus stops him with a hand on his chest.
“Alexander I’d love that.”
Alexander blinks in surprise, as if Magnus hasn’t been dreaming of asking him out for months now.
“Wow uh great, that’s great. So when are you free?”
“Considering I’ve been dying to get you over since we met? I think tomorrow is the latest I can possibly allow.”
Jaw dropping and hazel eyes blinking, Alec doesn’t immediately respond. Magnus wonders if he was too forward. He’s been told in the past he can be a bit much.
“Joking! I’m free whenever you are Alexander.”
“Magnus, I’d go tonight if that wouldn’t make me a terrible son. I was just shocked is all,” he runs a hand up his neck. “I’ve just felt the same way and feel ridiculous for wasting time pining and ignoring my mom’s set up attempts when you could be making me fantastic meals.”
Truly surprised, Magnus tosses his head back in laughter.
“Oh wow, do I have a funny story you later.”