Bloom (ManxMan)

Dinner and Dessert

Isaac walked into the bakery with a big box of chocolate. After Andy had left, Isaac had drove around until he found the store. The box was gold with a red ribbon at the top. Like always he finds Andy in the kitchen and this time half of his face was covered with flour and Isaac couldn't help his chuckle.

"You look adorable."

"Good morning to you too." Andy laughs as he kept on kneading the dough. Isaac places the box on the table and grabbed an apron.

"I got you a little something."

"What is it?" Andy asked, turning to look at Isaac with bright eyes.

"Chocolates." Isaac replied as he walked closer to Andy. Andy reached for the box and pulled at the bow, he pulls open the box and smiles when he sees the chick so. They were all heart shaped.

"Are you trying to tell me something?"

"I'm literally giving you hearts." Isaac laughed, his hands going around Andy's waist. The baker relaxes into his hold and picked a piece of candy, popping it into his mouth. He lets out an appreciative moan.

"I take it, you like it."

"It tastes divine."

Isaac tightened his grip on Andy's waist and pressed his nose to the baker's head. Three dates and a kiss. He could wait for three dates, no matter how long it'd take to get there.

"Thank you."

"Anything for you, lovely."

Andy turned around in Isaac's arms, lifting a piece of candy to Isaac's lips. The prince opened his mouth and took in the chocolate. Andy cups Isaac's face with his right hand, his thumb lightly stroking.

"Good morning."

"Good morning, darling."

Their voices were soft, the air around them warm. It felt intimate and it'd be the perfect time for a kiss but they've got to wait. They can't rush into this.

Andy was the first to step back, he turned around and continued kneading. He grabbed the hands Isaac had on his waist and together they began to knead, Andy smiling to himself. Every brush of Isaac's hand made tingle shoot down Andy's.

"What are you making today?"

"Cinnamon roll. I already made eclairs, tarts, biscuits, cream puffs, the cupcakes are in the oven." Andy replied, his fingers filling the spaces between Isaac's.

"I'm sure they taste heavenly."

"Flattery will get you nowhere." Andy chuckles. Once the dough was done, Andy put the try of round shaped dough into the oven and cheered. The cinnamon rolls were the last thing he had to do before opening the store.

Isaac helped clean up the kitchen while Andy sat comfortably on the counter, his legs swinging.

"Mum liked your donuts. She said she might visit your store soon."

Andy grins. "She's always welcome."

Andy hopped down the counter and made his way to the fridge. He pulled out a plate with yellow balls in it. Isaac carefully placed the pan down and dried his hands.

"What is that?"

"Your pineapple treat of course. I wasn't sure what to make you and I saw this online. It's a creamy pineapple sorbet." Andy replied as he placed the plate on the table. He grabbed a spoon and gestured for Isaac to walk closer.

"It looks... cold." Isaac said. "I haven't tried pineapple sorbet before."

"It's my first time making this. Try it and give me a grade." Andy said as he hands Isaac a spoon. He watched with bated breath as Isaac took a spoon. Isaac took a couple more spoons before raising his thumbs up.

"A plus plus." The prince said and Andy cackled.

Andy hops back onto the counter and they talk while Isaac at his sorbet. When he was done, he loads the used dish into the dishwasher.

Anne appears a bit past six, clad in a pink shirt and rainbow striped pants and yellow boots. She looked like a hot mess and Isaac couldn't help but shake his head fondly at her.

"If it isn't Prince Charming."

"If it isn't Ugly Betty."

There were many times when Isaac wanted to ask where she got her clothes from because they made his eyes bleed sometimes by how bright they are. Andy had told him Annie's clothes portrayed her personality. She was loud and bubbly and it showed.

"It's nice to see you though." Anne said. She had worn her hair down today, her brown hair falling down her back like a water fall.

"Always a pleasure to be graced by your presence too, Anne." Isaac replies. He flips him off and with a flip of her hair bounds out of the room. Andy shakes his head at the two of them before carrying a tray of treats out of the kitchen and into the store, Isaac behind him carrying a tray of his own.

By seven, Isaac flipped the sign from closed to open. It had been a miracle that the paparazzi had not found out about his part time work. Especially since Freddie's mother has posted their selfies all over f*******: and i********:. He liked the serenity and loved the fact that he could spend all day with Andy. This was his little piece of heaven.

Like always, as soon as the sign was flipped, the customers starting pouring in. It was a flurry of tea, coffee and treats. Some eating in and some taking away. In-between serving and giving change and receipt, Isaac and Andy spent the morning looking at each other, Isaac winking at him occasionally.

By eleven the morning crowd had died down, save for the elderly man at the corner who was slipping his tea and munching on some biscuits, the newspaper lying on the table.

"He's here everyday."

"Yeah. That's Samuel. He's a friend. He lives down the road and is always alone. I give him food and tea for free as well as company if he wants."

"I don't think I've seen you talk to him."

"Like I said, I will happily seat with him and talk about the stock market if he wants. He comes and I just give him what I always do."

"Andy also thinks he's adorable." Annie cuts in.

"He looks like he's close to his eighties." Isaac guffaws, his eyes wide.

"He's adorable. He's tiny." Andy replied. "Green is not a good color on you, Isaac."

Isaac doesn't even try to look embarrassed. He just grabbed Andy by the waist and pressed a kiss to his head. Ever since Andy had decided to give him a chance, it's like Isaac couldn't help himself. He had to be closer, he had to feel.

They spent the day handing out pastries, receipts and cash. Finally, by seven in the evening, Andy flips the sign from Open to Closed. Annie had clocked out by six thirty.

"Tired?"

Andy nods as he falls into an empty seat. Isaac sat beside him and Andy immediately placed his legs on Isaac's thigh.

"Ready to go home?"

"Nah. Can we order dinner? I'm in the mood for Thai."

Isaac whipped out his phone and pulled up his Just Eat App. He scrolled till he found the perfect store, he hands Andy the phone and the baker placed their order. Andy ordered fried rice, red curry, fried noodles, spicy beef salad and two servings of spicy shrimp soup.

"Are you sure you're gonna eat it all?"

"That's something you should know about me. I eat a lot."

"What else don't I know?"

"Well... I used to hate baking." Andy said with a sigh. "I used to burn everything. When my dad left, I had to do something to take my mind off it, something to make my mum happy, so I tried making her a cake. It took me weeks but I finally got it and I designed the cake with green icing and red hearts. The cake looked so beautiful and that was the first time I saw my mum smile since the divorce."

Isaac reaches forward and took Andy's hand in his, their fingers intertwined.

"You've come so far. You are a phenomenal baker."

"I know."

Isaac laughs and squeezed their hands a bit. "And very modest too."

"I had no one to tell me these things when I was growing up besides my mum, I didn't have friends and I dropped out of Uni in my first year because I couldn't cope. So I had to believe and trust in myself." Andy said with a shrug.

"You are unbelievably strong and that's my second favorite thing I like about you."

"What's the first?" Andy asked, curious.

"Your smile."

"You're a cheesy prince." Andy laughs, lightly smacking Isaac arm.

"I like cheese and so do you, don't think I didn't see you eat green grapes and cheese the other day." Isaac said, a perfect brow raised in question.

"That wasn't me."

"So it was another baker with beautiful dark hair and an even beautiful smile that I saw?"

"Well, when you say it like that..."

Isaac laughs and so does Andy. They talk for a couple more minutes before the food arrived. Isaac paid for them and took it in, placing the bags on the table. Thankfully they had ordered two large 7up with the food.

Andy dug into the fried rice first, stuffing his face full. It takes them a while to finish eating and Andy lets out a burp when he was done. Isaac shook his head and got up, he grabbed two bottles of water from the kitchen and gave Andy one.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Andy was about to take a gulp of his water when he stood up suddenly. He quickly excused himself and made his way to the kitchen, he looked through the freezer until he found the pint of Ben and Jerry's that he had hidden from Anne. He grabbed two spoons and made his way back out.

"Dessert." He sings, waving the ice cream in the air. Isaac gives him a standing ovation, a goofy smile on his face and that's when Andy realized this was a date, dinner and small talk, the ice cream was dessert. He hadn't even realized it, they had done this effortlessly and it hadn't even been awkward.

The smile on Andy's face didn't fall when he realized this, instead it threatened to take over his face. He walked closer to Isaac and confidently sat on the prince's lap.

Isaac's hand immediately wrapped around his waist and he doesn't say anything, he just held on.

"It's strawberry cheesecake. My favorite."

"I prefer Chocolate Therapy." Isaac replies.

"Are you saying you don't want some?"

"When did I say so?" Isaac grabbed s spoon, his other hand still around Andy's waist. Isaac feeds Andy ice cream in between his own bites.

"My hands work, you know."

"Yeah but I want to spoil you. So let me."

Andy dipped his pinkie into the ice cream and smeared it on Isaac's nose. Isaac does the same to Andy and a small chase began around the bakery. The night ends with Isaac leading Andy to the car, opening the door for him like the perfect gentle man he is.

Immediately Andy got in, he flips through the radio until he finds the perfect song, Under the Stars by London Grammar. Andy hummed along with the song, Isaac watching him by the side of his eyes, a smile still on his face.

Andy raised an imaginary mic to his mouth and began to dramatically sing the song, earning a loud laugh from Isaac. This had been the best day if you'd asked Issac or Andy. It felt like they had known each other for years and years.

Isaac pulls to a stop in front of Andy's home and kills the engine. The prince got down and quickly made his way to Andy's door and pulled it open. He walked Andy to the elevator and to the front door.

"Today was fun."

"I had a nice time too." Andy said with a shy smile. "It was a very sweet date."

Isaac nods, his eyes widened when he realized what Andy had said. Tonight had been a date. He doesn't get a chance to ask questions because Andy gives him a small hug and walked into his house, leaving Isaac with his jaw slacked.