Page 35 of Baking Battles

“Do you want me to help you with the pram?” Mattias offers. Sara needs to leave. Now.

“I need to ring for a taxi.” Sara replies, fishing her phone out of her pocket. “I had a drink earlier, so I can’t drive. I’ll need to borrow your car seat.”

“Let me help.” Christopher says, grabbing Emi’s snowsuit and expertly wriggling her little body into it, fastening her hat under her chin with a tap of her nose.

“The Taxi is five minutes away.” Sara says.

“Then let’s get the pram downstairs.” Mattias sighs, throwing his jacket over his shoulders, opening the front door as Sara bends down to pick up their daughter.

“Stay.” He almost barks at Christopher. Who nods. He can’t read him. Not at all.

They stand on the pavement, waiting for the taxi. Like they are a family. The snow has stopped falling, but the wind is biting cold. Sweeping over their faces as Mattias leans in to kiss Emi’s little cheek.

“Be good for Mummy.” He coos as she snuggles into Sara’s neck.

“Matt. I’m sorry I shouted at you. I was just shocked. You should have told me.”

Sara looks surprisingly honest. And calm.

“I haven't slept with him.” he confesses. He’s not quite sure why he is being honest either.

“He is in love with you.” Sara says. And she smiles. “I can tell from him just looking at you. He looks at you like you have hung the fucking moon, and I can’t say I blame him. I was in love with you for years. You are irresistible when you are not so bloody grumpy. “

“I’m sorry.” He replies. “I’m sorry for making you so unhappy. I’m sorry I messed everything up.”

“No, babe. I’m sorry that I made you feel like you couldn't tell me. We should have talked about things and not let everything slide and become such a mountain of shite. Maybe if we had talked more we could have made each other happy. Well. No, I wouldn’t…” She grimaces and lets out a little laugh, pointing at her groin. “No dick.” she mouths.

It’s almost like years ago. Before they got so angry. Years ago when they could smile and laugh and make fun out of each other without everything getting so damn dramatic.

“You are gorgeous and sexy and wonderful, and any man would be lucky to have you as his girl. You need to find someone who will fall absolutely in love with every little part of you.”

He means it. He wants her to be happy.

“My boobs are still saggy.” she pouts.

“Someone will adore your saggy boobs, babe.”

“You’re drunk.” She giggles. “Fuck, I can’t believe you’re gay. Wait until I tell Guri, she will freak.”

“Don’t tell Guri.” Mattias pleads. Fucking Guri. The biggest gossip in Oslo.

“She can keep her mouth shut when she wants to.” Sara says, her nose in Emi’s fringe, but her eyes shining with laughter.

“Yeah right.” Mattias says, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Maybe I should try finding a girlfriend? Maybe I should try this bi-curious thing?” she giggles.

“You’redrunk.” Mattias laughs. “You love cock as much as I do.”

He can’t believe he just said that, but the throaty laughter Sara lets rip is like music to his ears.

“Come here.” He says and wraps her up in a hug. “We're going to be the best co-parents in the world. You and me. Team Emi. Don’t forget that. Were on the same team, babe.”

“Team Dick.” Sara laughs and Mattias just swats her away as the taxi pulls up.

“Love you.” He says.

“Love you too, babe.” She replies.

He doesn't know which emotion is stronger as he runs up the stairs, two steps at a time. The feeling of impending doom or the feeling of being totally elated. He loves that they could laugh. He loves that Emi has seen her mummy and daddy behaving like happy loving parents for once. He loves that Sara has taken it all so well. That she has in a way been part of this and perhaps… misunderstood, but in a good way. She gets him, and he has no doubt that she will recoil with some horrific put-downs as she will swing through the ups and downs of getting her head around that the guy she was with for years, the father of her kid, is most probably gay.

He thinks. Because how can he be sure if he hasn’t actually tried it? Dared to. Kissed the only person in the whole wide world that has ever made his dick twitch, because right now? The thought of kissing Christopher is definitely making his dick twitch. Christopher. The most beautiful man in the world according to Vogue magazine. And Mattias Strømme. They are both probably right, he thinks as he lets the front door slam shut behind him, no doubt invoking the rage of his noise-sensitive neighbours.

Not that he cares.

“Who are you?” Christopher asks, standing in the middle of the living room floor, now dressed in Mattias’s threadbare dressing gown, with his arms crossed over his chest. “Who the hell are you, Mattias? Because right now I don’t get you. I don’t understand shit.”

“I haven’t got a fucking clue.” Mattias replies, and throws his arms around the man who smells like home. Sweet and spicy, with an undertone of cheap biological washing powder and the hairspray the TV3 styling team use.

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