Page 53 of Baking Battles

“Cut!” Danijel’s voice rings out in the background. “Pablo, Mattias, can you please at least pretend to be doing something with those waffle makers?”

“Darling, for you? Anything.” Pablo blows a kiss across the room and Danijel smiles like the heavens have just opened, and Mattias finally lets the penny drop.

“Fuck. Pablo.“

“Yes. I fell in love. Head over heels with that silly boy. He blew me to the point of me passing out in ecstasy, then he fell asleep in my arms, and I woke up the next morning and realised that I never wanted him to leave. It was ridiculous, but he made me smile. He made me feel safe. He didn’t ridicule the mostly ridiculous person that I am, instead he just held me and told me that I was me and to never ever change. Not for anyone, because he said I made him happy. That I lit up his world and reminded him that he didn’t have to take everything so seriously. That sometimes it was great, just to be a little ridiculous. To let his life sparkle. And I can tell you, my life has never been the same. He makes me happy, Mattias. He loves me, and I love him and together we just exist in a little cloud of fairy dust, and that’s what happens every Wednesday. We lie in bed and let the world fade out for a little while. It’s the best. The absolute bloody fucking best. And there is usually fucking involved too in case you were wondering.”

“You and Danijel?” Mattias is smiling so hard that he starts to question his sanity. “Seriously?”

“I love him.” Pablo says, and he is beaming.

“Who do you love?” Danijel smiles and sneaks a kiss on Pablo’s cheek. Letting his arm snake around his waist and Pablo giggles like a small child.

“You, my little cupcake.”

It’s sickening. It’s sweet. It’s oddly everything Mattias has ever dreamed of. Love found in the most unlikely places. Happiness in a cloud of fairy dust.

“Do your parents know?” Mattias blurts out, smiling like he can’t stop himself.

“Of course.” Danijel giggles, with a little blush on his face. “I came out to my parents when I was fourteen. It’s never been an issue. They are cool. Why do you think my Mum dresses so well these days?”

The laughter continues, and Mattias laughs back, shooting Alima an evil smile. She has morals, he knows that, and would never betray someone’s trust, but not telling him about Danijel having a boyfriend? But then perhaps she has, and Mattias just doesn’t pay attention? That wouldn’t be anything new. Maybe he has completely missed something here. He sighs, and smiles into his waffle maker and carelessly throws a burnt waffle in the bin. It doesn’t matter. Nothing matters. Because what does a burnt waffle matter when everything else in your life is going well? When you wake up in the morning with your baby girl in your arms? When you walk into your kitchen and find the most handsome man in the world making you a cup of coffee? When said most handsome man suddenly stands there right in front of you, meeting your gaze and winking? Whispering that he loves you. That you are all he will ever need. All he has ever wanted. That you are beautiful and gorgeous and make him happy? What does anything matter when you are happy yourself?

He can’t make his brain find an answer for that. But happy. He is happy. Andthatmatters.

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