Page 17 of Hansen

“You didn’t have to because I was there to help.”

“What about the next time someone decides to have a party in the bakery?What am I supposed to do?”

“You can either tell them to leave, or you can tell Orion, and he’ll do the same.”

Evan’s eyes were damp.“I don’t want to have to rely on you or Orion.I want to be able to do these things myself.”

“You will, eventually.No one expects you to be fine, Evan.We know what you went through, and we understand.”

“When will it stop?It’s not fair.”

Hansen agreed, but life, in general, wasn’t fair.They had to deal with whatever was handed to them, even though, in Evan’s case, it was harder than what most people would ever go through.

“I don’t think it’ll ever stop, but I can promise you that whether or not it does, I’ll be with you.I’ll do everything I can to help you.”

To Hansen’s surprise, Evan giggled.“You realize you made her pay way too much, right?”

“I have no idea how much cupcakes cost.Besides, she paid the fifty dollars, didn’t she?”

“Because she didn’t have a choice with all those kids.”

Hansen shrugged.“Next time, they’ll plan better.”

Hansen was glad to see a smile back on Evan’s face, and if he had to ask a rude woman to pay way too much for cupcakes to see him smile again, he’d do it again and again.

He’d do pretty much anything for his mate.

* * * *

EVAN WANTED TO STANDon his own two feet, but at the same time, it felt good to have someone take charge and take care of him.For so long, he’d been alone and had to survive on his own.It wouldn’t make him weak to allow Hansen to help him, would it?

Evan wasn’t sure he had the strength to rebuild his life on his own.He wasn’t even sure he wanted to do it.Hansen was his mate, and that meant something, even though Evan didn’t know where things between them would go.

He liked Hansen, and he liked him even more after what had happened tonight.Evan had panicked when the two women and children came in, but Hansen had made everything all right.He’d found a solution while Evan had been freaking out, and even though he’d sold the cupcakes Orion had prepared for tomorrow, a sale was a sale.

“So, what’s next?”Hansen asked.

“We don’t have any more cupcakes to sell.”

Hansen laughed.“I’ll apologize to Orion.Do you have to stay open much longer?”

Evan hoped not.He was sitting on the floor behind the counter, for fuck’s sake.It wasn’t sanitary, and after the day he’d had, he felt the need to take a shower and snuggle in bed.

He took his phone out of his pocket and checked the time.“I can close,” he said as he started getting to his feet.

Hansen gently pushed him back down.“Or you could guide me through closing, and I could do it for you.”

“It’s not your job.”

“Good thing I’m not doing it to get paid, then.Let me do this for you, Evan.”

Evan almost asked him why, but he knew.Ever since they’d found out they were mates, Hansen had been showing up for Evan, even when Evan didn’t feel like seeing anyone.He’d texted and called, had given Evan time and space when he needed it, but had been a steady presence that reminded Evan that he wasn’t alone.

Evan knew he wasn’t, of course.He’d always have Davey, who’d looked for him for years and hadn’t allowed himself to be happy until he’d found him.They were still close, but things were different.

Davey had Orion now, and Evan had Hansen.

Evan wasn’t in love with Hansen yet, but it would be so easy to fall for the man.Seeing how much he already cared would be enough.He didn’t expect anything from Evan, even though he should.Right now, their relationship was unbalanced, and Evan wasn’t sure he could fix it before he fixed himself.He didn’t want to push Hansen away, and he didn’t want to hurt him by asking him to wait for too long.

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