Page 16 of A Phoenix Reborn at Christmas
But despite that, he always ordered the pies. And except for that first day, His Lordship always ordered two fucking pies! But not once had he given a single compliment or a kind word.
Who the fuck did Lord Percival Everflame think he was fooling? He must love the pies if he was coming in to their “dirty little bakery” every day and putting up with Leo’s continued poor service skills in order to get them.
And it was creating difficulties for Leo. Every morning when he set to making the pies, he had to remember that many bought, ate, and enjoyed his pies. Not just Lord Arrogant Cockhead here.
Being a hearth and kitchen witch meant it was important to cook with intention. That intention affected the bake. When he cooked, he always thought about those who would eat his food, hoping they would be well fed and nourished. He imagined customers enjoying the pies so much that they wanted more.
But since he knew Lord Prick would be eating his pies, he constantly worried his dislike for the man would seep into the batch of pies and ruin them. Then all the pies would taste revolting!
So far that hadn’t happened.
But every day when he baked, he just tried to focus on the patrons who came into the bakery and ate his pies and push thoughts of Lord Percival Everflame away. And even if he didn’t like the phoenix, Leo knew a good hearth and kitchen witch would still want to feed him properly. That was what his father and mother would have said.
Leo’s parents had died when he’d been just ten years old. Since then, the bakery had been run by him and his many siblings. Although, initially at age ten, Leo hadn’t been that much help. The older siblings had been the ones who’d really kept the bakery going and the roof over their heads.
Leo enjoyed his work in the bakery. He just wished Lord Everflame would stop insulting him and his pies.
And what was wrong with spiced lentil and mashed potato? It was one of Leo’s favourites!
“Well, you can always order something else, Lord Everflame.” Or the man could just fuck off and bother someone else.
“Fine.” The lord sniffed. “I’ll take two.”
No surprise there.
Leo went to get the two pies. Thankfully the phoenix didn’t say another word as Leo packaged and set them down in front of him. “That’s eighty bells.”
Lord Everflame placed the coins on the counter. “There.” Then he picked up the pies, turned, and walked towards the door without so much as a thank you. Like every single other day.
Leo couldn’t help himself. “You’re so welcome, Your Lordship!” Leo called out. He smiled. “We appreciate your patronagesomuch!”
The phoenix paused at the door, glancing back at Leo. He narrowed his eyes. His lips twitched. Then he exited into the snowy air.
What a dick!
“Merry Christmas,” his sister Lacy said to the minotaur she served.
“You too, deary.” The minotaur took her plate of cookies and a mug of hot chocolate to one of the tables.
Then Lacy looked at Leo and smiled. “That phoenix you’re always complaining about is really hot! I’ve never been this close to him. He glows!”
Leo rolled his eyes. “He might be attractive. But he is still a giant arsehole,” he said, keeping his voice low as he walked into the back area of the bakery.
Lacy laughed. “Well, I hear hate fucking is fun. So maybe you two could do that.”
“I’d rather fuck a hedgehog. It would be less prickly than His Lordship. Also, I’m not taking sex advice from my younger sister!”
“Why not? I’ve been in a serious relationship with Orim for a year now. And we have an excellent sex life.” Lacy smiled and tossed her hair. “Everyone should aspire to be like us.”
Laughing, Cas, their adopted pixie brother, looked up from icing cookies. Unsurprisingly, Jasper didn’t look up. Today he stared out the window with a far-off look in his eyes, like he so often did.
Leo looked at the window. But there was nothing to see but falling snow. He looked back to Jasper.
Was something bothering him? If it was, why did Jasper not talk to Leo about it?
Every day after work, Leo went to Jasper’s room to check in on him and talk. But Jasper always held back from him. Leo could feel it in his bones.
“He might be a jerk, but he is still nice to look at,” Cas said. “At least from back here, where I don’t have to deal with him.”
