Honey Like

Chapter 7

They arrived at a place a bit far from the city, it was a lovely neighbourhood near the beach, they parked in front of a small bakery and stepped out of the car, Venice was still in Pete's arms when they entered the shop, "Good afternoon, oh hello there," the boy in the apron greeted them and waved at little Venice, "Hello, we will take 2 coffee and one hot chocolate for him please," "coming right up," he said and went behind the counter, the trio took their seats in a cozy corner, Pete placed Venice in his seat and all of a sudden he felt strong yet gentle touch against his back, he turned around to be faced with Vegas's pair of worried eyes, "are you sure you're okay?" Pete smiled at him and nodded but before he could respond the guy came with their drinks,

He placed them down along with some cookies and muffins, "It's for your son, on the house," "Oh thank you so much, baby can you say thank you to Uncle?" Pete asked Venice, "thank you," he said shyly and the guy giggled and ruffled his hair, "You're welcome sweetheart," he looked back at them, "Your son is very lovely," Pete got startled so he tried to explain, "oh actually he's not-" "thank you, that's so kind of you" vegas interrupted him leaving him in even more shock, "you know I have a daughter too, wait I'll go get her,"

he disappeared to the kitchen and moments later he came back holding a black cat in his arms, venice eyes got wide and sparkly, "Daddy kitty!" He screamed pointing at her, "This is Pao Pao, I adopted her the night I met my husband, and she's been our little baby girl ever since," he explained, "she's so adorable," Pete added, the boy next to him however was getting too restless, "daddy, Venice play with kitten pweaaase!!" "Venice has to finish his drink first," "Okay," Venice started drinking his hot chocolate so quickly, "Hey! Slow down kitten you're gonna get a tummy ache," Pete scolded him a little and Vegas chuckled,

"Venice finished his drink can Venice play now??" "Wait let me clean your mouth, you have a little moustache," Pete took a tissue and started wiping his mouth tenderly, then he placed Venice down, the little boy rushed to the cat which was now lying down on the floor, he sat next to her and started petting her gently, the scene was too cute so Pete picked up his phone and took few pictures, he kept staring at him for a while, "you know, every time I hold him in my arms it feels so familiar, and I get this strong urge to protect him even tho he's not in danger,
It's like I'm so scared of losing him all the time," he mumbled to himself and to Vegas who was feeling confused,

Pete took a deep breath and faced Vegas, "Anyways, back to the stranger who knows my name hehe," "Ah right, 
That guy was Time, he's an asshole with no character, to say the least, he's not a threat when he's alone," "I did feel threatened tho hehe," Pete laughed nervously but Vegas could sense the fear in it, "yeah, I know, I'm really sorry about that Pete, I should've never allowed him to get to you or Venice," Pete shook his head, "no, don't be, it's not like you can control every asshole in this world if he tries to bother me again I will just call the police on him, and don't worry about Venice, I will protect him with my life if I had to,"

Vegas has heard enough fake words and lies in his life to recognize them immediately in someone's voice, but the words coming out of Pete's mouth were purely sincere and honest, the man in front of him is the epitome of innocence and everything pure and genuine, vegas wants him, desperately, every day, but how can he allow himself to involve Pete in his dirty chaotic world?? He would never forgive him, he needs to do the right thing.

Venice fell asleep on Pete's lap so it was time to leave, "it was lovely meeting you guys, and this little one, I would love having you again," "We will definitely come again, you have such a lovely place, thank you," Pete said and they left the shop, he placed Venice in his car seat carefully and went to the passenger seat, vegas didn't say a word through the whole ride but Pete didn't think of it much since he was probably exhausted, they arrived to Pete's place and he unbuckled his seat belt slowly waiting for vegas to say something or at least look at him but...nothing.

"Thanks for the ride and the coffee, see you tomorrow," he said with a smile and Vegas finally looked at him and for a moment his heart weakened for Pete's dimples and anxious eyes, he felt like an asshole for treating him like this but he has no option, "Mm, see you," Pete's smile dropped a little and he stepped out of the car, he got in his house feeling an uncomfortable mixture of confusion and hurt, he doesn't understand, what happens?? They were okay and now Vegas is being oddly cold towards him, maybe he's overthinking, vegas had a long day at work so he's probably just stressed out right?

Wrong.

It's been 3 days and Vegas's treatment is still the same if not worse, he stopped offering him car rides, he barely says good morning to him and he doesn't respond to his messages, and now pete is standing by the receptionist counter once again watching vegas flirting with Jolene, only this time he looked quite amused and invested in whatever they were talking about, Venice was standing next to him and Pete decided that he couldn't watch this anymore so he walked to them and smiled at Venice, "Venice, let's go honey your friends are already in the class," "okay!" He took his hand and looked at Jolene, "Don't you have a class to be at?" "Fine I'm going, goodbye khun," she threw Vegas a wink and left, Pete glared at him for a split second and left without saying a word,

And Vegas felt it like a knife in his heart, it was for a brief moment but he could see the amount of pain and anger his eyes carried, he watched him until he disappeared into the corridor and then left the building. Later in the office, Vegas' phone kept receiving notifications, all were Venice's pictures but no messages, he didn't respond to any of them, "will you really keep ignoring him vegas?? That's shitty even from you," Kinn said, "It's for the bes-" "It's bullshit, how is that for the best?! You are only causing him and yourself pain, at least talk about it like a decent person for fucks sake," "He was scared of Time Kinn, and he's not even half as bad as the men we know, I have to keep him away from this mess of our world, he's too pure for this," "then tell him, don't just ignore him like a teenager, talk to him directly," vegas didn't say anything but he thought about it for the rest of the day,

During lunchtime, Pete stayed in class and called Porsche and told him everything, "What the fuck?! Are you sure you guys didn't have an argument or something?" "No Porsche and that's what's driving me crazy, I couldn't stop thinking about it for 3 days and I came up with nothing," "I'm gonna have a word with him," "No, no need to Porsche, I- I think I just misread the situation and fell for the wrong person again," his voice cracked at the end and he tried to keep his tears from falling, "Wanna have a movie night?" Porsche asked, "Yes please," he said sniffling softly, "Okay then I'll be at your place at our usual time," "Thank you, Porsche, I love you," "I love you too darling,"

Pete was waiting outside for Nop since he's the one who'd been picking up Venice the past 3 days, the car arrived but instead of Nop, vegas stepped out of it, Pete felt his heart beating roughly, but tried to maintain his composure, Venice who was standing next him, held his arm tightly with both of his tiny hands and looked at him with pleading eyes, "Pete come with us?" The poor child had been confused by the sudden change in their routine, and Pete couldn't blame him since he himself was confused as well, Venice's sad pout and tight grip made something inside of him snap,

He carried him and went back inside, vegas was taken aback by his action, pete went to the field where Macau was still picking up some stuff, "Macau, can you please watch Venice for me I have to take care of something real quick," he asked almost pleading, "yeah yeah Of course," pete put venice down and held his shoulders, "Can venice be a good boy and stay with cau cau? I will be back in no time," "Then Pete will come with Venice and Daddy?" Pete forced a smile and nodded, "Yes," "let's go Venice, I will show you my new football, it's very cool," Macau took him to his office where he keeps his equipments so Pete went back to Vegas,
Feeling all the built-up emotions rushing to him,

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Did anyone here recognize the bakery boy and his cat?🤭👀

If you didn't then you probably hadn't read my "B̶i̶t̶t̶e̶r̶sweet love" yet hehe