The Loneliest Dragon at Christmas (An MM Monster Christmas #2)

Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16

J ack stepped past Daniel into the drawing room. He shoved his hands into his pockets, trying not to feel like a piece of shit on legs in the extravagant room.

“Jack!” Avery rose from a chair, a smile splitting his face.

“Avery.” Jack smiled back, but he could feel the tightness in his lips. “Good to see you.”

Avery crossed the room and embraced Jack. Jack stiffly hugged him back. Jack glanced at Daniel, who still stood by the door.

He stared straight ahead, not looking at them.

Jack frowned. Did Daniel just stand there? Was that what servants did?

“Daniel, would you bring tea and those berry tarts that Cook baked?”

“Of course, sir.” Daniel bowed and left.

“Come, Jack. Sit.” Avery gestured to a chair. “Make yourself comfortable.”

Jack’s lungs constricted. He doubted he could ever feel comfortable in this house. Still, he sat, perched on the edge of his seat.

What if his clothes dirtied the pristine chair? He’d come straight from work. He should have changed. No doubt flour, sugar, other ingredients, and bits of ash from the oven clung to his clothes. If he damaged something here, Jack definitely couldn’t afford to repair or replace it.

He clutched his knees. He tried to relax his body. But he couldn’t.

I don’t belong here.

Avery sat across from him. Jack could barely look at him. His gaze darted around the room. Everywhere Jack looked, opulence and wealth slapped him in the face.

On a large polished wooden table in the middle of the room stood a gigantic ceramic vase, painted in pastel hues and embellished with silver. Exotic flowers filled the vase. They must be greenhouse flowers.

“I hope you enjoy the berry tarts. I spoke to Cook this morning, and after some discussion, we decided that the berry tarts would be lovely to have today. Cook said she used fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries.” Avery listed the fruits on his fingers.

“Fresh berries?” Jack frowned.

Avery nodded.

Avery could order fresh summer berries in winter. Jack’s bakery would never be able to acquire something like that, far too expensive and hard to get. And Avery mentioned them as if it was nothing.

It probably was nothing to him. Apparently getting summer berries on a whim with less than a day’s notice in winter wasn’t difficult if you had a lot of money.

They would have to be grown in greenhouses that used a great deal of magic to assist the plants. The bakery mainly relied on what was available and dried ingredients in winter. They did source some produce from greenhouses, ones that even used magic. Still, it was cheap produce. There was no way his family could get fresh summer berries now.

Jack almost laughed at himself for thinking that he and Avery might be a suitable match.

And how could he have ever mistaken Avery for a servant, a secretary, or a librarian? Avery fit this room so perfectly, so at ease ordering the servant around and sitting in this ostentatious room.

“There isn’t too much snow today.” Avery glanced at the window. “Was it a difficult walk?”

“It was fine,” Jack said.

Daniel returned, rolling in a tray table of tea and tarts. Jack started to rise to help him. But he glanced at Avery, who remained seated. So Jack stayed where he was.

Daniel placed the tarts on individual plates and set them on the table between Avery and Jack. Then he began to pour the tea.

“I know it isn’t a short walk,” Avery said. “I’m glad it wasn’t difficult.”

Jack glanced at Daniel. Was it usual to act like the servant wasn’t even in the room? Should they not include him in the conversation?

Jack’s skin prickled. Did Avery not feel how awkward this was?

Clearly not.

“And how is Carrie? Warm by the fire?” Avery asked.

“Yes,” Jack said. “She was sleeping when I left.”

Daniel handed them each a cup of tea.

“Thank you, Daniel. That will be all.” Avery glanced at Daniel before turning back to Jack.

Daniel bowed and left the room.

“I’m glad she is comfortable,” Avery said. “And how were your siblings today?”

“Good. Very good.” Jack took a sip of his tea.

He glanced at his hands holding the cup and saucer. His work-roughened hands were marked by burn scars from the oven. His hands looked too big and coarse for this delicate teacup. He felt too big and coarse for this drawing room, for this house, for Avery.

Witches’ tits! Were those dragon figurines on the mantel made of real gold?

A couple of books sat on the mantel beside them. Suddenly, Jack remembered the book he’d bought for Avery that he’d forgotten in his coat pocket. He’d been so excited to give Avery the tattered second-hand book. But now all he could think of was how cheap the book had been and how it had a slight tear on the cover. He remembered the worn pages and the stains.

How could he present something like that to Avery?

Shame burned his throat. Thank the forest spirits that he’d left it in his coat pocket.

“You should try the tart.” Avery gestured to the fine delicacy sitting on porcelain plates. Not a chip or mark on a single bit of crockery in Avery’s home.

Jack placed his teacup down and picked up the tart. He lifted it and took a bite. The berries burst in his mouth, so fresh and juicy.

“How is it?” Avery leaned forward.

“It’s delicious,” Jack answered truthfully. “Incredible.” Jack glanced at Avery’s face, but he struggled to make eye contact. It all felt too awkward, too weird, now he knew how wealthy and socially above him Avery was.

“I’m so glad.”

Then Jack realised Avery ate his tart with a fork. Jack’s cheeks flushed. He had just picked his tart up with his fingers and bit into it like some barbarian swine. Jack swallowed the tart, his throat painfully tight.

He hadn’t felt like this in years, not since his aunt and uncle had turned their back on them. He’d never wanted to feel like that again. He’d never wanted to feel self-conscious and like he was burning with shame for who he was.

He hated it. He hated being here.

Jack finished the tart and tea as fast as he could. “I should get going.” Jack rose.

“Already?” Avery stood. “But you just got here.”

“I ahh… I have to work at the Christmas markets tonight. I didn’t really work last night, and I couldn’t get the whole night off today.” Jack stared at the carpet, ashamed of the lie that fell from his lips.

Jack hated lying. But he had to get out of here. He had to escape.

“I see.” Avery stepped closer. “Well, thank you for coming all this way. It was so good to see you.”

Then Jack made the mistake of looking at him.

Avery stared at him, his gaze so open and vulnerable. Jack felt the urge to reach out and pull Avery into his arms. He wanted to forget about all this other stuff, about their differences, about money, about servants, about fresh summer berries in winter.

But he couldn’t. They did not belong together. They just didn’t.

Jack squeezed his eyes shut as the pain flared in his chest. He had to get out of here. He turned and walked away.

And he walked straight into the table in the middle of the room. The vase teetered. Jack reached out. He grabbed at stems as the table toppled and the vase smashed onto the floor. Water spilled out, and flowers crumpled. Jack clutched at the flowers he’d managed to grab, crushing the stems.

“Bloody broomsticks!” Jack stared at the broken mess. “I’m sorry.”

Jack fell to his knees. He began to pick up the broken shards of ceramic and destroyed flowers, gathering them into his arms.

“I’m so sorry. I’ll pay you back.” How much did a vase like this cost? “I can pay for it!” He almost laughed. He couldn’t pay for it. He’d have to borrow money. A lot of money. His heart pounded. His hands shook as he tried to clean up the mess. “I can?—”

“Jack.” A hand squeezed his shoulder. Avery knelt beside him. “Don’t worry about it.” Avery took the shattered vase and destroyed flowers from Jack’s hands and placed them back on the ground. “It’s nothing.” He smiled like he meant it.

Nothing.

Jack looked at the damage he’d caused. This expensive vase and these exotic flowers were nothing to Avery.

Jack’s pride demanded he should insist he pay for them. But that would be reckless. He didn’t have the money. So he shoved his pride down deep inside him and nodded.

“And Daniel can clean this up. Please don’t worry. Please don’t be upset.”

Jack rose, body numb. “I am really sorry.”

Avery smiled. “It’s fine.” He squeezed Jack’s arms. “It’s not a big deal.”

Jack didn’t know what to say or what to do. “I should go.”

Avery’s smile fell. “All right.” He turned and picked up a small bell. He rang it.

Jack frowned at it, confused.

A second later, Daniel appeared. “Sir?”

Apparently, Avery could summon servants with the ring of a tiny bell.

“Jack is leaving now. Could you get his coat?”

“Of course, sir.” Daniel walked to the door.

Jack followed, and Avery came after him.

Daniel already had his coat in hand when they reached the door. Jack pulled it on as Daniel opened the door for him.

“Bye.” Jack smiled tightly, glancing at Avery quickly. Then he walked out the door.

“Bye, Jack,” Avery said.

But Jack didn’t look back.