The dark circles around his eyes were less noticeable as Matthias studied his reflection in the mirror. The night had been free of being forced to watch Tom being murdered again. He looked better. Like his normal self.
“So why don’t I feel better?” Matthias asked the empty room.
Matthias knew why, though he wouldn’t admit it, not even to himself. You spend more time thinking of Taren instead of Tom.
He shook the thought away. That wasn’t true. He’d enjoyed talking to Taren, but there wasn’t anything more to it than that. That he was planning to swing by The Daily Grind before work had nothing to do with Taren. He just wanted a coffee to jump-start his day.
The coffee shop was busier at this time of the morning, with two other baristas working behind the counter. But even so, Matthias sensed the real morning rush had yet to start. The sound of steam coming from the coffee machine and the smell of roasting beans filled the shop.
Matthias joined the queue and was immediately spotted by Taren, who flashed him a large grin as he continued serving other customers. He held his gaze for a moment and smiled back. As he waited, Matthias’ gaze drifted to the bookshelves that dominated one side of the shop. His smile fell at the memory of the copy of The Empty Chair back in his quarters.
“Morning, Starfleet. What can I get you?”
Matthias couldn’t help the smile that formed at the sound of Taren’s bright greeting.
“A raktajino, extra sweet,” Matthias replied.
Turning away, Taren began working on the coffee. “I hear the Challenger’s docking tomorrow.”
Matthias’ shoulders tensed at the mention of his old ship and quietly replied, “Yeah.”
“Tom’s best friend on Challenger,” Matthias admitted, though he wasn’t sure why he felt the need to say that. “We’re having dinner when he’s here.”
Taren didn’t look around. “You don’t sound too excited by that. Do you two not get along?”
Matthias cursed himself silently. He was looking forward to seeing Alexander Mitchell again, the man Tom had considered his brother. While their relationship hadn’t always been friendly, they’d taken pleasure in antagonising one another during their time at the Academy, but when Matthias and Tom started dating, they’d become close friends in their own right.
How did he tell Mitchell about Taren?
What’s there to tell? Matthias asked himself silently. He’s just a friend, he’s not even that. Nothing is going on.
No matter how much he told himself that, the pressure on his chest remained.
“I am looking forward to seeing him,” Matthias announced, a little too loudly. “He’s a good friend.”
Taren placed the mug of coffee, wisps of steam rising from it, in front of Matthias.
“Then why don’t you sound excited by the prospect?”
Their gazes met briefly, but Matthias quickly looked down at the mug in front of him. He reached out and slowly began turning it.
“How did you know the Challenger was due to dock?” Matthias wasn’t ready to answer Taren’s question.
Taren placed a hand on the counter and leaned forward slightly. “A friend mentioned it.”
“Is your friend on the Challenger?” Matthias had been the ship’s executive officer until Tom’s death last year. If Taren’s friend served onboard, Matthias would probably know them.
Shaking his head, Taren told him, “No, she’s Bastion Station’s chief engineer.”
“Ah, Cecelia Montague.” Matthias nodded slowly. “I’ve met her a few times. How do you know her?”
Taren finally confirmed what Matthias had suspected since their first meeting. “We were Ensigns on the Ithaca together.”
“How did you go from Starfleet ensign to aspiring writer?” Matthias lifted the mug and took a sip.
Ignoring the dirty looks from his co-workers, who were trying to deal with the ever-growing queue, Taren shrugged. “Starfleet wasn’t for me. It was just a means to an end.”
Matthias cocked an eyebrow. The question on the tip of his tongue evaporated when one of Taren’s colleagues loudly cleared his throat. Heat bloomed across Matthias’ features. He stepped back from the counter.
“Thanks for the coffee.”
Taren smirked. “Anytime, Starfleet.”
The cheeky wink Taren added caused Matthias’ face to burn hotter. He refused to make eye contact with anyone as he quickly retreated from the coffee shop, his gaze glued firmly to the ground. Blushing like a teenager was unbecoming of a Starfleet captain.
Whatever gidiness Matthias was left with was quickly doused with a bucket of cold water as his thoughts turned to his dinner with Mitchell. It was becoming difficult to deny what was happening, but he needed to speak to someone about it. Could he tell Tom’s best friend about Taren? How would Mitchell respond?
Matthias needed to make a decision, and he was running out of time.
