Me: Are you at work?
I sit in my car and wait for a reply, seeing three dots appear, disappear, and reappear.
Tinker Bell: Yes??
Me: Want to meet me at the front door, or is there a back entrance I can use?
My phone rings.
“Hel—” Before I can even finish my greeting, Violet starts talking.
“What do you mean to meet you at the front or back entrance? Are you being facetious?”
I can’t help but laugh; she’s fast as a whippet this one.
“Wow, someone has a dirty mind. I mean, if you’re offering.”
She lets out a sound of discontent. “Not if you were the last man on earth.”
“Anyway, I haven’t got time for your flirting. I have something for you,” I say.
“I swear to god, Nathan, if you’re about to send me a dick pic, I will share that shrimp all over the internet.”
Unable to help myself, I snap a pic of one of the cupcakes and send her a photo.
“Did you just send me a picture?”
“Open it and find out.”
I can hear her muttering under her breath, and then she’s back on the line.
“I’ll come to the front door and let you in.”
I don’t have a chance to answer before she hangs up. I jump out of my car, go round to the passenger side, reach for the stack of boxes, and then shut the car door using my arse. I walk toward the main entrance. She’s standing there with the door open and her arms crossed, tapping her foot.
She steps back to let me in and then, without a word, walks off. I guess that’s my cue to follow, so I do.
Leading me into the back, she uses a pass to gain access. I realise it’s a staff room.
“I swung by Sofia’s and thought I’d grab some cupcakes while there. Sophie said she can pencil us in.”
Violet lifts the cake box lid and pulls out one of the cupcakes.
“I brought a selection of flavours.”
She pauses with the cake between her fingers and stares at me. I look over my shoulder and then back to her.
“Everything okay?” I ask, stuffing my hands into my pockets.
“Yeah, I’m just wondering if I’m in some twilight zone. This is just totally unexpected.”
I shrug. “Yeah, well, I aim to please.” And then, unable to resist, I wink.
She rolls her eyes, but I don’t miss the quirk of her lips before she peels back the cake case and then twists off the top of the cake before turning it upside down and making some sort of cupcake sandwich.
“What the fuck?”
Her cheeks twinge pink from my words when she looks back at me. “Don’t knock it until you try it. No one wants their nose covered in buttercream.”
