Page 62 of Icing on Top

“I’m honored to be able to help you today.”

He smiled widely, identical dimples appearing on either side of his mouth.

“Jay is obsessed with it. If he’s ever in a grumpy mood, just make a small batch and he’ll get over it like that.” He snapped his fingers.

We both laughed.

“Noted.”

Wes talked me through measuring out the flour, baking soda, and salt while he zested an orange, pausing halfway through to roll up the sleeves of his sweatshirt. I retrieved the whisk I’d bought Miah from the utensil drawer.

“He really really likes you, you know,” Wes said. He gently nudged the zest into a small pile on the cutting board before scooping it into his hand and sprinkling it into the bowl.

I kept my head down as I whisked together the dry ingredients, but with my hair pulled back, there was no hiding the flush to my cheeks. It only grew when I felt Wes’s eyes on me. Hearing Miah say such words was one thing. It was different to hear it from someone on the outside looking in. Someone I knew Miah confided in often.

“I really really like him, too. A lot.” I more than just liked him, but I wasn’t going to tell anyone else that before I told Miah himself. He deserved to be the first to know.

Wes stepped closer to pour melted butter in, and I traded the whisk for a wooden spoon.

“Honestly, Miah and Charlie are the best thing to happen to me in a long time,” I confessed. And that was putting it lightly. “I feel very lucky to be a part of their lives.”

The kitchen was quiet save the muffled sounds of the television in the other room. The dough had become thicker and I had to shift forward to get better leverage.

“You’re in it for the long haul, right?”

Wes seemed to always have this positive energy about him, palpable even through a television screen, but when I looked at him, it was as though that light inside had been dimmed. His eyes were serious and there was a hint of sadness in them. Of loss.

“Yes,” I replied confidently. “I’m in it for the long haul.”

He let the words settle before he finally nodded. “Good. Because I like you, and I’m basically a bonus to their package deal.” He tipped his head toward the living room, that charming grin and consequent dimples returning to his face.

I grinned back at him. “I like you, too.”

The air between us grew light once more. Wes moved to wash his hands at the sink and tapped the side of the bowl.

“It’s time to knead it and then we’ll let it rest for a little.”

My arm muscles were burning, so I was more than willing to stop and let Wes take over. Both of his hands barely fit inside the bowl as he worked the dough. I stepped out of his way to watch, taking all the mental notes.

I opened my mouth to ask if he would be seeing any of his family for the holidays, but then I caught myself, remembering when I’d made Charlie feel awkward suggesting she share the cupcakes with her mom. I didn’t want to assume that he had family outside of Miah and Charlie. Surely, he would be seeing them if he did.

“What?”

I looked up at him with wide eyes. “What do you mean, what?”

“You were about to say something. Or ask something.”

“Oh.” I averted my gaze to the bowl. “I was just going to ask about your family. If you were going to see anyone else during the holidays.”

“And why’d you stop yourself?”

“I didn’t want to assume,” I replied honestly.

“I’ve got some family up in the Chicago area still, but my parents moved down to Louisiana recently to escape the cold. There’s not near enough time to see them all in the few days we have off, so I stick with coming here for Christmas every year.”

He rolled the dough into a large ball and then placed a tea towel over the bowl.

“Besides. Christmas is more magical with a kid around.” He rinsed his hands once more and then turned to lean against the counter, his smile now directed toward the living room. “I wouldn’t miss a Christmas with Charlie for the world. It’s the one time of year that I don’t mind getting up at the crack of dawn. Seeing her lit up like that is…” He shook his head.