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“It’s a little bigger than we were planning on making it, but with the turrets and icing… it was hard to estimate,” I say apologetically when we place the large white box on the counter.
I duck under and stand beside him as Valentine lifts the top off and shows him the cake. His gratitude comes in no small amount, if his smiling and praise is anything to go by.
“I’ll help you put it in the car.” I make my way to the door and hold it open as he carefully carries the box through.
“It’s unlocked,” he says and I quickly pull the front door open. After placing the box on the front seat and strapping it in with the seatbelt, which he seems to think is funny for whatever reason, he turns back to me with his easy smile. “Thanks Gwen.”
I shake my head and pick at the drying mess on my shirt. “It was nice to see you again.”
“Yeah, I’m glad things haven’t been left the way they were.” He admits, pulling a tiny marshmallow from the ends of my ponytail. I wear a hairnet whilst working, so lord knows how I get stuff in my hair. “It was nice to see you again. We should get coffee or something.”
Yeah right. “Sure. Don’t be a stranger.”
He leans forward and brushes his lips against the corner of my mouth. I remain perfectly still, unsure of how to respond.
“For someone who works in a bakery, you’re getting way too skinny,” he comments playfully as he walks backwards towards his car. “You’re losing my favourite assets.”
I cross my arms over my chest, making him laugh, and roll my eyes. “Bye Eric.”
“See you later.” He taps the top of his car, waves and moments later he’s driving away.
“That didn’t take you long.”
Holy crap! I jump at the sound of his voice so close to the back of my head and turn to see a seething Nathan, his fists clenched around a large, elegant and beautiful bouquet of flowers. He looks terrible. I’m certain his shirt is buttoned up wrong and the fact he has the shadow of a bear across his jaw and lips isn’t a good sign. He’s lost weight and his eyes have dark rings beneath them. He looks how I look. Depressed. “Don’t do that!”
“Do what?” He holds the flowers out to me. “Here.”
I stare at them. Why is he giving them to me? I check his shoes, wondering if maybe he needs to tie his laces and can’t do it whilst holding a large bunch of flowers.
Staring at me expectantly, he shakes them slightly. “They’re for you.”
“No thank you,” I respond blankly and try to step around him, but he immediately blocks my path. “Can I help you with something?”
His eyes narrow and the flower wielding arm drops back to his side. “You and Eric?”
“He ordered a cake.” I don’t even know why I’m defending myself. “Excuse me. I’m trying to get back to work.” So I can finish and go home.
“He kissed you.”
“Yes, he did, good observation.” I sigh, rubbing my eyes. Christ I’m tired. “Look, I need to get back to work so I can finish and go home to Dillan.”
“I said if you kissed him again I wouldn’t forgive you.” Is he not listening to a word I’m saying? “Are you dating him?”
“He ordered a cake,” I snap. “Is there something you need?”
He holds the flowers out. “I’ve known you for just over a year and I don’t even know what your favourite flower is.”
“It’s called move out of my way and it smells like bugger off.” I go to step around him and again he cuts me off. “Nathan!” I come very close to stomping my foot on the ground.
“So I got one of everything.” He shrugs, rubbing the back of his neck. “And now I feel stupid.”
“Because I’m dating Eric?” I ask sarcastically and his face falls.
“You’re dating Eric?”
“No, Nathan, like I said… he was ordering a bloody cake.”
He smiles slightly. “Okay. Good. I was thinking we could go to dinner this Friday.”
Blink. “You’re joking. Right?”
“No.” He definitely doesn’t look like he’s joking. What’s he playing at? “What time do you finish work?”
“I’m not going to dinner with you.” I laugh slightly at the hilarity of this situation. “I’ve made it clear where I stand on this…” My hand moves back and forth between us. “…situation. I want nothing more to do with you.”
His face remains impassive as he answers. “We need to be civilised for Dillan’s sake.”
“You need to leave… for my sake.”
“I want to see him. I miss him.”
“And we need to go to dinner to solve this because…?”
“That’s just because I miss you. And I’m not letting you ignore me anymore.”
Wait… what? “You’re not letting me ignore you anymore?”
“No.” Why does he look and sound so calm and collected when all I feel is agitation?
