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“No, he wasn’t.” She crosses her arms over her chest.
I take a step closer to her so I’m inside her bubble and brush my hand down her arm, mimicking the same look Lucas gave her. Her breath hitches once my eyes meet hers. We stare at each other for a moment. Her hazel eyes hypnotizing. Slowly, I lean in, wanting her warm lips on mine. Suddenly, a car horn bursts our little lust bubble, and she pulls away.
“Uh. I-I should get going. I need a shower and out of these frosting covered clothes.” She picks at chunks of blue and pink dried frosting.
“Yeah. Me too. So, I’ll see you tomorrow. Meet you in the morning?”
“Yeah. Good night, Van.”
“Night Hollyn.” I cross my arms over my chest as she turns on her heel and saunters to her car. My night will be filled with sweet dreams with Hollyn taking the leading role.
ELEVEN
LICK YOUR FROSTING
Van
Why did I agree to do this? I don’t know what I’m doing. I’ve never done this before. My palms rest on the worktable in the kitchen of The Sweet Spot. And most of all, they’re kids. Glancing to my right, I spot a partially open box of cupcakes. I pluck one out and shove it into my mouth.
“Hey! What are you doing?” Hollyn slaps my hand away before I can reach for another cupcake. “These aren’t for you.”
“I weat when om stwessed,” I mumble around a mouth full of cake and frosting.
“Chew. Swallow. Then talk.” She places a hand on her hip and glares at me.
I finish chewing, then swallow. “I eat when I’m stressed.”
“What could you possibly be stressed about?”
I throw my hands in the air. “I don’t know what I’m doing. I can’t say I’ve been to many kids’ birthday parties. The last time was probably when I was a kid myself.”
Her hands grab my wrists and places them to my sides, then she locks eyes with me. “We’re not there to play with the kids. We are only there to stuff them full of sugar and be on our way. I’ve gone over this with you.” Her voice is soft as she talks me off the ledge.
I inhale a deep breath. “Okay. We get there. Set up. Hang out in the background. Then clean up.”
“That’s all we have to do.” I reach for another cupcake, but she slaps my hand away. “What are you stressed about now?”
“Nothing. These are fucking delicious.”
“Oh my god. You’re ridiculous. Get to work. These boxes won’t move themselves.” She shoves a stack of unfolded boxes at my chest.
I wrap an arm around her waist and tug her so the boxes are sandwiched between us. “Did I tell you how much I like it when you boss me around?”
“I’m starting to hear that more and more.”
A hearty laugh escapes me. Something about being around her makes me feel alive again. Like I want to do more with my life then just coast by. She makes me want more.
We work side by side making boxes, filling those boxes with cupcakes, and moving them into the back of the delivery van along with tables and display stands. Once everything is packed, I climb into the driver's seat and she hops in next to me. I program the address into the GPS and shift into drive. We drive in comfortable silence for several minutes. Then my mind drifts to Lucas and his interaction with Hollyn yesterday and I have questions, so now seems like the perfect opportunity to fish for answers.
“So, what’s the scoop on this party? Obviously, it’s a unicorn party based on the number of horns I had to twist into shape and place on top of the frosting. What about the guy? Who’s he?”
“Lucas.” She taps her finger on her chin, thinking. “He’s been coming to the bakery for the last several years. I know we’ve done a few birthday parties for his daughter.”
“His wife ever come in?” I glance over at Hollyn.
“No wife. They got divorced several years ago. Rumor has it she was cheating on him with the pool boy.”
“Someone else who likes them younger.” A small smile stretches across my lips, but my gaze never leaves the road. From the corner of my eye, I see her shake her head.
