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Where's my cookie for being so adult?
I glance at the sad-looking desserts on offer as Drake says, "You're just hoping that I won't share the bad dirt with your girl." I sigh and look between them. They act like siblings more than they do friends.
"My girl knows the kind of man I am, I don't have to worry about that," Gus preens.
I cut in, hoping to stop their good-natured ribbing for a few moments.
"You know, I should've baked something to bring with us..."
Drake immediately turns to me and Gus' hand moves to my lower back. "You are a guest here," Drake says, turning up the charm and taking my hand. I giggle and lean into Gus. "You don't have to bring snacks to come and see me. You are welcome anytime." He kisses my knuckles and lowers his voice comedically, "With or without the old man."
Gus wraps his arms around my waist and rests his chin against my head, tugging me even closer to him. "Nice try, player, but this one ismine."
I snort. "Play nice, boys. I only meant that I don't mind sharing my baked goods." Gus hugs me and laughs.
"That's right, just the baked goods. Even though they're delicious enough that I should be jealous she shares those with anyone but me." I elbow him in the gut. Sort of gently. He huffs at me but doesn't flinch or let me go.
"So sorry, Gus, but it's how I make my living."
"Yeah, yeah, I know," he jokes, murmuring into my hair before nuzzling my ear and whispering, "I'll allow it for now."
I try and fail to hide my shiver and sigh again. "You're lucky I like you," I tell him, my face on fire. Drake watches us with a smirk on his handsome face.
"I like you two together, this is nice," he says after a pause where I wonder what he will come out with next. "We should get together again sometime soon. After the craziness of the holidays, of course."
Gus hugs me closer and says, "I think that's a great idea."
"I'll cook next time," I say before either of them can think to stop me. Don't invite me to an event I can't eat at, it's just not polite.
Also, I get hangry as Gus might find out tonight if we don't leave soonish.
* * *
We're lingering over cocoa at Polly's later that night, talking about everything and nothing. I'm stirring mine with a candy cane when Gus goes quiet and grins at me. I meet his eyes and grin back, licking my candy cane clean of the chocolate yumminess. He rests his elbow on the table, his chin in his hand and says almost dreamily, "I love you."
What now?
I try not to choke on my cocoa, my eyes wide and hooked on his. I wait for the panic to set in, for the back pedaling to begin, but it never happens. He's steady, holding my gaze hostage with those deep green eyes of his. "You can take it back," I joke, stunned. "One time offer..."
I trail off and he grins at me wide and happy and shakes his head. "Nah, I don't wanna take it back. I mean it, Betty."
I put my cocoa down before I spill it all over myself and bite my lip. A very large part of me is exploding with happiness. A tinier, much quieter, scared voice is wondering if this is all happening too fast.
Two heartbeats later I know my truth, what I'm really feeling.
I ignore the quiet voice. That girl is a downer.
I get out of my seat and slide into the booth next to him. I press against his warmth and whisper in his ear, "I love you, too."
His eyes go soft as his hand goes into my hair, pulling me closer. Then his mouth is hot and hard on mine stealing my breath and making my heart pound. I get lost in his kiss, in how perfectly his mouth owns mine. In the way he uses my hair to tilt my head to where he wants it. In the chocolatey taste of him. We sit there kissing until someone laughs softly and I pull back, remembering we're in public and I'm practically in his lap.
Greta, our waitress, and someone I've become friendly with since I started supplying Polly's with their baked goods looks amused beyond anything I've seen from her before.
"Don't you start," I say, blushing and grinning like a fool.
She raises her hands in the air, her order pad in one hand like a white flag. "I didn't say a word, I think you two are adorable." She lowers her voice and gestures toward the older gentleman at the counter eating pie and shooting death glares at us. "He looked like he was about to explode... I figured my way would be more polite."
I look at the old man and give a wave, feeling sassy. Gus laughs and kisses my neck while my head is turned. The old man harrumphs and leans back over his pie plate. I turn back to Greta and shrug. "Sorry, not sorry." I smile and relax into Gus' hold.
