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“Oh, but just because a man is in the doghouse doesn’t mean he loses his stroke,” Rich counters.
“You need counseling,” Terrance tells Rich.
Dilan clasps Rich’s shoulder. “No, what the man needs is what we all needed tonight, a trip to a good strip club, but since my cousin is whipped, we watched TV and smoked cigars like old men.”
As they shuffle out of the den, everyone starts discussing what they’re about to do next. Some want to go to a club, while others plan to make it home.
Wayne leans in and kisses my cheek. “Apparently, you’ve whipped me.”
“Did I?”
“Oh, yeah, you did.”
I chuckle. “Sorry.”
“Never apologize for whipping me. I want to be whipped again tonight.”
“If it’s a whipping you want, it’s a whipping I will give you,” I reply with narrowed eyes and a deep understanding of what’s about to go down when the house empties.
“Mm. So, Mom and Marjorie are in the kitchen. Why don’t you chat with them while I walk the fellas out? Then, we’ll get rid of them, and you can begin doing more of your whipping.”
“Sounds fun.” I turn to sashay away before turning back to him. “Hey…”
“Yeah.”
“Don’t make me wait too long.”
“Never.”
We walk backward from each other until I turn around and go into the kitchen.
When I enter the kitchen, my eyes trail past the three people in the room and go directly to the petit fours on dessert plates on the countertop. They’re topped with piles of glistening pink frosting and sprinkled with fresh raspberries. The aroma of cupcakes and apples filled the room, carrying me back to childhood memories when birthdays meant homemade sweets from mom or one of my grandmothers.
“Mmm, those look delicious. Did you make those for Wayne’s party?” I ask Marjorie as she places another plate of traditional desserts on the counter. She has to be the culprit for cooking them as this is her specialty.
Marjorie’s smile spreads across her face. “No, honey. Those brutes only wanted beer, wings, and chips. Only a few of them helped eat the veggie tray. But I made those, especially for you. I just uncovered them when I heard you come in.”
I approach the counter and grab one of the raspberry covered desserts. A collage of flavors explodes in my mouth as I take the first bite. A shiver runs down my spine at the deliciousness of the blend of ingredients. “Thank you. This is absolutely delicious. You already know I want trays of these for the wedding, right?”
“Honey, you know I’m making them for you,” Marjorie blushes and sits on a stool at the kitchen counter. “Some of these are for our breakfast tomorrow, but the rest are for you to eat later.”
I take another small, slow bite of the dessert. I have to savor it slowly, or else I will need another one and another one to fulfill my hunger for them.
“I’ll never fit into my dress if you keep making my favorites,” I tell Marjorie as I chew.
“You’ll fit into that dress just fine,” Louise says.
“And if you don’t, we’ll remove the seams,” Marjorie cosigns.
Chuckling, I ask, “Did the guys behave tonight?
"Did the guys behave tonight?" Louise repeats, glancing at Eddie, who leans against the oversized, stainless steel fridge quietly.
Eddie says nothing. His only reply is lifting his beer to his face and chugging a gulp.
Marjorie smiles, "I thought I’d have to beat Wayne with a wet noodle because he wasn’t allowing us to help him at first, but I guess they were all on their best behavior after we got him in line."
“That’s my Wayne. Always trying to take charge.” I smile before shifting the conversation to something more melodramatic. "On my way to my parents’ today, I got an unexpected call.”
