AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I don’t imagine we need to practice.”
We would marry regardless.
“Will your aunt’s dinner be a long or short event?” Kate asked, fiddling with a corner of the box.
“We can leave once dinner has concluded, and we’ve shared the usual social niceties. There won’t be dancing afterward, if that’s of concern,” I added. “The only other expectation will be sitting with my aunt and a few others in one of the parlors before the meal commences. She’s been gushing about you since you two met, and she wants to get to know you better.”
“Alright. Sure,” Kate said. “I’ll be happy to have dinner with her and a few guests.”
“Thank you.”
She tugged away a plastic knife secured to the top of the box and lifted the lid. “Oh,” she cried out, pointing the knife. “Rylee crafted an elf and a human on the top. It’s like a mini wedding cake featuring you and me. She’s so clever.”
“It’s almost a shame to cut it.”
“Right?”
Slicing the cupcake in half revealed its white center. Chocolate frosting topped it, covered with colorful glittering specks, and the intricate picture of us.
I was touched. Honored. I’d reach out to her tonight to thank her.
“And now you’ve given us a divorce,” I said in a droll voice, trying not to laugh.
She stared at me for a long moment, perhaps trying to determine if I was serious before she her laugh choked out.
“I could put us through counseling and get us back together if you’d like,” she said, hoisting the two halves up until they met again. “There we are; a couple once more. But really, let’s try it.”
I studied her face, but I still couldn’t quite tell what she was thinking. Studiously avoiding my gaze, she busied laying a napkin in front of us and placing half of the cupcake on each.
“Fork?” I asked.
She blinked. “It’s finger food.”
“It’s cake. One eats cake with a fork.”
“Nah, fingers work just as well. Let’s practice.” She broke off a piece of hers and held it out to me.
I pinned my eyes on it. “Practice what?”
“At the reception, we’ll cut the cake, and I’ll feed you a piece. Then you’ll feed me.”
“What’s the meaning of this ritual?”
“It symbolizes a mutual promise to provide for each other.”
“Then I’ll gladly eat this cake,” I said gravely.
“Sometimes, people smoosh it in the other person’s face, but I’d rather we didn’t do that.”
“I’d never smoosh cake in your face,” I said with horror. “That would be disrespectful.”
She laughed again. “I’ve wondered how those relationships turn out when they begin their marriage doing something like that.”
“If their cake is on their face and not in their belly, it defeats the purpose of showing the other you will provide for them.”
“Exactly.” She nudged the bite of cake toward me. “Try it.”
I held her wrist and carefully ate the bite, making sure I slid my tongue across her fingertip.
