“Can I have one?” He glanced at Ru. “I’ll split one with you.”
Ru finished decorating his cupcake, the frosting really looking like sloppy poop since he didn’t have Dane’s practice or patient hand. He picked it up and carried it around the counter to sit beside Adam.
Dane tapped Bas’s shoulder.
“Hm?” Bas wiped the sugar from his face. He probably looked like a kid at his first birthday, colorful frosting squashed all over.
Dane was holding out a second cupcake, this one without frosting.
“Want to decorate one?”
Bas shrugged and grabbed a bag of frosting. It couldn’t be that hard, could it? He squeezed and tried to make a perfect circle. Okay, yeah, it was harder than it looked. He switched colors, added another layer, and switched again. By the time he got to the top, he was better, but it was still a rainbow mess.
“Okay, do I get to eat this one now that I made it look like a rainbow poop reject cupcake?”
“You can eat as many as you want.” Dane turned to pull another batch out of the oven. He popped them out of the pan and on to the cooling rack as Bas peeled off the wrapper for the second cake.
“I want to do some for Adam’s parents too. And Marissa and Paige. Mrs. C said normal girls eat sugar.”
Bas broke off a piece of cake. “Try a bite?” He smeared it with all the frosting colors. “The flavor in the frosting is good. Sweet and tart at the same time, while the cake grounds it a little to keep it from being overly sweet.”
Dane glanced at his full hands, the piece Bas held out, and opened his mouth. Bas popped the piece into Dane’s mouth. He chewed for a minute, examining the flavors and textures, it seemed.
“It’s good. I like the frosting. The cake is a little bland. Should I add something to it?”
“We can experiment with that another day. You still have the burger-like ones you want to make eventually, right? My kitchen is your kitchen.” Bas glanced at the clock. Almost six, which meant dinner soon, and then Dane would have to go back to rehab. “Are you going to be okay tonight? Going back?”
Dane paused, expression changing to a frown briefly. “I don’t know. They’ll give me my sleeping pills. That will help. You have class all day tomorrow?”
“Done around three. I’m sure Tommy or Ru could hang with you awhile. But you also have therapy in the afternoon, right?” Bas finished off his second cupcake. He went to the cupboard and grabbed a box of crackers and the bread they’d just bought. He needed more than just sugar for dinner.
“Yeah. I’m going to talk about this weekend, if that’s okay with you.” Dane stopped moving and just glared at the cupcake in his hand like he was a puppy waiting to be kicked.
Bas leaned over and kissed him on the forehead. “Talk about whatever you need. Me, Ru, Adam, Tommy… even Marissa and Paige are your friends. No one is gonna judge you for getting the help you need.”
“Unless you’re wearing socks and flip-flops together. That’s inexcusable,” Paige said as she appeared in the kitchen. “Is it dinner time yet? I’m starving, and whatever is cooking smells good.”
Dane put the frosting and cakes down to turn and stir the chili.
“Looks done. Smells spicy.” He grabbed a spoon and scooped up a little, holding it out for Bas to try. Bas took the bite offered.
“Hmm.”
“Okay?” Dane asked.
“Give me a bowl. I think I need to try it a few more times to be sure.”
“Don’t hog the chow, Axelrod,” Ru called. “We’re growing boys in need of eats.” He patted Adam’s butt. “And energy for extracurricular pursuits.”
“Ru!” Adam cried.
Bas didn’t need to look up to know Adam would be blushing again. Everyone else was laughing as Dane busied himself with dishing up bowls for everyone.
