“Hey, sorry about that,” I said.
“I take it that was big shit,” he replied.
“Yeah. It was big shit. I’ve always wanted to set up my own shop, or be a pastry chef at a good restaurant, and Tex and Tito just gave me both.”
“Right.”
“And of course, that raise.”
“Yep, didn’t miss you saying that.”
“Life never quite worked out for me and Mom in ways like that,” I explained my crying jag. “I was overwhelmed.”
“Get used to it, cupcake.”
Here we are.
“Yeah,” I whispered.
“You good?” he asked.
I was back to blurting when I said, “I told you first.”
“Say again?”
“I told you first. Raced right by Raye, Lucia, and probably Luna somewhere, and told you first.”
His voice was a rumble of sexy and tender that was mind-boggling beauty when he whispered, “Baby.”
Okay, it was just after seven in the morning, I needed to protect my reserves.
For now, I was done.
That was all I had in me.
“So, um…see you tonight.”
“You bet your ass.”
I experienced a lovely quiver.
Gabe disconnected.
The cakes I was going to decorate tomorrow were baked, crumb coated and wrapped safe to be ready and still fresh for decorating.
I learned more that day that Tex and Tito were going to give Joey, Gemma and Dream (who had all asked for them) additional shifts during the week to cover me. But they all needed to deal with other stuff first, so I couldn’t switch to my new role until the next week.
I was in Gabe’s black, long-sleeved tee. I had my own black sweater, and it was early October, so I’d be okay wearing it as the heat was off the Valley, especially when the sun went down, but I was wearing Gabe’s shirt.
For luck.
I had the Maglite at the ready, also the gloves, and my Taser was charged.
I had half an hour before I had to be up at Raye and Cap’s to sort out the particulars of the mission before we rolled out.
So I called my mom.
She answered on ring two, just like Gabe.
