"Thank you, Xander. Coffee from Roasted is the best, isn't it?"
"It is. I hope the cake makes up for yesterday."
He accepts the cake box and opens it.
"Oh Xander, you didn't have to. Did you bake this one?"
I laugh, "No way, I wouldn't put you through my awful baking again. This one is from my favorite bakery, Le Soulier."
Ash opens his eyes wide. "This cake is from Le Soulier? Wow, I shouldn't even touch it, let alone eat it. It must have cost you a fortune."
"Don't worry, it was on a special deal," I say, hoping to deflect. So much for trying to be regular Xander.
There's nothing regular about someone that shops at Le Soulier.
Ash gives me a look, but fortunately, the slice of chocolate and hazelnut cake is appealing enough that he picks up the fork and takes a bite.
"Oh my god," he says, closing his eyes and tilting his head up. "Kill me now because nothing in my life will ever be this perfect. Have mercy on me."
"Damn it, I knew I should have said I made it."
"I wouldn't have believed you. This kind of perfection could only have come from one place."
I take the fork from his hand and try a bite of the cake.
"You're right, I'd never get away with it. This is too good."
We smile at each other, our eyes locked, and I can't look away. Ash is just so perfect, normal, captivating, and I don't think I've ever worked so hard to stop myself from kissing someone.
"Do you know why the owner called the bakery Le Soulier?" Ash says.
"No, I can't say I've ever thought about it. I thought it was his name."
He laughs. "Nope. Legend says his wife was so in love with his cakes, she used to walk around barefoot and sneak up on him just to try a little bit of cake or dip her finger in the batter. Le Soulier meansthe shoe."
"That kind of makes sense, and not, at the same time."
Ash smiles again and nods. Then he takes the fork from me and has another piece of cake. We do this back and forth until the cake is all gone.
"Thank you, Xander. I had a nice time and the cake was wonderful," Ash says.
"Forgive me if I'm stepping out of line, but it looks like you needed it. Or at least that you needed the break."
His shy smile tells me I am close enough to being right.
"I have a few worries at the moment, that's all. It'll all sort itself out."
"If you ever want to talk, I'm here. Can I give you my number?" I ask, hoping he'll say yes.
"I'm not sure that's a good idea, Xander. My life is too complicated right now, I don't know if I can—”
I interrupt him by placing my hands on his. They're warm and a little rough from working on the farm.
"We can be friends, can't we? I…I actually could use a friend right now." Even as I say the words, I realize they've never been so true.
He looks at our hands linked together, and nods. I don't know why, but I feel like I've won the biggest prize ever.
I still have a huge smile on my face as I walk into my parents' house, hours later. I would have cancelled dinner with them, but I knew I'd lose that particular battle.
