Corbin
I run my finger over the sentence, even though it’s typed out on a sheet of white paper. But it’s signed by him in ink. I don’t know why this delights me so much. Maybe because no man has ever sent me gifts of food. Dax certainly never did. Nor did other guys I dated.MaybeI got flowers once in a while, and hey, flowers are nice, so I’m not dissing them. But what’s even nicer than flowers? A personalized, homemade gift.
Not that Corbin and I are dating. Of course we’re not dating. But even so, his words feel true, and I feel understood.
Iamboth salty and sweet.
I reach into the Tupperware container that a delivery service dropped off five minutes ago, with the note on top.
I take a bite of the bar, and I know two things instantly.
That we must serve it, and how we’ll present it—with a heart-shaped piece of paper that saysYou’re My Salty and My Sweet.
I open the design software on my phone and whip up a simple graphic, which I send to him.
Mabel: What do you think?
Corbin: And here I was just hoping you’d like the taste.
Mabel: I do. I really do. What do you think of the description? It’s like a story for the item!
Corbin: I didn’t realize baked goods needed a name or a story.
Mabel: Every baked good needs both, but especially a story.
Corbin: Speaking of names, are you ever going to tell me the name of the bakery?
Mabel: Soon.
This is presumptuous. This is so presumptuous. ButI’mpresuming he’ll like my potential name. Still, I’m having too much fun teasing the reveal. So as I finish getting ready to meet him, twisting my hair into my lucky clip in the bathroom, I dictate another text.
Mabel: I know I left you hanging with the name.
Corbin: Yes. You did. I was…hung.
Mabel: I see what you just did.
Corbin: What did I do, Mabel?
Mabel: You know what you did. And all I’m going to say is you’ll love this name. It suits you.
Corbin: Oh, it’s The Hung Bakery? Cool.
Mabel: I don’t think I would go to The Hung Bakery.
Corbin: You prefer…Rise to the Occasion?
Mabel: You’re getting closer.
Corbin: Creamed and Frosted? The Hot Box? The Nibbler?
Mabel: Confirming you like all these names?
Corbin: I have an open mind, Mabel.
Mabel: I’ll see you in an hour.
Corbin: I’ll be there with a project schedule and a breakdown.
