There on the counter was a thickly iced chocolate cake, and it looked so magical.Her mouth literally watered at the sight of it.
“That looks so good,” she said.
“It will be.First, though, do you want to try some chili?Dad literally has a bowl of chili, topped with crispy bacon, cheese, and sour cream.Sometimes, if he is feeling fancy, he’ll add some avocado.”
Larissa couldn’t help laughing.She walked over to the stove, where it was slowly bubbling away.It looked so thick and delicious.
He took out a spoonful and offered it to her.She took a bite and let out a moan.
“Is that good?”
“Oh, yeah, that issogood.”
“Excellent.Go and sit down.I’ll serve us up a bowl.”
Larissa looked at him, and the temptation to kiss him was so strong, but she held herself back.Now was not the time to start kissing him, or doing anything.It was the time to just step back and give them both some space.
She hung up her jacket and made sure the door was locked.Stepping into the dining room, she saw he had set the table once again.Big Dick was so sweet and thoughtful.
He entered the dining room, carrying the two bowls.“I think we have enough chili to keep us going for days.”
“It tastes so good,” she said.
He had already loaded up her bowl, and with the sour cream and cheese, it was perfect.There was no avocado in this one.The bacon was delicious as well.Who would have known?
She moaned.
“You know, those sounds are driving me crazy,” he said.
She looked over to him and smiled.Coming out and saying that she forgave him didn’t feel right.She didn’t want to dampen the moment with the memory of what had happened.
“How’s your dad?”Big Dick asked.
“He’s good.It felt good to go and see him.I don’t want to be mad at him anymore.”
“I get that.”
He reached out and took her hand.“Whatever you need, I am here for you.Anything.”
He squeezed her hand, and Larissa felt that comfort, that warmth.She didn’t want to lose this with him.This felt real.It felt raw.
This was worth fighting for.
****
Hailey took a sip ofher coffee with a mocha-peppermint creamer, and it was delicious.She loved ordinary, regular coffee, but at Halloween and Christmas, she loved to treat herself with whatever creamer was available.She liked to try new things.This was one of her favorites.Tomorrow, it was going to be the sugar-cookie creamer.
Stepping back from reorganizing the Christmas stand, she loved how it popped.She put her shop-bought coffee down and took a quick snap for her website.Business was good.
Her family still refused to acknowledge her, and there was a time she would have been upset by that.Even Harlow had told her if her parents weren’t happy with her success, that was on them, and they could fuck off.
She adored Harlow.Her friend had a way of telling her exactly what was on her mind.There was no filter.
Hailey scanned through the photos she had taken and selected the ones she loved the most.It didn’t take long to get them loaded on the website.The products were already loaded up.
It was getting late, a little after eight.The shop had closed a couple of hours ago.She had already sent Harlow home.The other woman was getting dangerously close to giving birth.
Larissa herself didn’t want to go home.Although home was a nice place, and she loved it, it was still incredibly lonely there.Working helped and stopped her from thinking.
