“Something easy,” I say. I almost blurt out Cup Noodles and stop myself just in time. Otherwise I’d look like one giant hypocrite after giving him a hard time about not having real food. “Rice and tofu.”
I’m picturing the half-empty bag of frozen stir-fry vegetables, the block of tofu, and the half-used bottle of teriyaki sauce waiting for me in the fridge. It’s my go-to lazy dinner. Not exactly gourmet, but it’s quick and easy.
“What about dessert?”
I shrug. “I ate the last of my cookies and chocolate stash earlier.”
Theo smirks. “Good.”
I frown. “Good? Why is that good? Being out of chocolate is a crisis. You should know that, Mr. Rocky Road.”
He doesn’t answer. He just keeps smiling, right as a knock echoes through my apartment.
“You’ll want to get that,” he says.
“Nope. I’m not expecting anyone or anything. It’s probably some guy trying to sell solar panels.” The lastthing I want to do is waste my Theo time talking to some stranger.
“It’s not. It’s a delivery.”
“How do you know? Did you hack my doorbell camera for fun? Do you have a drone watching me?”
He waves me off. “You didn’t order anything... but I did.”
Is this revenge from earlier? I narrow my eyes. “What did you do?”
“Go. Answer the door,” he says, gesturing toward it. “I’ll wait.”
Suspicious, I set my phone down on the counter and cross the room. When I open the door, cool evening air rushes in. Sitting on the welcome mat is a small white box tied with a pale-blue ribbon.
I pick it up carefully and return to my phone, holding the box toward the camera. “Theo Riverton, what’s this?”
My fingers brush over the top of the box, and the gold lettering gleams under my kitchen lights—Juniper Row. My eyes widen. This is the most expensive chocolate shop in Orlando.
“Open it,” he urges.
I untie the ribbon slowly. Inside are three perfect layers of handcrafted chocolates—each glossy piece decorated with delicate scrollwork and gold dust, the kind of confection that looks too pretty to eat. I close the lid again, stunned. When did he do this? I’ve been on a virtual “date” with him most of the night. “This is... a lot of chocolate.”
“If you’re going to have chocolate,” he says easily, “you might as well have the best. Especially if you’re my friend.”
My heart does a little flutter. “Did you send one to Leon, Derrick, and Andy too?”
“What do you think?” he says. His voice is a dry, drawn-out drone, and he tilts his head back slightly, looking at me through half-lidded eyes, as if the very suggestion is preposterous.
“No.”
He nods once, his expression turning mock-serious as he adjusts his camera, the movement causing a slight blur of his dark sweater. “Their friendship package didn’t include a premium upgrade. Only yours.”
I giggle. “Seriously, Theo.” I glance down at the embossed label again, my throat tightening as the reality of it sinks in. He didn’t just order something. He chosethis. “Thank you. I don’t even know what to say.”
“You’re welcome. Now tuck in and enjoy them already,” he says, his voice softening. He’s watching me intently now, leaning his cheek against his hand.
“I will,” I promise, tracing the gold-leafed corner of the box absently with my thumb, still in disbelief he’d send me something so expensive. “I’ll probably have to freeze some,” I muse, already calculating how to make the magic last.
He wrinkles his nose. “Why?”
“So I can savor them.” I look up, laughing. “I can’t eat three layers in one sitting. If you’re nice, maybe I’ll save a few for when you come over.”
That takes him by surprise. His brow lifts, just slightly. “You want me to come to your flat?”
