Penny:Making you a very elaborate apology cake! Because cake! And because I'm sorry and I really like you!
I carefully removed the springform pan. I needed to concentrate. But I looked down at my phone. Why hadn't Garrett called me back? Was he angry?
I carefully spun the cake on the cake stand as I frosted it. When it was smooth, I placed the curls of apple peel so people knew what kind of cake it was.
I texted Garrett yet again.
Penny:I'm coming over. Hope you aren't mad!
No response.
Double crap! Why was he ignoring me? Was he angry? I spun around nightmare scenarios in my head of Garrett never speaking to me—or worse, telling me he hated me.
"Going to a Sunday-morning booty call?" Lilith asked as I placed the cake in the cake carrier.
"No, a cake call. Well, cake surprise call."
Morticia handed me a bag.
"What's this?"
"His things. Wallet, phone, keys."
Crap! No wonder he wasn't texting me back. At least now I had an excuse to go over to his house.
I cursed all my terrible decisions as I drove over to the estate. Was this it? It had just started to get good. I didn't want to lose him.
After I parked the car, I picked up the cake and looked down. I was still wearing my flour-covered apron. I was debating whether I should put the cake and bag down and escape back home before they noticed I was outside. But I didn't have time to flee. There was yelling, and the front door opened. Several small faces peered out at me.
"Cake! Cake! Cake!"
"Penny's here, and she brought cake!"
"Garrett, your girlfriend is here!"
"Did you just leave her standing there?" Garrett said, his deep voice cutting through his brothers' chattering ones.
"Hi!" I said breathlessly when he appeared at the door. He had a cup of coffee in hand and was wearing gray sweatpants, not the baggy kind, the kind where you get the outline of the good stuff.
He silently regarded me.
"I'm sorry about earlier," I said.
"It's fine." He shrugged. "It was just something fun. No need to be so serious about it."
"Oh, right," I said, my stomach dropping. "That makes sense—just some Halloween fun. I made a fall cake. Maybe your brothers want some?"
"Come in."
I stepped into the foyer awkwardly. Garrett leaned in and kissed me.
"Did you happen to bring my wallet?" he asked.
I held up the bag. He took it from me and kissed me again. "Thanks."
He took out his phone. I wrinkled my nose. He was going to see all my missed calls and texts of desperation.
I blew the tendrils of hair out of my face. "I'll just go take this to the kitchen," I said, holding up the cake.
