Josie nodded and a smile slowly spread across her face. “Okay, thanks. You’re a lifesaver. I wouldn’t have taken this order if I’d known it was for this week when Ben was gone.”
I didn’t mind staying. The house was so lonely at night and making extra money while not having to worry about dinner was a huge bonus.
“Okay, we’re making two dozen cookies and cream cupcakes, one dozen passionfruit curd, two dozen vanilla bean, and two dozen chocolate,” she said, looking down her list before glancing back at me apologetically.
“I think you mean two dozen Vanilla Bean My Omega’s a Dream cupcakes.” Josie had a sweet vanilla scent, hence the name of the bakery.
“That’s not the official cupcake name,” she said fiercely, waving her pen at me. “I vetoed Ben’s suggestion.”
“Well, that was at least better than his first suggestion?—”
“No, nope! We’re not speaking of it!” Josie shouted.
“Vanilla Bean Slick Dream,” I finished with a snort.
“Our friendship is over.” She sniffed, cheeks heating.
“Just teasing,” I said. “Do you want to make the batter and I’ll handle the frosting? Or should we both start on batter?”
“If you can get the vanilla and chocolate cupcakes going, I’ll make the passionfruit curd.” She turned the radio to her favorite pop station and readjusted her apron.
“Let’s do it.”
We fell into a steady rhythm, chatting and singing along to our favorite songs. I liked the repetitiveness of bakery work, but Henry’s faux pas the other night had gotten me thinkingabout what else I wanted to do with my life. I hadn’t been very academically focused in high school, so I wasn’t even sure what I would study in college if I got the chance. Josie had taken some marketing and business classes online through a university in Sol, and there were rumors that Luna universities were supposed to open classes to omegas in the fall.
I had just finished the chocolate batter when Josie screeched.
“Oh my god, I forgot to ask you about your date!”
I bit my lip.
“No, don’t do that.” Josie moved around the table so she was facing me. “I need all the details. And now I have you trapped here, so you have to tell me.”
I eyed the door and she growled. I covered my mouth to stop from laughing at her very non-threatening omega growl, uncovering it only when I had schooled my expression.
“Fine, fine. It was… good.”
She stared at me. “Are you fucking kidding me? I need more. Did he love your dress? Did he take you somewhere nice? Did you kiss or…more?” She waggled her eyebrows suggestively.
Her excitement was infectious, and I couldn’t stop my smile. “He liked the dress,” I said, thinking about how wide his eyes had gotten when I opened the door. “And then he carried me to his car because I was wearing heels.”
“I didn’t know Mr. Lawyer had it in him,” Josie said, raising her brows.
“I know. He has some moves,” I said with a grin. “There were some problems with our reservation, so we ended up going to one of my favorite places from when I was in high school. The Corner Arcade—do you know it?” I’d been sad to see it so empty, in such contrast with how lively and packed it was every evening back in the day.
“No, but an arcade sounds fun.” Josie pulled a tray of cupcakes out of the oven. “Maybe I can convince my guys to go on a date night.”
“Henry really let loose. It surprised me,” I admitted. It had been a happy surprise. He’d made me feel… light,alive.
Josie stopped what she was doing. “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen you smile this much.”
“I haven’t had much to smile about lately.” I focused on putting the last of the cupcake batter in the liners.
“That’s true,” Josie said softly. “How have things been without your aunt?”
“I miss her.”
Josie seemed to understand I didn’t want to talk more about it, so she changed the subject to the latest movie marathon she’d had with her guys.
