“What? No. Sit down. I’m not going overthere.”
“Fine. I’ll go without you. It’s almost lunch time, and Adam and Chelsea won’t be reporting back on their mission to Tarzana for at least another three hours.” Matt had a point. They ran out to get lunch all the time. They could stop by the Korean spot and get some food, and then stop in and say hello to Shae. “We’re going to her place of business to purchase items she sells. We’re not sneaking into her sororityhouse.”
“Alright fine.” Aidan stood and grabbed his own plaid bomber jacket. “But you’redriving.”
?
Sweet Creams was packed. The space wasn't all that big, just a few tables, the display cases, a table off to the side with cream and sugar and napkins, and the cash register. The tables were all taken, though and there was a line zigzagging in front of the cases of desserts. Christmas music was playing through the speakers above the door. It was only the second full week ofDecember.
Aidan usually settled into the spirit of the holiday season sometime around eleven forty-five p.m. on December twenty-fourth, but Aidan didn’t mind the festive jams at the moment. It was fitting for the whole scene. Nothing said rich sweets like SantaBaby.
“What can I get for you guys?” one of the girls behind the counterasked.
“We’re going to get two of everything. Shit. Give me one more second,” Mattreplied.
The girl laughed like she knew what kind of dilemma Matt was going through, then turned her attention to Aidan. “And foryou?”
“Uh—” He jerked back as Matt elbowed him in the stomach. “Um, is Shaein?”
“Oh. Yeah. She’s in the back. And you are?” the girlasked.
“Oh, sorry. Totally understand if she’sbusy.”
“Tell her Aidan Meyer is here. They have a date this week,” Matt said in a loud as fuck stage whisper. A bit of pink flashed up the girl’s light brown cheeks as she chuckled abit.
“She doesn’t have to come out here. I just wanted to say hello,” Aidan said, trying to wave her off, but she was already backing toward the swinging door to the kitchen. She held up her finger to the customers behind them, flashing the “I’ll be right back” nod, thendisappeared.
“Fuck.” Aidan ran his fingers through his hair, then shoved his hands in his pockets. This was a bigmistake.
“Relax and pick out acupcake.”
“You fucking relax,” Aidan grumbled. A moment later, the girl came back through thedoor.
“She’ll be right out. She’s just rinsing herhands.”
“Thanks,” Aidan replied. He tried to focus on the desserts in front of him and not the sense of doom that was making his heart pound behind hisears.
“You have to try the salted caramel cupcakes. They—” Matt was still talking, but Aidan wasn’t listening. The door to the kitchen opened and out walked Shae. She looked better than Aidan remembered. It was definitely the smile. Her long curls were piled on top of her head and she was wearing a pink apron splattered with frosting and flour. Still, she looked like a millionbucks.
“Hi!” she said cheerfully. “Did I miss a MATCHED message or does our date start now?” she laughed, but Aidan could hear the nerves in her voice. He’d fuckedup.
“I’m sorry.It—”
“I made him come. I’m Matt,” his asshole friend said, reaching his hand over the top of the display case. Shae laughed and shook Matt’shand.
“Nice to meet you, Matt. I’m Shae. Welcome to SweetCreams.”
“Oh, I’m all about Sweet Creams. I Postmates you guys at least once aweek.”
“Oh, you’rethatMatt. Nice to put a face to a name. You’re quite the loyal customer.” Aidan’s eyes roamed Shae’s gorgeous face as her full lips turned down in an impressed smirk. Okay, maybe he didn’t regret coming to see her. Unfortunately Matt would not stoptalking.
“He was planning your date in the office while he should have beenworking.”
“You were?” Her eyes narrowed in shock. “And now you’rehere.”
“We’re on lunch,” Aidan said with a shrug. “And this seemed like a nice small business tosupport.”
“Well, we appreciate it. Matt, you want to pick out a few cupcakes, on the house of course, while Aidan and I step outside for asecond?”
