“Sawyer’s mom used to make this for me when I was recovering. It’s just as good as hers,” Jamie says.
That’s a compliment if ever there was one. I watch them eat a moment. It’s this I love. Knowing I made these things from nothing, it brings a rush unlike anything else. Noah scoops up some of the mango puree and rice at the bottom. I loved the idea of turning it into a parfait. Easy on the go.
Mango puree mixed with coconut milk, then sticky rice, and some more mango puree at the bottom. It’s topped off with a coconut-cream mousse then a layer of fresh mangos. Delicious.
“You look like you’re about to have some private time with that parfait cup.” Jamie’s eyes hood.
Noah shakes his head. “Don’t embarrass me in front of our friends,” he says to Jamie.
Jamie stops eating to look at Noah. “Your shirt literally saysI need HEAD.”
“Yeah!” Noah pulls his shirt out, reading it. “Hugs. Encouragement. Affection. Devotion. Some departments you’ve been lacking in lately.”
“Knock it off, you know I’m obsessed with you.” Jamie kisses his head.
Noah laughs. “I know, I just like to hear you say it.” He leans in for a kiss, which Jamie gives him gladly then wipes the cream from the corner of his lips before sticking it into his own mouth.
“I’m sorry I brought them,” Hunter apologizes. “What do you want, babe?”
Mark stands behind Hunter as my friend sits on another barstool. Mark and I have had an odd relationship. I like him now. He loves my best friend deeply, which is all I could ask for.
Back in college, Mark got caught up with some bad people. My sister’s ex set fire to my mother’s restaurant and Mark almost went down for the crime even though he didn’t have anything to do with it. Hunter somehow got involved and it was messy.
Mark fucked up, but since then I’ve grown to like him a lot. “Can I have one of those chocolate brownies?”
“It’s made with coconut milk.”
“I’ll take two.” Hunter seconds that, and I grab them a box and put six brownies in it because why the hell not. Most of them will still be in the case later today anyway.
I watch my friends, all with their partners. Hell, Noah’s friend Bo, who I went on a very short date with, is now with his best friend. Not that I’m surprised. During our date the man literally couldn’t take his eyes off Bo.
They’re cute. All of them are cute. And I... well. I’m painfully alone.
I try dating. I do. In fact, I have one this weekend. It’s just that whenever I go on one there’s always something missing. It’s why I didn’t really care too much that Bo moved on. There was no spark anyway. I really need to feel it.
Maybe I’m too desperate. Or way too picky. I’m not my sister, who would literally gnaw her arm off to get away from a man.
She’s single by choice. Or how does she put it?“I’d rather put my tit in a garbage disposal than come home to a man.”My sister’s as unattached as ever. I really wish I could be one of those people who separates sex and romance. Sex... It’s been a while since I had any of that too. I wish I could be freer.
Maybe more like how Noah used to be before Jamie.
Okay wow, not something I ever thought I’d say.
“When do you open?” Noah asks, practically licking his cup clean, and I laugh, taking another out of the case and handing it to him. “Oh, thank you!” Noah puts it between him and Jamie. “Go ahead, babe.”
“I am open.” Noah freezes with the spoon at his lips. “It’s slow in the mornings.” And nights, and weekends, and afternoons.
“You know what you should do?” Noah says. “You should throw events, on like Friday nights or the weekends. Something fun. Hey!” Noah’s fingers lace around Jamie’s tattooed bicep. “You should do an art exhibit. Have people come, make special treats. You can charge a small admission fee and anything you put out they can try. Like little sample sizes of your things. Then if they want the full-sized dessert they can order! My brain is brilliant!”
That sounds great except I can barely get people in here for free. How could I charge people just to walk through the door? That thought’s too embarrassing to say out loud, so instead I justnod and smile. Sometimes the best course of action when Noah is involved. “I don’t know. I don’t really have time to plan all that.”
“Let me,” he offers.
“What?”
“Let me plan it. Then you can bake that gorgeous butt off.”
“Why are we complimenting other men’s asses when I’m sitting right here?” Jamie says.
