I put my phone down and wait. Not even a full minute goes by before my phone rings. Noah’s voice comes immediately when I answer. “Are you asking me for a girl’s night!?”
“Um.”
“Yes!” I hear a feminine voice in the background. “Let’s go.”
“Is that Bri?”
“I’m with Bri and Bo right now. We’ll be on our way over in a minute. Do you need us to grab drinks? Snacks?”
“I’ve kind of baked myself into oblivion. There’s plenty of dessert here. No drinking. I have to work in the morning.”
With Aiden.
Who I kissed.
Who was hard while we kissed.
“We’ll be there soon!”
“Okay, great.”
I hang up and then text someone else.
Sawyer:
Hey, if you’re not busy, do you want to come over? I’m having a couple of friends try some desserts for my menu.
My sister’s typing bubble pops up
Jane:
Be there in fifteen.
“Oh my god.”Bri curls over the counter, bouncing on her toes. “This is insane.”
Jane picks up a brownie, and I know she keeps looking at me but I will not acknowledge it. I don’t know what she sees on my face, but I’m trying to mind my business. She’s too good at reading me.
After licking my spoon, I put it in the sink. “Good, right?”
“What flavor is this?” Bri takes another white chocolate truffle.
“Raspberry cheesecake. Inside has mashed up raspberries, sugar, and cream cheese.”
“And these are for the event?” Noah looks over the spread. “You made so many of them.”
I nod. “My idea is to find boxes, and maybe people can fill them with six to eight truffles. Like a heart chocolate box. I think that would be cool.”
“That’s a great idea.” Noah tries another, groaning when he pops it into his mouth.
“The dessert bar will have an assortment. They’re easy to make. The possibilities are endless. Then, in the window, I’ll have a bunch of full-sized desserts for sale. These will show that my desserts taste good at least, then they can buy more.” I write something down in my notebook. “I was also thinking that during the speed-dating game we could deliver some samples of other desserts.” I push it toward Noah.
“Chocolate-covered strawberry brownies.” He moans. “Give me twenty.”
“What’s this one?” Bri asks, her attention on the tray of orange and white truffles.
“Orange creamsicle. These are espresso.” I point to the dark chocolate ones. “And these are tiramisu.” I take one of the creamsicle ones. The creamy orange flavor reminds me of those ice-cream pops I used to get in the cardboard when I was a kid. “I’m going to make a couple of cheesecakes, I think. Maybe some fun chocolate-covered strawberries. I don’t want to go crazy with the things in the glass case, just in case no one buys anything.”
“People will buy stuff.” Bri pops a blueberry graham-cracker truffle into her mouth. “Literal tears. This one is the winner.” She presses her palms into her eyes mock crying. I’d say I’m shocked her makeup doesn’t smudge, but I know her makeup wouldn’t dare. Right now she has baby blue eyeshadow with little daisies she’s painted along her lids and temple. A silver shimmer dusts along her cheekbones popping brilliantly against her mahogany skin tone. Her lips are painted a darker blue.
