“The double chocolate cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, please,” Jackson said.
Mia looked at him in surprise. “Oh, are we doing dessert tonight?”
“Of course. It’s your favorite and we haven’t gotten it in a while.”
It had been several months since they had eaten at the resort restaurant together. Mia tried to avoid it because, while it was delicious, she would get a slice every single time. She decided, secretly, that she would only ever get it when she was with Jackson and if he initiated the order.
She’d eat the whole damn cake if left to her own devices.
The server dropped off the dessert for them to share and Mia held her spoon in the air in anticipation. She took a scoop of cake, along with the ice cream, and put it in her mouth while her eyes were closed.
She moaned loudly, not caring who could hear it. This was the best damn cake she had ever had in her life, and everyone needed to know it.
“Oh my God. I love this so much. Where’s Miles? Maybe I should marry him,” she joked.
She took a few more bites before noticing that Jackson wasn’t eating any. She looked up. “You going to dig in or am I eating this entire thing myself?”
His eyebrows were merged as he watched her, and he shook his head as if ridding himself of a thought. “We both know you could eat this and several more slices in one sitting.”
“Sue me.”
He chuckled and relaxed his posture a bit as he stabbed the piece of cake and ice cream with his fork.
“You should use a spoon. It’s more efficient,” she said.
“I prefer forks for cake.”
“But it’s with ice cream. Therefore, a spoon is necessary.”
“You do you.”
They smiled at each other. It was the same conversation they had every time they ate this dessert.
When the server came back with the check, Mia grabbed for her purse, but Jackson held a hand up to stop her before paying with cash.
“What are you doing?” Mia asked.
Mia and Jackson had made an agreement back when they were teenagers that they wouldn’t pay for each other unless it was a special occasion. At the time, they both were working minimum wage jobs and that extra cash was precious. It became a habit, and they continued with it, despite them both having better jobs now and not needing to penny-pinch.
“Paying. Obviously.”
“Need I remind you of our agreement?”
He winked. “I asked you out to dinner tonight, so I’m going to pay. Just call it friendship day.”
“That’s in August.”
“What is?”
“Friendship Day.”
“Wait, that’s a real thing?”
Mia laughed. “So you’re just making shit up to get your way?”
“Of course I am.”
They stood and walked out of the restaurant, and Jackson draped his arm over Mia’s shoulders. There was nothing new about it. He often did it when they walked around. She blushed at the tingles that went through her body. Mia always reacted to his touch, but this time felt different. Stronger.
