Page 8 of Falling for Her
Okay, I’ve got this…
Shaking my shoulders out, I go to the fridge and get the ingredients I need for the chocolate swirl filling.
The silence surrounds me as the smell of chocolate and cakes causes my stomach to grumble. I bite my bottom lip to stop myself from pouring the melted chocolate into my mouth. Instead, though, like a normal person – something I am not – I carefully drizzle melted chocolate over the buns an hour later after piping them full of chocolate swirl cream, suddenly regretting missing lunch because, damn, I bet these taste good.
Shaking my head, I pick up the icing sugar and sprinkle some over the top before stepping back and smiling wide at my work. I actually think I have this in the bag for the first time since making these. I think I’ll actually be spending the summer in Europe!
I grin wide and start doing a little dance, shaking my butt with excitement before pumping my arms out before me and pulling them in with a half-circle swing as I turn round in circles mumbling, “Uh huh, oh yeah, I’ve got it, I’ve got it,” then wiggle my butt again as I slowly dip and standing up again.
“Uh-huh, oh yeah….” I continue, my smile not leaving.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t very optimistic this morning, especially when I burned my first five batches, but right now, yeah, I have this.
I bring my arms out in front of me, swing them around again, and pull them back in as I swing my body around, but I gasp and jump at the figure leaning against the counter, his arms crossed over his chest and a smirk in place.
“God dammit, Cody,” I gasp, breathing heavily as I put my palm over my chest, suddenly wishing I’d moved the spare key for the bakery. Cody chuckles before eyeing the buns behind me, and quickly, I stand in front of them sending a little bit of stink eye his way.
“Oh, come on, surely you need someone to taste them…” He tries and gives me an innocent smile, battling his eyelids.
I narrow my eyes hating that deep down, I know full well he is right, and I’m just miffed because he’s caught me dancing.
“Fine,” I mumble, then turn and pick one up as he smacks his hands together and rubs them.
He has short, dark red hair and gray eyes. He’s the Captain of the swim team and extremely good-looking, which every girl at school wants. At one point, I had him and thought I was the most special person in school not realizing the joke was on me. I was just a bet for him, his friends and his girlfriend at the time.
Over the past year, we’ve become friends, I guess, which is a nice way of saying it. He wants more, he’s apologized several times over the year and stuck up for me against Portia, his now ex. Unfortunately for him, he was still seeing and sleeping with her when he was supposed to be my boyfriend, making me fall for him and making me feel like I was the only girl in the world for him.
He used me, betrayed me, and made a bet I’ll never get over, so friends are how we’re going to stay because to be honest, he is a good friend, and I never really had one before.
I hand him the bun and state, “Okay, give me your honest opinion, and please remember, Ms. Holk will be here in,” I check the clock then look back at Cody, who has a brow raised, and I state, “Half an hour.”
He nods, and without breaking eye contact, he takes a large bite out of the bun. I chew the inside of my cheek as I squeeze my fingers behind my back as I rock on the balls of me feet, but I soon squeal in relief when he groans and closes his eyes.
“Oh yeah,” he mumbles while nodding, “this is fucking heaven. Can I have another?”
I snort and shake my head as we lock eyes, denying, “No, they are for the judge, and two are for my mom and daddy.”
He moans, a frown marring his face, and he mumbles with a mouth full of food, “This is payback, isn’t it? For what I did?”
I laugh and shake my head before I turn around and grab the cake box. I quickly build it before gently putting the ten choux buns inside and closing it so a certain guy couldn’t touch them. Then, I put three in another box for my parents, knowing Daddy would want two.
“What are you doing here, anyhow?” I ask as I turn to see him wiping his mouth, the bun demolished, making me smile.
He shrugs and admits, “I missed you.”
I hum, lean against the counter, and reply, “You just saw me yesterday.”
He nods, walks over to me, leans against the opposite counter, and crosses his arms over his chest.
I raise a brow at him, and he half-grins and asks, “When are you going to give me another chance?”
I sigh, “Cody….” But he ignores me and pushes off the counter before cupping my cheek and looks deep into my eyes.
I know what he is hoping for but unfortunately for him, there is nothing. I don’t get butterflies, his touch doesn’t warm me only a sense of friendship hits me, and I know he sees it. The sadness in his eyes proves that. Last year, I used to melt and lay my head against his chest. I used to think I was his world, but that was just a teenage dream..
I think he broke that connection with his betrayal, and as a boyfriend, he sucked ass, but as a friend, he’s amazing.
I shake my head at him, and he sighs and steps back, leaning against the counter again, and confirms, “You didn’t feel anything having me that close, did you?” I shake my head, and he sighs, “I broke us.”
