Chapter 9
Act II, Scene I: Sweet Nothings, London
Kalina
T he hand-painted storefront of Sweet Nothings was white with green and purple finishes. A little bell rang out as Savi, Ted, and I stepped through the door. The scent of cinnamon and spun sugar enveloped us.
It was heavenly.
‘Argh, Lina, this place is lovely.’ Savi said, her arm draped over Ted’s forearm. She’d been feeling so down and out with her morning sickness, but didn’t hesitate when I told her cake tasting was next on my list.
Apparently, all this baby wanted was cake.
A woman, who I presumed was Maya, approached us.
‘Hi, welcome, sorry the appointment is so early. We wanted to give you our full attention before things got too chaotic. I’m Maya,’ she said as she shook our hands. ‘You must be Kalina.’
‘Yes, and this is the bride, Savi and the groom, Ted.’
‘Perfect, just the three of you?’
‘Yes.’
‘No,’ Ted replied at the same time. He spoke to Maya. ‘We’re waiting for someone.’
‘Here he is,’ Savi said after the bell tinkled above the door.
We turned as Titan walked in, wearing a forest green button-down shirt and dark blue jeans moulded to his thighs.
‘Oh.’ I’d forgotten he was joining us. Any other day would’ve been fine, but after my dream last night, my face flushed with heat at the thoughts my mind recalled. The way his lips had touched parts of my body no one else had. His whispers of encouragement.
He greeted me last, and bent close to my ear. ‘Careful dimples, your face is giving you away,’ he whispered.
No. He couldn’t possibly know what I was thinking?
‘Sorry I’m late,’ he said to everyone else. He was exactly on time for the appointment.
‘Please have a seat anywhere you’d like,’ Maya said with a sweep of her arm across the empty cafe. ‘I’ll be with you in five.’ She disappeared behind the counter and through an archway.
Savi and Ted fawned over the cakes on display while Titan stood beside me with his arms crossed over his chest. To anyone, it would seem like he was closing himself off, but I knew he found the position most comfortable.
‘Is everything okay?’ He tilted his head slightly.
‘Yes. Why?’ I pretended to be interested in the cakes on display, but it took me three tries to read the label of the vanilla bean dulce de leche cake.
‘You haven’t looked at me once.’
I looked at him then to prove a point. A terrible idea when a shiver spread through my body and landed in my core.
‘Is something wrong?’
‘No.’
‘Your face says otherwise.’
‘Stop looking at my face.’ I turned away.
‘Where else would I look?’ He laughed.
‘Lina,’ Maya called as she walked toward us, ‘we can start with the more traditional flavours you requested, then I’ll bring out the others so you can have a moment to savour everything and discuss amongst yourselves.’
‘Thanks, Maya, sounds great.’
She nodded once then went back through the archway.
Titan’s gaze raked over my face like he was running a diagnostic.
‘I’m fine.’ I spun on my heel and stalked to the table Savi and Ted had chosen.
Titan caught up in no time and sat beside me.
Maya returned, placed the slices in front of us, and gave us a rundown of each flavour. From the fresh and zesty lemon to the rich red velvet and the chocolate mocha.
I was ready to melt into my seat and never leave.
Titan’s arm rested over the back of my seat and his knee brushed my thigh beneath the table. It sent a jolt of electricity through my body and I flinched.
‘Lina, are you okay?’ Savi asked.
‘Mmm hmm. Yeah. Sorry Maya, you were saying?’
‘Although the cakes look quite vibrant, we can stick to the more traditional and classic decorations for the outside, as discussed,’ Maya said.
I nodded but my mind only thought about the closeness of Titan’s leg to mine.
‘I’ll leave you to it,’ Maya said, excusing herself.
‘Where to start?’ Savi eyed the cakes with excitement. She dug into the chocolate slice.
We followed suit, and swiped a bite of each cake.
‘The chocolate, right? Hands down,’ I said.
‘I kind of prefer the lemon,’ Titan said with a shrug.
‘That’s blasphemy. Who doesn’t love chocolate?’ Savi exclaimed.
‘The lemon is sweet with a slight zing.’ He looked at me. ‘Kind of like you.’
‘Are you comparing me to a sour fruit?’ I asked.
‘I like the lemon one too,’ Ted said, as he tried to save his best friend.
‘I don’t trust either of you. Chocolate is always a win,’ Savi said.
‘The bride has spoken.’ Titan lifted his hands up in defeat.
Maya came out with three new slices, which gave me a chance to ignore Titan’s arm pressed against mine on the tabletop. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up and I watched the muscle beneath his skin flex as he shifted.
‘Sorry Maya, could I have a glass of water please?’
When I looked up, Titan’s mouth twitched at the corners, like he’d seen me checking him out.
‘Of course, I’ll get some for the table. The sugar can be overwhelming. The rundown for these are; vanilla creme brulee, rose petal, and a lavender with honey. Shout if you need me, I don't want to hover too much.’
‘You’re amazing Maya, don’t worry about it,’ Savi said.
Savi and Ted tried bites of the next batch while I tried not to think about Titan’s hands on me.
‘The rose is lovely but I don’t think it's for everyone,’ Ted said. He wrapped an arm around the back of Savi’s chair and leaned close to whisper something in her ear.
She giggled behind her hand.
It was always endearing to be in their company. The love they shared was so visible and easy between them.
It was why I wanted this Agreement to work. I wanted what they had.
Titan dipped his fork into the creme brulee slice, and I swiped a piece from the other end.
We both looked at each other as soon as the cake reached our mouths.
‘I take it back about the chocolate. This has to be the one.’
‘Agreed,’ Titan said with an enthusiastic nod.
‘The cake has two layers, so you can choose two flavours. But, if it were me, it’d only be this one.’ I stole another bite.
Savi and Ted tried the cake then sighed in unison.
‘A winner,’ Savi said.
Ted nodded in agreement.
‘I think I know which one it’s going to be?’ Maya said. She’d returned with the bottles of water for the table.
‘I need to know what’s in it,’ I all but begged her.
She laughed. ‘You’re not the first person to be obsessed with it. It’s a white butter cake with vanilla bean pastry creme between the layers and covered in a caramel buttercream.’
‘I would die for this cake,’ I said rather dramatically.
‘I think we know what the answer is then,’ Titan said. He reached up and swiped my bottom lip with his thumb before placing it between his lips. ‘Delicious choice,’ he said and winked.
Heat rushed from my abdomen and pooled between my thighs. This had to be the dream? It sent my mind and body into overdrive.
‘I’ll get the order sheet so we can finalise the details then,’ Maya said to Savi and Ted.
‘What on earth is going on with you two?’ Savi asked.
Maya had left the table and her tone broke me from my reverie.
‘What do you mean?’ I had to work on keeping my voice calm.
It was pointless when it came to Savi. She always knew how I felt.
‘You’ve been acting…weird.’ Savi narrowed her eyes at me.
‘Not sure what you mean.’ I grabbed a bottle of water and drank from it to give me something to do.
I was grateful when Maya returned. Their focus was redirected. At least, Savi and Ted’s were.
Titan leaned back in his seat and stared at me.
‘What?’
He tipped his head in Savi’s direction as if asking why I wasn’t telling her.
‘I think you can finish up here.’ I stood and pushed my seat back. ‘I have to get to work.’
‘I can take you.’ Titan offered.
‘No, it’s okay.’ The mere thought of being alone with him right now made me want to break out in a sweat. I couldn’t be around him.
‘Kalina,’ he said, his tone filled with warning.
‘Fine.’ There was no point in arguing with him.
‘Chat later.’ Savi called as we left the bakery.
I took quick steps to stay ahead of him.
It became apparent he didn’t need much energy or exertion to keep up.
‘Are you okay? You seem angry.’
‘I’m not angry. I have a lot on my mind,’ I said and focused in front of me.
‘Want to talk about it?’ I hated how easy it was for him to keep in step with me.
‘Not really.’ I sped up.
‘Okay, we can just walk then.’
The silence between us was not uncomfortable, but it was large. Spanning the entire walk and tube ride.
I was too embarrassed to tell Savi about the Agreement, but she was the only other person I could talk to. I’d really put myself in such a weird predicament.
As we stepped out of the Tube, a woman with beautiful brown skin and deep brown eyes stepped into our path.
‘Titan?’ she said, with a beatific smile.
‘Hazel,’ he replied. She reached out to hug him and the way their bodies fit flush against one another had my face heating.
‘Fancy seeing you out in the wild.’ She flicked her curls over her shoulder.
This was a woman who knew she was beautiful, and how to use it.
I wasn’t paying much attention to what they were saying as I studied their interaction. The way she smiled at him and touched his arm. The way his hand grazed her waist when they’d hugged and hadn’t let go.
‘Hi, I’m Hazel.’ She lifted her hand in a little wave as her attention now turned towards me.
I shook my head as I tried focusing and I picked the skin on my thumb. ‘Lina,’ I replied.
Titan’s knuckles grazed mine, and it sent a warmth up my arm. The skin on my finger would thank him.
‘How do you know each other? Do you work together?’ I asked, directing my question at Hazel.
She looked at Titan then back to me. ‘Yeah, work.’ Her smirk, however, said something else.
‘Kalina’s a friend,’ Titan explained, even though no one had asked.
‘Oh.’ Hazel exclaimed; her face lit up. ‘ Friend. Yes, yes.’
‘We should get going,’ Titan said. He placed a hand on my back and gently ushered me towards the hotel.
‘Nice to meet you, Lina.’ Hazel called out.
I waved at her as I looked over my shoulder. ‘You too.’
‘Let’s go.’ He led me along the pavement.
‘Why do you seem upset? She was nice.’
‘Because she’s a menace.’
‘Like you.’ I grinned.
‘Ha-ha.’
I opened my mouth to say something then shut it again. I couldn’t ask him if she was one of the women he saw. It wasn’t part of the Agreement.
‘What is it?’
I shook my head.
‘Out with it.’ Titan stopped halfway up the street, forcing me to pause as well.
‘Was she an ex-girlfriend?’ Seemed like a normal question.
He waited for a beat. ‘Not exactly…’
‘Oh.’
He laughed. ‘What?’
‘Nothing.’ I walked to keep my body moving, but I couldn’t walk away from the way Titan’s body near mine made me feel a little unhinged. I had no idea how to navigate this new feeling. Was it lust? It must be. This was literally how all the books described it. I couldn’t be blamed for it either. Titan was…Titan.
‘It’s not nothing, Kalina. You’ve looked at me this way since I got to the bakery.’
We stopped in front of the hotel and I considered telling him what I thought.
No. That was a terrible idea.
Five weeks. I could manage for another five weeks?
‘I have to go. We can talk another time.’ I gave him no chance to respond as I spun on my heel and hurried into the building.