Chapter 7
Chapter
Seven
Selah
Most of my time this week had been spent in my original bakery, putting together orders and making sure everything still had that same touch.
Best Kept Secret would always be my baby, because it was the first real thing that showed me what I was made of.
Now I had two locations, and though it was stressful sometimes, I still managed.
I was able to do what I loved every day, without having to wonder how I would eat. I was feeding myself.
Today I’d tried a new recipe inspired by a certain boxer who was very serious about his regimen and his diet.
I admired that about him. He was dedicated and determined to put in the necessary work and time to succeed.
From what I had seen, he was disciplined and had self-control.
He was nothing like Nathanial. Even though I didn’t mean to compare the two, sometimes I couldn’t help it.
They were like night and day, which had me wondering a lot.
It also made me realize Nathanial and I had grown apart a long time ago, but I just refused to see it.
We weren’t teenagers planning our futures anymore, we were adults living them.
It was hard to see at first, but so clear now.
I didn’t fit into his life because he didn’t fit into mine.
We were totally different people, which was okay.
My phone vibrated in my back pocket and I pulled it out. It was Indiri, letting me know he was outside. We were talking yesterday and he brought up the red velvet brownies. So with his extremely strict ass diet in mind, I figured I’d show him how to make this recipe I’d found online.
I answered, putting the phone on speaker before I gave my space another once over. I had all the necessary ingredients out to make the red velvet protein brownies.
“We’re out front.”
“Coming to the door now.” I moved from the back, going straight for the door. Once I had it open, he and Bigs were filing in, running from the evening showers that plagued the city.
“I knew I knew you from somewhere. I came in here and got a Super Donut before,” Bigs pointed out. This was probably the first time I’d heard the big man speak.
I giggled. “Somebody doesn’t believe it, but I make them better than the company and it’s their recipe. Do you want me to bring you one?”
“Hell yeah.” Bigs took his jacket off and got comfortable in the booth near the door. Even though the door was locked and it was only us in here, he was here to secure and that was the best vantage spot to see everything except the kitchen.
“It ain’t that I don't believe you, I just can’t tell you that because those donuts got me through school. Respect to the school donuts.”
I laughed. “Fine.”
“Now what is it you wanted to show me?” he asked once his damp hoodie was draped across a chair.
I led the way to the kitchen. “Tonight, we are making red velvet cream cheese protein brownies.”
“Say what now?”
“You wanted me to teach you to make red velvet cupcakes, right? Well since you wouldn’t be able to eat them if I did, I figured we’d make something you can eat. I’ve pulled out all the ingredients and pulled the recipe up right there.” I pointed to the massive screen.
He grinned. “So you invited me down here to teach me how to make my own red velvet?”
“I mean… you did say you wanted to learn.” I shrugged.
“I did, but I damn sure didn’t intend for you to make it happen.”
“Well, I did. Now first, let’s get your hands cleaned and an apron on.”
I felt the look he was giving me, but I refused to look at him, not when I knew he looked so good I’d definitely say forget the impromptu baking class and be on something totally different.
“You’re ’bout to do this with me, right?” he asked.
His tone was unsure, which made me smile. When I finally looked at him, I had to catch myself because the man was beautiful. He was the type of fine that had me staring at him for a minute, trying desperately to find something that wasn’t perfect.
“Why are you acting nervous, Selah?”
“I’m not acting nervous. I’m trying to get this show on the road.” I walked over to the apron rack and grabbed the black one with red hearts printed all over it.
Once his hands were clean I helped him put the apron on, lifting the neck part above his ducked head before we locked eyes.
This was definitely the position I had been avoiding. Because without a second thought, he leaned down and pecked my lips.
“Hello to yo’ fine nervous ass too.”
I grinned, because of course I couldn’t help it.
About thirty seconds later we were standing next to one another and I began to read the first steps aloud.
“So, everything is already room temperature?” he asked while pouring the already cracked eggs into the mixing bowl.
I nodded. “Yup I had this planned since you first asked me what I was doing today.”
“And what if I had made reservations?”
“It would have worked out. Put the cream cheese and the coconut oil into the bowl too,” I instructed, watching his massive hands carefully grab each ingredient. It was so strange watching this man, who was otherwise rough, be soft.
“What else?” he asked, once everything was in the mixing bowl.
“Slowly add the red velvet mixture.”
“So basically, what I’m doing is adding everything you have out to this mixing bowl?” he concluded.
“Yep.”
“And what are you doing?”
“Boutta preheat the oven and oil the pan. You wanna do that?”
He laughed. “Nah, you got it, boss.”
“I know I do.” I moved around him and turned the oven on. Then I washed and dried my hands at the sink. I grabbed the flat silver pan and sprayed the oil onto it.
“Why are you oiling the pan?” he asked.
“So they don’t stick when they’re done.” I looked up from the pan at him. His expression was unreadable, like his thoughts were intense. “Why are you looking like that?”
“Because I’ve never done anything like this and actually wanted to see how it came out. This is different for me.”
I nodded. “Well, are you at least enjoying yourself?”
“Yeah I am. I fuck with it, but don’t expect me to retain any of this. It’s too many steps.”
I giggled, then set the pan down and moved toward him.
Once I was next to him, I locked the mixing bowl in place on the machine and lowered the mixer into the bowl.
Then I pulled the lever on the side of the mixer and watched as it began to mix all of the ingredients.
“I started to let you mix all of this up with a spoon but figured it would take forever and your body was probably tired enough from two training sessions.”
“Good look on that.” He gazed down at me and I squirmed under his sight. There was always something about the way he looked at me that had me wondering if he could see through me.
A knock at the doorway broke our eye contact. “Ay, Ms. Baker Lady, did you forget my Super Donut?” It was then I remembered we weren’t alone.
I looked up and half of Bigs leaned into the doorway, the other half hidden by the wall. “Yeah, my bad. Let me get it.”
“Don’t be rushing her, big nigga. You should be eating the protein bites with me,” Indiri countered and Bigs laughed and walked back toward the front.
I checked on the bowl’s contents before going back into the fridge room to get the donuts I’d made this morning. They were a hit because, from what I understood, a lot of Chicagoans fancied Briar South from time to time.
“Damn you be baking, huh?” Indiri’s voice behind me made me turn around. He was taking in my space with amazement in his eyes. Even in this chilled space, it made me warm.
“Yeah. Baking is my life. I bake when I’m happy, sad, nervous, anxious, everything. Somehow baking is my everything. Kind of how boxing is for you, huh?” I led the way from the freezer back to the kitchen.
“Nah, I don’t know about that.”
I set the donuts down on a small tray and looked at him. “What do you mean?”
“Boxing is the only thing I don’t have to think about when I’m doing it. Every motion, movement, or act is out of reaction or instinct.”
“But you love it, right?”
“Hell yeah.”
“Then yes, boxing is my baking.”
About an hour later, the protein brownies were all done and I was just about to plate them for him. This wasn’t something I intended to sell at the bakery, so I would box them up for him to take if he liked them.
“So what do you think?” I had just finished closing the pastry box and turned to look at him.
He was behind me silent, which made me nervous.
When I looked at him, he looked shocked.
Before I could say anything, he pulled me into him and kissed me.
It wasn’t a quick peck, but instead, a heavy lustful connection. One that had me confused.
“Um, are you okay?”
“Yeah. I just ain’t never had nobody do nothing like that for me.”
Confusion swept me. “Do what?”
“Find a recipe for my diet type and make it. Shit, invite me over to your space and show me how to make it.”
“Oh well, I’m glad you enjoyed them and it, even though you said you’re not gonna retain anything.”
He chuckled. “At least I was honest with you, shorty.”
I shook my head.
“But I really appreciate this, and you. Thank you.”
“Anytime.” I smiled nervously.
“Don’t tell me that, then you’ll have me requesting them and rolling your eyes when I ask weekly.”
“Indiri.”
“Yeah, Ms. Baker Lady, you got a bomb with the donuts but I ain’t feeling the protein brownies. I can taste the healthy shit in them. I bet you used coconut oil and all that food shit too, huh?” Bigs’s voice carried from the front of the bakery back to the kitchen where Indiri and I were.
“Nigga she ain’t make them for you. She just let your ass taste and you need to be liking healthy shit,” Indiri responded before I could.
Bigs grunted from the front.
I cackled hard as hell. Both of them were a mess.