Chapter 50
Chapter Fifty
Mila
Iwish I was still mad at Kash, but after the other night, it's really hard to be. After he apologized, we stayed up late and talked for hours. It was different from all the other times we’ve just hung out.
It’s starting to feel like we’re a real couple now.
We had the ‘previous relationship’ talk, and he told me more about Bri.
I knew bits and pieces from Cora and what I’ve overheard, but hearing it from him is different.
He seemed remorseful about the whole thing, but I reminded him he wasn’t responsible for other people’s actions.
Her smashing their shop and acting out wasn’t his fault.
There was a reason he knew that a relationship with her wouldn't be a good idea.
Smiling, I mix together more batter for brownies.
I still can’t look at them without blushing.
Kate watches me but doesn’t say a lot. After our conversation, I still wonder about her.
She seems so lonely; I wonder if she’d let me set her up with Rhett or Seth.
They’ve been through some stuff, and though I don’t know their whole story, I know they are good men.
Pulling a pan of muffins from the oven, Kate slides them onto a rack to cool. “Those smell amazing. I don’t know how you’re not five hundred pounds. I swear I might have to start wearing leggings instead of real pants if I keep working here.” She laughs.
She’s not wrong. It’s hard to not sample every treat that comes out of the oven. The maple scones have always been my favorite, but now that the weather is shifting, I’ll probably start adding more lemon and citrus to the menu instead of savory flavors.
“You get used to it. Sometimes I make so many muffins or baked goods for orders that I get tired of even looking at them, let alone eating one.”
“That’s just blasphemy.” She shakes her head. “Looking at a brownie and not wanting to have one fresh from the oven? Nope. That’s practically a hostile work environment, Mila.”
Smiling, she opens her mouth to say something else, but is cut off when the door opens and Mara pops her head in. “Hey. How’s it going back here, little elves?”
“Really?” I scowl. “We’re still on the whole elf thing?
You know they do other things besides bake cookies and stuff—which I don’t even really make much of anyway.
” Come to think of it, I’m pretty sure the only cookies that ever sell are chocolate chip and snickerdoodle.
Most people who come in grab muffins or cinnamon rolls.
I wonder if I could make a lemon or orange roll for the new menu.
Deep in thought, I don’t realize Mara is talking until she waves her hands in front of me. “Hello. Earth to Mila Elf. Are you with me?”
Shoving her hands away, I glare. “Yes, oh powerful overlord. Just thinking about some things for the menu. I might have to do a trial run though.”
“Sounds fun. I feel like I never see or talk to you anymore now that you’re with Kash. Are you guys still a thing?”
Kate quietly works around us, refilling pans and washing dishes as she goes.
I hate being happy, especially knowing that she’s so sad, missing someone who’s gone.
On the other hand, I feel like I’m lucky to be at this point in my life.
I have a successful business with my sister, plus a man who loves me more than I could ever imagine.
“Yeah. Kash and I are good. Really good.” I smile.
“Ew. Don’t make that face. It’s weird seeing you smile like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you’re in love or something.”
Not bothering to correct her, I turn to help Kate, but Mara grabs my arm and spins me around. “Mila. No. You can’t be in love with him. He’s... Kash. Goofball, ladies’ man extraordinaire, doesn’t take anything seriously.”
Pulling out of her grasp, I stare at her in disbelief.
It’s like she doesn’t know him at all. “He’s not those things, Mara.
Well, the goofball yeah, but not the others.
And so what if I love him? Kash is good to me; he makes me feel seen and wanted.
I don’t expect you to understand; you hate everyone. ”
“That’s not true.” A hurt expression crosses her face before she recovers.
“Isn’t it? When’s the last time you went out with anyone?”
“I don’t have to fill my time with useless dates, Mils. I’m perfectly happy alone.”
My heart fills with sadness for my sister.
Mara may seem harsh to most people, and well, she can be, but she has a good heart, and I’ve seen what she does for those she cares about.
One of her regulars is a teacher at a local school.
She stops in most mornings for coffee and occasionally buys snacks for her students.
Mara always slides her some extra treats because she’s heard one too many times about the kids who don’t have breakfast because their families can’t afford it.
“I know you say that, Mara, and maybe it’s true, but I believe everyone has a person meant for them. Kash is my person.”
Laughing, Mara shakes her head. “Mila, you’ve known him for five minutes.”
“I know enough, and I wish you’d respect that.”
Mara searches my face for a moment, not saying anything, then she sighs. “Alright, Mils. If you’re confident, then I’ll support you. But if it goes south...”
“Let me guess, you’ll kill him, right?”
Gasping with mock surprise, Mara puts her hands to her chest. “Why, Mila, however did you know?”
Joining us in laughter, Kate shakes her head. “You two are something else.”
“Yeah, the best somethings,” Mara quips, slinging her arm around my shoulder.
Waiting for Kash to get home, I slide another tray into the oven. I decided to try a new recipe I found for orange rolls. I think they’ll make a great addition to our menu, but last time I tried to make them, they came out dry, and I refuse to sell dry baked goods.
Letting them rest in the pan, I inhale the scent of citrus and vanilla and smile.
If they taste half as good as they look, I have no doubt they‘ll be a great seller. Music flows through the speaker in Kash’s kitchen.
I wish it was a bit bigger, but I guess apartment kitchens aren’t meant to be overly large.
What I wouldn’t give for a country-style kitchen, large ovens and tons of counter space.
A kitchen island in the center, ready to hold all the things I make.
After mixing powdered sugar with orange zest and a smidge of juice, I quickly whisk it together, enjoying the way it smells.
“Let me taste that,” a masculine voice sounds behind me.
Whirling around, I almost drop the bowl from my hands. Kash stands in the doorway, leaning against it like he doesn’t have a care in the world, a bouquet of flowers in his hands.
“You scared me!” I scold him. “How long have you been there? What are the flowers for? What's the special occasion?”
Putting the bowl on the counter, I move to turn down the music, but Kash steps forward, stopping me.
He drops the flowers on the counter, then lays his hand over mine.
I go willingly when he pulls me into his arms. Kash tilts his head to the side and gives me a warm smile.
“One question at a time, honey. First, I didn’t mean to scare you.
Second, I’ve been here long enough to think about putting you on that counter and using whatever frosting you’re making as a very sweet treat.
Third, the flowers are for you, and the occasion is, I wanted to see you smile. ”
Well, shit. I don’t have a response to any of that.
Shaking his head, Kash leans down and presses a quick kiss on my lips. “If I bring home flowers for any other reason than to see the smile on your face, I’ve already failed.”
I’m still not used to how open Kash is with his affection and feelings. I don’t ever want to take him for granted or expect him to be this way all the time. That’s how people get let down.
Squeezing my sides, Kash brings my attention back to him. “How long do we have?”
“For what?”
“How long, Mila?”
Looking at the clock, I do some quick math, then smile, “About forty minutes. Why?”
“Perfect.” Kash kisses the top of my head, then pulls out his phone. Tapping at the screen a few times, a song cuts out over the Bluetooth speaker, and the opening chords of a very familiar song start to play.
“Dance with me, Sunshine.”
“The kitchen is a mess, and I need to clean it up. I can’t—”
“You can and you will,” he interrupts me, softly kissing my lips.
Leaning into the kiss, I wrap my arms around his neck, trying to deepen it, but he pulls back.
“Kash, you don’t have to do romantic gestures every day,” I murmur softly, looking into his eyes. I like him for who he is, not what he can do.
“Oh, I know.” He tugs me closer to his body, eyes staring into mine. “But when I know the result is going to be your smile, it’s all the incentive I need.”
I can’t believe this is Kash. I spent so much time thinking I knew who he was and what he was about, but I keep seeing how wrong I was.
I was right to be hesitant initially, but Kash has consistently shown me who he is, day in and day out.
He’s funny and thoughtful, and even though he has a loud personality, it’s like he saves it for certain times.
When it’s just the two of us, he’s more reserved.
Not quiet, but it’s like he doesn't feel like he has to entertain everyone.
I like it when it’s just us.
Intertwining our fingers together, he tucks one hand into his chest and the other around my waist. Swaying in a small circle in his kitchen, Kash sings along as the song plays.
A song about a love so deep that not even death could stop them from being together.
A love so deep it would physically hurt to be separated.
Resting my head against his chest, I will myself not to cry.
The simplest things have been making me tear up.
I was working on something in the kitchen with Kate the other day, and she paused for a moment, looking around.
We were laughing about something stupid, but when she told me how glad she was that we took a chance on her, because she loved working with us so much, I cried for ten minutes straight.
She panicked of course, but I assured her I was fine.
Letting Kash’s voice wash over me, I pretend that we’re dancing in our own home instead of this apartment.
He’d finish putting our kids down for bed, then come in search of me.
I’d of course be in our kitchen, putting everything away for the night.
He wouldn’t say anything at first—just stand there and watch me the way I see him do sometimes when he thinks I’m not paying attention.
I wish I was wearing something pretty or elaborate, but Kash seems to feel the same regardless of what I’m wearing.
He’d pull me in his arms, just like he is now, and tell me he loves me as we sway in the kitchen. Tears burn my eyes, and I blink them away. It’s a fairy tale more than anything. Things like this just don’t happen in real life.
No one stays happy and in love forever, right?