Page 50 of Ten Kisses

"No, no, not at all. Everything he says has been casual with no actual proposal or pressure. It's just that he's talking a little bit weird lately. Maybe I just notice it since I'm with someone now. I am not inviting them to my parents' house this weekend. I didn't even tell them what I'm doing. I'll think about it while I'm over there, and then I'll see how Darren acts when I get back. If it was a one-time thing, I still have hope I can stay here. It's been so good for so long."

"I know, I would be sad to leave that place after you just got it all fixed up with your dream kitchen. Would you get to take those machines with you when you go?"

"He said I would, but if I leave now, I honestly don't know. Salem has already mentioned making me a place at his house to put my machines—a second kitchen."

"He did? Already? What did you say?"

"I can't even think that far ahead right now. It's all so new. My family still doesn't even know. I've been to that house so many times, and I just think of it as Salem's house. He offered me that the other day, and it was the first time the thought crossed my mind that I might live there and call that place home one day. It's just such a lovely house, and I honestly never even thought…"

"Are you thinking about moving in with him?"

"No, no, I'm not saying that. All I'm saying is that Salem did offer to build a kitchen the other day. He just said it out of the blue, and when he did, it hit me for the first time that I might actually live in that house one day."

"It might be sooner, if your landlord doesn't start acting right."

"I know," I said.

"I think the first step in any of this is to get your sister off your back."

I laughed. "I think that starts with eligible bachelors going out to my parents' house this evening, so if you know anyone…"

Kat laughed as well. "I'll think about it. He's got to be an eligible bachelor with a tent."

"Yeah, or just willing to drive to and from Kerr Lake in one night."

"It's not that far, really," she said. "And speaking of driving out there… I'm at the bank. I'm going to make this deposit and then head home. I think I can be at your place by two-thirty. If you don't mind, I'll follow you."

"Yeah, that's great."

"It seems easy, but I'd rather follow you so I know where to park and everything."

"That's perfect," I said. "Thanks for coming. And thanks for letting me vent to you."

"My pleasure. Your life is so much more exciting than mine."

I laughed but I knew I would get rid of that "excitement" with Darren if I could.

I hung up the phone, feeling better about it all. I was glad to have it off my chest. It felt good to mention it to someone and hear their reaction. I was alone in my apartment, but it crossed my mind that there could be cameras watching me. I thought back to what I had just said to Kat and wondered if I should be paranoid there. Only a real sick-o would put a camera in someone's bathroom. I looked up, noticing the blackness of the air conditioning vent and wondering if there was any chance a camera was in there.

I hated that feeling of paranoia. I didn't want to have those sorts of thoughts, and I didn't think Darren would ever do such a thing. I still stood up on the toilet and shined a flashlight in my vent just to make sure.

Chapter 18

I didn't always individually wrap my chocolate. More than half of the time, I presented my chocolate in other ways, stacked in boxes, or tins, or bags. Usually, I put multiple pieces in a container.

I did take the time to make some individually wrapped pieces with my regular orders, however, and they were fun for me. I didn't do it for all of my chocolate because I would have to charge more and it wasn't that practical. I loved the act of wrapping each piece in foil, though. I liked the neatness and monotony of it, and I liked the finished result. It made me smile to see the chocolate looking beautifully packaged in bright foil. Wrapping was a side of chocolate making I never knew I would enjoy. I also enjoyed the idea of people having the added ritual of opening each bite before eating it. It made each bite seem like a little gift.

That was why I wrapped three hundred pieces of chocolate to take to my parents' house for the big family fun weekend. I was finishing that at the moment. I also made a few hundred of my patented smores squares. I made three flavor varieties and they were the perfect size, thickness, and flavor combinations to make the best-ever smores.

The smores squares were crowd-pleasers, and they were close to my heart, so I was a natural salesman with them. They had quickly become a classic for my customers this summer.

I had only taken them to a few of my family's bonfires, and I was excited to take them to the camp with so many people around to try them. They were the most perfect size and thickness for that graham cracker, and I put a neat piece of parchment between each piece for ease of handling. People loved them.

My new machines had put the whole experience over the top. The thickness and consistency of each square was down to a fine science. The wrapped chocolate would be available at one of the tables with food, but the smores chocolate would come out on serving trays during tonight's bonfire. I had been preparing all of it for the last two days, and I was excited for everyone to try it this weekend.

There was a small clearing near the cabins, and the church had set up booths with food, games, and prizes. When we first arrived, Kat and I walked with my mom to that area. We took the wrapped chocolates to a lady at one of those booths, and she was so happy to get them and said she would make them available for everyone to sample.

Kat and I walked around for a little while before meeting up with Jenny and Lev. Sara came when she got off work, and she brought a couple of her friends with her. Kat and I hung out with all of them. We did several of the carnival games and then we took the trail to the lake and went canoeing for an hour or so.

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