Page 76 of Flake It Til You Make It

An early Christmas present.

A present that tells him exactly how much he means to you.

Rocco saw Taylor’s tall form outside the door and he took a deep breath, standing and heading over to it, opening it for him.

“Hey,” Taylor said, dropping a quick kiss against his lips. “You ready to go?”

“Yeah. But before we go, I have something for you.” Rocco picked up the box, trying to ignore how his fingers were trembling.

“What’s this?” Taylor asked, smiling down at him.

“Just something I thought you might like. Something I thought you might recognize,” Rocco said as Taylor ripped open the paper.

Rocco’s heart stuttered as Taylor lifted the top of the bakery box, gazing down at the cookies nestled so carefully there.

His face was totally blank and for an awful moment, Rocco wondered if he’d made a horrible miscalculation.

“These are . . .” Taylor’s voice was deep and rough with emotion as he reached out, gently tracing the edge of one cookie with his fingers.

“Yeah.” Rocco found his own voice wasn’t too steady. “They’re your mom’s recipe. I hope I got it right.”

When Taylor looked up at him, his eyes were wet. “You found her recipe.”

Rocco squeezed his arm. “Yeah. I think so. You’ve got to try oneto make sure, though.”

“How’d you even do this?” Taylor had made no move to actually pick up a cookie and eat it, like he wanted to just stare at them forever. Like he couldn’t quite believe they were real. That he could actually reach in the box, pluck one out, and take a bite.

“I went digging for some old recipes, something new-but-old that I could serve, but in the community cookbook Harvey over at the museum found, I discovered this recipe. It was contributed to the project by a Teresa Hall, and based on the name and the cookie I thought it might be hers.”

“Yeah.” Taylor’s voice cracked. “They look just right. Theysmelljust right.”

“I think it’s time to try one, make sure it tastes just right.”

Taylor gazed at him. “I don’t know if I remember what they tasted like. I thought I knew, but now, suddenly I’m not sure and what if I don’t . . .”

Rocco reached down and took his hand into his own and squeezed it. “All that matters is if you like them. And honestly? If you don’t? We’ll fix the recipe. They’re just cookies.”

“I’m sorry.” Taylor gave him a watery laugh. “I don’t know why I’m so weird about this. Iamso grateful. Honored and grateful. It’s one of the best presents anyone’s ever given me and I’m still being neurotic about it.”

“Hey, you’re allowed.”

“I really do . . .” Taylor swallowed hard. Rocco could see his Adam’s apple bobbing. Then he reached his other hand up to cup Rocco’s cheek. “God, you’re incredible.”

Rocco knew he was staring at Taylor with his heart in his eyes and maybe he should say something now. Because they were dating, for real, now, clearly. But they hadjuststarted doing that. It was maybe too early to say,by the way, I’m head over heels for you. Are you right there, too?

“Alright,” Taylor said, taking a deep breath. “I’m going to try one now.”

He picked up a cookie and didn’t hesitate—one of the things Rocco loved about him, once he committed,he committed—and bit into it.

Chewed. Swallowed.

Rocco thought he’d never been so anxious in his life. And over a cookie!

But then Taylor’s face broke into a huge grin, a smile that enveloped his whole face. “God, Idoremember what they tasted like, and these are exactly the same. Just . . .so perfect. The most perfect.”

Rocco unclenched and let himself enjoy that smile. The way Taylor curled around him.

“Yeah?”

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