Page 47 of Yours and Mine (Friends with Benefits)

“I L.O.V.E vanilla. Noteverythingvanilla” – she winked – “but cupcakes, definitely.”

“See, I told you so,” I grinned, before realizing what Daisy had meant, and then felt my cheeks heat. Up to this point, I hadn’t even thought whether Nick liked everything vanilla either, simply because we’d just become intimate before he left. I made a note to ask him in one of my letters.

“I’ll see you two at the dance, then.”

Daisy hugged me again. “See you soon.”

Once they left, I gave the single cupcake order to Marge. “What do you think it means?”

She covered her mouth as if she knew something that I didn’t. “Well, if it were my guess, I’d say that Carter’s planning to propose.”

“Really?” I almost squealed. “Oh, my God! You’re right. He’s going to put the ring in the cupcake, isn’t he?”

“Well, I don’t think right in the cupcake, but possibly on top of it. Jo, you have to find out, though, because if I know ahead of time, I can make it that much more special.”

“I’m going to town with him tomorrow. He said he needs help with something and I shouldn’t say anything to anyone. Wait, I just broke a promise.”

“Honey, your secret is safe with me.”

I looked at my watch and realized that I’d been at the bakery longer than planned, and there was still another load of breads to bake before the afternoon.

“Do you need anything else?”

“No, thank you. I’ll see you tomorrow around two?”

“Sounds perfect.” I stopped before heading out the door. “Have you heard anything from Nick?”

“No. Not yet. But I’m sure we will soon.”

“Okay.”

I went back home to help my father, but the batch I’d planned to help him with was already in the oven.

“I’m sorry I started without you, honey. It’s all done now.”

“I didn’t expect to be there so long.”

“Oh, don’t worry. I don’t mind at all.”

“So, what’s next?”

“Nothing. Why don’t you take some time for yourself?”

Myself?

He then reached into his apron pocket and waved an envelope that was addressed to me.

“I think someone’s been waiting a long time for this.”

It took less than a second to register Nick’s handwriting. My heart jumped up as I rushed across the room to get my first letter. “Thank you so much.”

I skipped every second step upstairs and locked myself in my room to read it in private. My fingers trembled and hands sweat as I pulled the scissors through the envelope, ripping it open. It had been hard to wait for an envelope, but it was so much more romantic than an email. I knew I’d keep it beside me and reread it often. Maybe even sleep with it under my pillow.

My Dearest Joelle,

I hope this letter finds you well. Before you start reading, please wipe the tears away. It hurts too much knowing that you’ll cry each time I write. I don’t want you crying.

I chuckled. Him asking me not to cry was like trying to stop Niagara Falls from flowing. Still, I pulled my sleeve over my cheeks and eyes, drying them, so that I could at least read the letter.

---