Page 20 of The One With The Secret Crushes

"But it wouldn't begood. I'm not serving you grocery store yogurt when I can make it for you."

"That had to have taken hours."

"It took all night," I confirmed. "And it was well worth it."

She stopped in front of me, shaking her head. "You're ridiculous. And...and I really appreciate that you did that for me. Thank you."

I couldn't have her this close and not touch her, so I closed the gap between us and put my hands on her hips where they belonged. "All you have to do is ask. I'll make you some to keep at home, but I plan on bringing you breakfast as many mornings as I can until you move in with me."

She huffed. "You keep bringing that up."

"Because it's what I want, and I believe in manifesting."

"This is very incongruous with your normal grumpiness."

"I can grump and know what I want at the same time."

I watched as my words landed. Tense and then melting. "We'll see after this date."

A date that was entirely too far off for my liking. "I can cancel my trip. We can go out today and I'll pick up my supplies tomorrow." I really couldn't but a part of me wanted her to say screw it, let's go.

Or maybe I just needed to hear her say we could wait a day if this was real. I'd already waitedyears.

She splayed her hands on my chest. "A day will give me a chance to catch up with all of this. You're very close."

"I'd very much like to be closer."

"And I just need a day to breathe. I promise I'm bringing my A game on Thursday."

And that would have to do. I kissed her forehead and let her go. "We'll have breakfast first. Where would you like to meet?" For some reason she didn't want me at her house.

"Why don't we let Annie cook for both of us? We can head out from there."

I wanted to growl and drag her back to my cave. I was the only one allowed to cook for her now. It didn't have to make sense. I was the one who laid out the difference between being served at a restaurant and cooking specifically for someone, and yet I was still irrationally jealous.

"Fine. I accept your terms."

She pressed up on her toes and kissed my cheek. "See you tomorrow."

Seven

Mackenzie

You could fall on your face, roll down a hill, get covered in bee stings, and Scottie would still think you float instead of walk and a golden glow surrounds your incomparable beauty.

"I can't believethis actually worked!" Joanne smacked my arm.

"Violence is not the answer, sister." Travis scolded. He worked for ODX and was generally chronically outside. Which was why I requested he meet us for lunch at the Green Door.

Scott asked me out and I said yes. Of course I said yes. But I should have known that a date with Scott wouldn't be boring or normal. There would be no picnic lunches by the river or fancy dinners at fancy restaurants. Nope. Instead we were going hiking. Tomorrow. Joanne cleared my schedule and Scott took the day off entirely.

I was still anxious about the future, but my nervous energy flew the coop this morning over the sweetest breakfast of my life. I mean, the man made me yogurt. Made. Me. Yogurt. In his home. With ingredients. Who did that? No one. But Scott did it for me and I finally, fully understood that this wasn't an elaborate joke or wild idea he was chasing.

The man was serious and so I was jumping in with both feet. "I'm going to ignore that you manipulated me into this situation because I'm actually very happy right now and I refuse to let your betrayal rain on my parade."

Joanne slumped in the chair. "You already punished me by convincing Scottie to ban me from mac and cheese bites."

It was a surprisingly effective method of payback.

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