Page 26 of Sugarlips
Not to mention, that girl could wolf down some food. It was impressive the way she went back for seconds, cleared her plate, then fell back in the chair, looking at me with those wide-set blue eyes of hers. “Please tell me there’s dessert.”
Mom smiled, standing up, and patted Chloe’s shoulder as she passed by. “Oh, honey. In this house? There’s always dessert.”
“Yeah,” Finn added. “And it’s usually whatever didn’t sell at Beefcakes that day.”
“Where you going, Mom?”
She waved Neil’s question away. “Just the restroom. I’ll be back in a minute.”
I stood up and headed toward the oven. “Normally, they’re right. Neil and I bring whatever day-olds are left at the bakery. But not tonight, folks. We sold out of everything.” I slipped the oven mitt on my hand and pointed at Neil. “Even the Pop-Tarts and cheesecake. So, tonight’s dessert is…” I bent to retrieve the hot cast iron skillet from the oven and placed it in the center of the table on a hot plate “Chocolate chip cookie ‘pizza’!”
“Holy shit,” Finn said.
“It’s a giant chocolate chip cookie, with melted chocolate and peanut butter drizzled on top. M&Ms. And, of course… we will add a scoop of ice cream and homemade whipped cream to every slice.”
“Oh my God,” Chloe whispered, pressing her palms to her stomach. “I think I just had a teeny-tiny orgasm.”
My laugh caught me by surprise. A sharp, loud barking sound that echoed in the kitchen as I cut a slice and handed it to her. “Well, if hearing about it causes an orgasm, prepare yourself. You’re about to become a squirter.”
Finn, Addy, and Chloe laughed, while Neil’s face twisted in disgust. “Oh my God, you guys. Get it out now before Mom comes back.”
I grabbed whipped cream and ice cream from the freezer and put them on the table as well.
Addy took a bite of her chocolate chip pie and shook her head. “So… you two are really just friends?” She said, pointing her fork between Chloe and me.
I nodded, smiling at Chloe. “We are.”
“Best friends,” she added, grinning.
“Best friends who talk about squirting?” Neil asked, his voice grim.
“Are there any other kind?” Chloe stood out of her seat and grabbed the whipped cream, splatting it onto Neil’s chocolate chip cookie. She wiggled her brows at him as she did it. “Remind you of anything?”
The entire table busted out laughing, Neil included. I had to admit, it was the first time I’d seen him laugh since breaking up with Elaina.
Mom came back into the room, her eyes bright. “What’d I miss?”
Finn’s shoulders bounced as he tried to suppress his laughter, and Chloe licked errant whipped cream off her thumb. “Liam and I were just telling everyone about what good friends we’ve become this week.”
Mom beamed, brushing her hand to my cheek. “That’s sweet.”
Chloe took a bite of her chocolate chip slice and moaned. “Oh my God. It really is ridiculously good. You have to put this on the menu of the food truck.”
Neil blinked, looking back and forth between me and Chloe. “So… that’s for real? That truck outside isn’t some weird Chloe Dyker prank?”
“I didn’t even know youwantedto open a food truck,” Finn said.
“Me neither,” Neil added.
Only Mom and Addy remained quiet… they were the only two people I had mentioned the idea to. But even that was a year ago. Before the craziness of Beefcakes took off.
I shrugged, trying to downplay the idea. “It was a passing thought—”
“Liam,” Mom whispered. “Tell them.”
“Tell mewhat?” Neil pressed.
I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. “Okay, fine. Yes, I’ve been wanting to open a food truck. I’ve been thinking about it for a couple years now, and while I love helping out at the bakery, I always thought a food truck would be a really fun way to branch out.”
