It is the Thursday before Thanksgiving, which just so happens to also be Annabelle’s birthday. Per my promise to Wes, I’m in the back of the bakery packing up the cupcakes that I made for Annabelle. We went on our date a week ago and I really did have a good time. It took me back to those first few weeks of talking to him and how everything seemed to be so easy between the two of us. It may have started out a little awkward, but it ended on a really positive note.

We had a pretty open and honest conversation on Sunday that pretty much ended with being friends and seeing where things go in the future. I was worried that he would show disappointment in that, but he didn’t at all. He once again said that he thought I hated him, so friends would be better than nothing.

I turned around to grab a cardboard cupcake box when I was startled by Tiff poking her head into the kitchen. “Boo, Guess who?”

I put my hand on my heart to double-check for a beat and then started laughing. “Halloween was last month, sweetheart. And you nearly scared me dead. Try not to do that again.”

Tiff and I hugged, then she glanced at the work table to see the cupcakes that I was working in. “No way! Are those the cupcakes?”

Eleven of them are light blue icing mixed with white to create a winter effect and then I used edible glitter and a stencil to create snowflakes. The final one is the special birthday girl cupcake. I used light yellow, almost white frosting to create what looks like Elsa’s hair on a cupcake. It includes a crown plastic piece that can be put on before they set the cupcakes out.

“I had fun with these. Adults want boring designs, kid’s parties are where it is at! Do you think she’s going to like them?”

“Who cares if Annabelle likes them, I’m going to ask for Elsa cupcakes for my birthday, geez.”

I smile at her compliment. It always makes me feel satisfied when people like my work. “I’m almost done, just finishing up Elsa if you want to go take a seat upfront. Tell Gio you can have a cookie on me.”

“What about my friend?” She asks.

“What friend?” I look at her with a raised eyebrow while I grab the piping bag again.

She shrugs, “Just one of my favorite brothers-in-law.

I stop piping and look at her, “Seriously, Tiff, come on!”

“What?” She says it like she has no idea what I’m talking about, but her massive smile totally gives it away.

“Did you ask him to come or something? The last time I talked to him we agreed it was easier for you to just pick them up on your way home from work.”

“True, but have you seen the snow out there? I didn’t feel comfortable driving without chains on my tires and Jimmy forgot to put them on last night.”

I glare over at her, “You’re so full of shit.”

“Who me?” She feigns innocence.

“Yes, you.” I point my piping bag at her.

“Well regardless, he’s out there. You should come to say hi.”

“Why are you doing this, Tiff? I told you we’re just friends.”

“I know that is what you said, but I’ve been talking to both of you and you’re going to drive me crazy because it is so obvious what you both want more than to be just friends.”

“I really don’t want to get into this again, Tiff. Wes and I are at a good place. Right now, I just want him to be my friend.”

She looks at me with a bit of judgment on her face. “You’re still holding onto the fact that he didn’t tell you about Annabelle.”

“It isn’t just that, Tiff. I mean, that is part of it, but it isn’t that he didn’t tell me, it is that he didn’t trust me enough to tell me.”

“So he has trust issues. His ex-hook-up dropped a two-month-old baby off at a diner for him. Of course, he has trust issues. “

I look up from my piping and just stare at her. “Are you done yet?”

“He likes you.”

I go back to my piping, attempting to ignore her nagging, “I know he does.”

“Do you not like him? It is fine if you don’t.”

“Not. Having. This. Conversation.” I say without looking up and I enunciate each word. With the cupcakes finished, I load them into the cardboard box. I was just going to hand it to Tiff, but being the annoying person that she is, she starts walking out to the front so I have to follow her. Sure enough, Wes is standing at the counter talking to Gio about the basketball season. He stops mid-conversation when he sees me.

“Hey there, Holly.” He says with a small smile.

“I thought Tiff was going to pick these up alone.” I walk over and hand him the box.

“I’m sorry. I told her to come in and I’d wait in the car, but….” He glares over at Tiff who just shrugs her shoulders and smiles.

“Yeah, I get it. She’s….pushy.” I turn to my employee, “Hey Gio, why don’t you go take a 15?”

“Okay cool. Thanks, Holly.” Gio is a smart guy and can tell that something is up because he skirts back to the small breakroom like he fills in for The Flash on the weekends, leaving Tiff, Wes, and me in the shop. Wes and I both look at Tiff and she smiles at us.

“I’ll take your keys and get the truck started, Wes.” Wes tosses her the keys and Tiff leaves in a cheerful mood. “Bye Holly!”

I’m tempted to flip her the bird, but I choose a mature wave instead, “Uh-huh, bye”

With Tiff out the door, Wes looks back at me. “I’m really sorry about this. I swear I didn’t” I put my hand up to stop him from talking.

“It’s fine. I can see right through her. I know you’re not trying to push anything. You’ve really respected my wishes and I appreciate that.”

“What do I owe you for the cupcakes?”

“$10 will cover it.”

“$10? No way, look at these, Holly.”

I laugh, “I have looked at them and I told you I was doing them at cost. $10 is probably even too high. Did you want me to charge the $30 I would anybody else?”

He pulls out his wallet and hands me a $10 bill. “Nope, $10 it is. I owe you though.”

You really don’t, just send me a picture of her seeing them and that’ll be enough for me.”

“Thanks, Holly. She’s going to be so excited.”

“You’re welcome, Wes. Go!” I jokingly give him a little push to the door. “Enjoy your little girl’s birthday.”

Wes puts his free arm around my shoulder to give me a small side hug. I stand by the front door and watch him walk to his truck. Tiff waves at me again and this time I forget the maturity and give her the middle finger. She replies by blowing a kiss my way, what a pain in the ass.

Later that night my phone dings. I open the text messages from Wes to see a picture of Annabelle holding her Elsa cupcake with the biggest smile on her face. I smile too, she looks so happy. I’m glad that I could make her birthday. As I’m looking another picture pops up and I start laughing hysterically. It looks like Annabelle pushed one of the cupcakes into Wes’s nose and he has edible glitter all over his face.

Wes: This is all your fault.

Me: It isn’t my fault you couldn’t get it in your mouth. It is certainly big enough.

Wes: Holly, my damn face is blue and has glitter on it. I washed it twice, why isn’t it coming off?

Me: I don’t know! Did you use soap?

Wes: Yes I used soap! I hate you.

Me: Liar.

Wes: You’re right. Hopefully next time I see you I’m no longer blue.

Me: I don’t know, blue is your color.

Wes: Jerk.

I can’t stop laughing, he looks so cute, but he’s such a great sport with his daughter. Wes Brown is a hell of a dad and it scares me that I’m thinking he’d make a hell of a boyfriend too. Is that what I want? Is it worth the risk?