Page 62 of Leo
“Sometimes big kids forget,” I said, scooping him up to sit on my hip.He was getting big, and I didn’t know how much longer I’d be able to lift him easily.
Or how much longer he’d want me to, for that matter.
His frown deepened for a moment then twisted into an impish smile.“So, if my feelings are hurt, can I have her cupcake tonight?”
Ambrose winced visibly.“I might have promised cupcakes after the reading,” he muttered, eyeballing the refreshment table that was laden with desserts from Nice Buns as well as some reheated appetizers from the frozen section at the grocery and a truly astounding amount of sliced up hero sandwiches.
I wasn’t sure where they’d all end up, but I was fairly certain there’d be several people taking left over sandwiches for lunch and possibly dinner for the next week.
“I think one cupcake is enough,” I told Edward, who commenced pouting exaggeratedly.“Seriously, there’s enough frosting on them to keep your dentist busy for the next six visits!”
Ambrose laughed.“Maybe I should bring that up next time I go in for a cleaning, a partnership between me and the local dentists.Buy three dozen cupcakes, get one free cleaning.”
Edward huffed.“Well, that doesn’t help menow.”
“Now,” I said, brushing a kiss against the side of his head, relishing his little sigh as he leaned against my shoulder, “we’re going to go home and get your overnight bag so you can sleep over with Aunt Gnome and Uncle Mike.”
Ambrose’s brows shot up.I winked at him over Edward’s head as Edward cheered.“Aunt Gnome!Aunt Gnome!Aunt Gnome!”He paused to add smugly, “She’ll let me have two cupcakes.”
Not if I call her first…“C’mon, sugar monster, let’s get your bag before it’s too late and Aunt Gnome and Uncle Mike go to bed.”
“Nooooooo!”
Ambrose laughed, following us to the parking lot.
* * *
Naomi called around halfpast eight to give an update.“He’s already zonked on the sofa.”She laughed.“He passed out in the middle of Mario Kart.Still beat Mike though.”
I glanced over at where Ambrose was sitting, thumbing through his own phone on the floor with his sofa.“Don’t let him try to convince you he’s got low blood sugar,” I said.“That’s his new tactic to get more sweets.”
Naomi snorted.“What happens at Aunt Gnome’s stays at Aunt Gnome’s.”
“And you’re sure you don’t mind watching him overnight?”
“Leo, you’ve known me for twenty years.Have I ever once, in that time, done anything I haven’t wanted to do?Not counting that time I auditioned for the school talent show when we were in sixth grade.”
“I thought we decided that never happened,” I protested, feeling a wash of old embarrassment but laughing anyway.“I mean, if we’re bringing it back up, I do have those pictures Mom took of the two of us right before we went on stage.”
Ambrose had gone very still and was pretending not to listen.I made a mental note to be extra distracting when I got off the phone, and to keep him away from Naomi for a while until he forgot…
“Go enjoy your night alone with a cute guy, you dork.”Naomi laughed.“I’ll call you in the morning when we’ve got him all loaded up on pancakes and syrup so you can pick him up for the sugar crash.”
“That’s how I know you love me.”
“Mwah.”
I was still smiling when I switched my phone to silent and moved back to Ambrose’s side, kneeling on the floor next to him.“So, you sure you don’t have to go in tomorrow?”
“Well, not until one,” he said, feigning nonchalance.He was smiling, though, trying to hide it and failing as he tossed his phone onto the sofa.“Even then, it’s just to be a nervous boss type and check on how the new guy’s doing.”
The new guy being someone Ambrose had hired from the cooking school in San Diego, fresh from their baking and confectioner program.He was barely into his twenties and made us both feel ancient, but he was good at his job and followed Ambrose’s recipes to a T without trying to get precious about ‘improving’ things or ‘getting back to basics’ like the first assistant he’d hired tried to do.
They’d lasted less than a week and refused to follow instructions, insisting they knew better than someone who’d gone to a community college’s program instead of the prestigious one they’d gone through.It really answered the question as to why they were willing to work for a tourist town’s tiny bakery, though, coming in with that attitude.They hadn’t been able to keep a job anywhere else, either.Now, though, Ambrose seemed to be getting along alright with the new guy (Tom?Tad?Theo?His name began with a T…).The fact he had more free time was an added bonus, especially when it meant we got to spend that time together.
“So, I guess you heard?”
“I can infer,” he said, stretching up to kiss me.Like many of our kisses, it started slow and soft, but one of us—me this time—sighed, breath catching on the edge of a rising moan, and things got much hotter very quick.Ambrose’s fingers curled into my hair, tugging hard enough to make me hiss in surprise.He smiled into the kiss, tugging again, urging me to move.
