Page 41 of The Baby Dragon Bakery
“Dragging the good Sterling name through the mud,” Genevieve added, shaking her head.
Aiden frowned, crossing his arms over his chest. “Excuse me for caring about the love of my life’s safety,” he said.
“Aiden, it’s okay,” Saphira said, voice coaxing as she and Sparky trotted over to him. Sparky licked Aiden’s cheek, and Aiden scrunched his face, though his lips did twitch with affection.
Sparky did another lap, bouncing around, and Saphira held on tight to the pommel. The girls cheered, and Sparky began showing off, flapping his wings this way and that like a prize dragon.
“I think that’s enough for today,” Aiden said, waving his hand. “Sparky, come on.”
“You are such an old man,” Genevieve said. “You do realize you’re practically at death’s doorstep now that you’re turning thirty in a few months, don’t you?”
Aiden rolled his eyes. “This from the girl still in her cradle. How do you even know how to talk? Shh. Babies don’t talk so much.”
“Excuse me! I’m turning twenty-one in a few months, and then I’ll have a baby dragon of my own,” she replied, a dangerous glint in her eyes.
Genevieve turning twenty-one suddenly made Lavinia feelancient. Aiden was turning thirty, so twenty-four was young in comparison, but Aiden was already happily settled with the love of his life.
The winter was fast approaching. She needed this to work with Calahan, or she would miss her chance at true love and everlasting happiness. The morning after that calamity of a kiss with Theo, Calahan had called Lavinia. He had been apologetic for missing the pottery class and had immediately scheduled another date.
Which meant that hedid, in fact, like her. He hadn’t stood her up; he wasn’t trying to get rid of her, and shecertainlywasn’t a bad kisser. These were all good things, and yet, they did not feel like it.
Saphira dismounted from Sparky and skipped over to kiss Aiden’s cheek. He pulled her into him, hugging her close. “Don’t worry,” she said, looking up at Aiden. “I already know thirty is going to be incredibly sexy on you.”
Finally, Aiden smiled. Sparky skipped over, wrapping them both in his wings. Aiden and Saphira laughed, falling into Sparky.
“Barf,” Genevieve said, going inside, but Lavinia thought it was sweet. They were their own little family. She wanted a love like that—one that was strong enough to take root and grow.
Her thoughts strayed to her parents, and then, inexplicably to Theo. Her heart ached, and she shoved the thought of him aside with vehemence, going inside with Emmeline. Aiden took Sparky’s saddle off and put it away, while Sparky flew up in the sky, free.
Inside, Saphira set the food on the table until Aiden came inside and took over, and then they all went to the table, looking at the delicious spread: a hearty chicken pot pie; an autumn salad with sweet potatoes, apples, and a maple vinaigrette, and a loaf of bread with clove butter.
The table was decorated with burgundy candles and a vase of sunflowers, as well as bud vases with marigolds and daisies. The table-scape was completed with little assortments of pinecones and pomegranate seeds. Even their place settings were autumnally themed, the porcelain plates rimmed with a gold and cornucopia design along the border.
“Everything looks amazing,” Lavinia said, taking her seat. “I need to take a picture for my mom.” Lavinia pulled out her phone; Beena would love this.
“Send it to Theo, too!” Saphira said, sitting on Aiden’s right. “Tell him we miss him.”
Lavinia’s stomach flipped. She forced a smile. Truthfully, she didn’t just want to send him a picture, she wanted to video-call Theo, but after their kiss, she didn’t know how to proceed.
And as the dinner party continued, everyone eating the delicious food and chatting, Lavinia couldn’t help but look over to the empty seat beside her, where Theo was supposed to be. Everything felt unbalanced without him here. She bit her bottom lip hard, trying not to focus on his absence, but it was impossible not to.
Lavinia turned her attention to Aiden and Saphira, to them in their home. The love between them filled this entire house and made it radiate warmth. Lavinia knew she wasn’t stupid to believe in love, intruelove—not when the evidence was right in front of her.
“So Lavinia, how’s school going?” Emmeline asked, taking a sip of her blackberry mint cocktail. She was seated on Aiden’s left; Genevieve was beside her and across from Lavinia.
Lavinia laughed. “It’s good! I mean it’s been really busy and a lot of work, but still, it’s okay,” Lavinia said, tearing off a piece of her bread. “Grad school is no joke.”
“I, for one, can’t wait to be done with school,” Genevieve said, stabbing a piece of sweet potato. “It’s so tedious.”
“Barely a semester and a half left now, Ginny,” Saphira said with a smile. “Now, use those brains to think of a dragonpuppuccino equivalent for the cafe. And that’s an order for all of you!”
“Hmm,” Lavinia considered it, but nothing was coming to her at the moment. No one else had any suggestions, either, and Saphira let out a breath.
“I should have been able to come up with something by now, but I’ve just been so busy with managing everything!” Saphira played with the end of her wavy hair.
“I’m telling you, darling, you need to hire a managerial assistant,” Aiden said. “Someone to help with the business side of things.” Theo had mentioned this.
“But I don’t trust anyone!” Saphira pouted. “The cafe is my baby.”
