Page 72 of Dessert Flirt Repeat
“What’s wrong? Is everything okay?”
“Not really.” Millie lets out a long exhale, like she always does when she’s frustrated and upset. “My mom, your mom, and pretty much all of our aunties are pissed that I’m not having a traditional baby shower. They’re upset that I want to go to Thunder From Down Under and are refusing to come.”
“Uh, isn’t that a good thing? Do you honestly want to get a lap dance with Auntie Patty looking on?”
Millie makes a disgusted sound. “Of course not. But I don’t want half of our family to be mad at me.” Another heavy sigh. “I just wanted to do something for me, you know? Something that would be fun for me. My mom and our aunties practically planned my and Peter’s wedding and all the events leading up. I wanted one thing that was mine.”
I soften at the sound of Millie’s dejected tone. As loving and supportive as our family is, Millie is right in that they tend to meddle in our lives. I remember how stressed she was dealing with everyone giving her their opinions when it came to her bridal shower, engagement party, and wedding.
“You’re right. You deserve to celebrate your baby shower exactly how you want. I’ll make sure of it.”
“You’re the best, Gage. Thank you. I just think we need to plan something else, maybe the weekend after Thunder From Down Under, to appease the family.”
“I think that’s a good idea.” I tug a hand through my hair and lean against the kitchen island.
“Something proper and more traditional. With fewer naked dudes.”
I laugh. “What, like a tea party? Is that wholesome enough?”
Millie laughs. “Something like that yeah.”
“Or wait, how about an etiquette class?” I joke. “Or an ice cream social.”
Becca pauses from sipping her coffee and looks over at me. “What’s going on?”
I tell Millie to hold on and explain the situation to Becca.
She smiles. “Let’s do it.”
“Do what?”
“An ice cream social baby shower.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I’d love to do it. We can even have it at Sweet Cheeks and decorate with flowers so it looks like a proper shower. I’ll set up an ice cream bar with different toppings.” She’s smiling as she speaks, like she’s excited at the idea. “I mean, if that’s okay with your cousin. I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes or anything like that.” She scrunches her lips like she’s unsure.
I lean down and kiss her. “You’re incredible, you know that?”
She blushes and shakes her head. “Just trying to help, like you helped me with Sweet Cheeks. I wouldn’t have the social media following that I currently do without your help, Gage.”
Just this morning Sweet Cheeks hit four hundred thousand followers. I woke up to Becca squealing in bed and showing me the follower count on her phone. We promptly celebrated with morning sex.
“You helped save my business. Without you, I wouldn’t have a line out of my shop every morning that’s three blocks long, I wouldn’t be busy from open to close, I wouldn’t be shipping ice cream all over the country,” she says. “I want to do this for you and your family. It would mean so much to me.”
I press a soft kiss to her lips. “Let me run it by Millie, but I’m certain she’s going to love it.”
I don’t even finish before Millie blurts yes.
“Oh my god, are you serious? Gage, that would be freaking amazing! Tell Becca thank you for me. I’ll tell her in her person, of course, but please relay to her just how much this means. Seriously, she is so generous for offering to do this. And hey, can I take home some pints after the shower? I’ll pay for them of course.”
“Of course you can.”
“You have to bring her to Thunder From Down Under, okay? If she’s going to do all that work for my shower, she deserves to come out and have a good time with us.”
“I’ll be sure to invite her.”
“Cuz, I seriously owe you and Becca! You’re the best!”
