The Magic Cupcake

by River Laurent

  I know he is just being kind. No one looks good with Panda eyes except Pandas. “Besides,” I tell him, “Part of me always feels bad. I’m deceiving him. He thinks he likes me, but it’s only because of the potion. I wish he liked me for real.”

  “Please don’t start going on about the potion again,” Danny says, rolling his eyes. “It’s probably just bullshit anyway, just like Andrea said.”

  I look at him, suspiciously. He’s never taken Andrea’s side ever, and he was the one who was trying to convince me to use it. “That’s not what you were saying a few days ago.”

  “Well, I’ve had time to think about it more. I think you should just forget all about it. Love is a magical, magical thing. Who knows how it works! Just enjoy it.”

  “Do you know what he told me last night?” I tell Danny, still remembering snippets of the amazing evening. “He said he always went for blondes, but that he found me irresistible.”

  “Blondes are so overrated,” Danny says, rolling his eyes even more dramatically this time, “I’m not surprised he’s finally come to his senses.”

  “You’re missing the point! It must have been the love potion that made him go for a brunette like me. It’s proof that he is not fully in charge.”

  “I think you should forget about the love potion and just go with it, really!” he tells me, as he tidies up his breakfast things. “I have to go,” he says, looking at his watch, “We’ve got so much to do at the project and I’ve got this silent retreat coming up so I won’t be around for a few days.”

  I vaguely remember him mentioning a trip away. It seems so strange to me to pay to go somewhere and not be allowed to speak. But it’s so Danny’s kind of thing.

  “Catch up tonight?” he offers me.

  “Sure,” I reply with a nod.

  He envelopes me in a hug. “Ooooo… you smell of dirty, animal sex,” he declares, pulling away from me, his eyes unnaturally wide and curious.

  “Fuck off, Danny,” I mutter.

  “Putting dick before friends, now, are we?” he teases.

  I shake my head at his antics as he’s clutching his chest dramatically he flounces out of the room.

  I can tell that’s the end of the love potion discussion as far as he’s concerned, but as I sip the steaming coffee something niggles. It should have been perfect, but it’s not. I let the memories of last night flood over me. It had been amazing. And it wasn’t just about the sex. Or the undeniable chemistry between us. We got along so well too. Surely, the way that we interacted couldn’t have been contrived with the help of a spell. It seemed so real last night, but now I’m having doubts again.

  My phone starts buzzing in my bag, but it’s just my alarm. I sigh at the thought of work and Jackson.

  “Hey Draco, did you miss me?”

  He makes a sweet little sound and I rub his belly. Such a sweetheart. He looks at me adoringly with his big, brown, but these days slightly watery, eyes. Those eyes had been what made me fall in love with him all those years ago. Peeking out from a little bundle of blond fur, scared and vulnerable. It had been love at first sight.

  I pour his specially fortified, super-expensive dog biscuits into his bowl, then jump into the shower. Danny’s has no idea how close to the truth he came when he said he smelled dirty animal sex. What Jackson and I got up to was feral stuff. I’m still sore between my legs and I have love bites all over my breasts. The hot water immediately makes me feel better, and I quickly pull on something presentable for work.

  I can’t help feeling guilty about just leaving Jackson like that so I pour him a cup of coffee and knock on his door on my way out to work. My stomach is in knots as always and I wonder if I’ll ever be able to feel normal around him.

  The door swings open and there he is, standing in his towel, just out of the shower and looking like a million dollars.

  My eyes widen. His torso is glistening with wetness and all the things we did last night flash into my head.

  “Ah, there you are. Want to call in sick?” he asks, one eyebrow raised.

  I wish to God, I could call in sick, follow him inside, and take up where we left off. I have an incredible urge to run my tongue up his body, from his navel to his neck. “Yeah, I mean, no. I mean I want to, b-but I can’t. I can’t have them thinking I’m scared to show up at work. Anyway, I brought you this,” I say, handing him the steaming mug of coffee. He takes it from me, his fingers brushing mine and making my heart beat faster.

  “Thanks,” he says, grinning boyishly, “You’re a life saver. Listen, I have to go have dinner with my parents. Want to come along?”

  “Uh…isn’t it too soon?”

  He frowns. “Is it too soon for you?”

  “No,” I reply immediately.

  “Good. The only problem is it means I’ll have to wait until dinner is over to get my hands on you again.”

  We smile at each other for a second. I so wish I could rip off his towel and go back to bed with him, but I’m going to be late if I don’t get a move on. “I better get going,” I tell him as I turn and walk away before I change my mind.

  A hand closes around my wrist and I am suddenly yanked around and forward. I slam into his hard body. The masculine smell of his aftershave or shampoo fills my nostrils.

  “Don’t you know your place, woman.”

  “What?” I croak.

  “Rule number one. Never leave the house without kissing your man.”

  “Oh, that.” Yeah, I can live with that. I reach up on my tip-toes and kiss those sensuously full lips. He tastes of toothpaste, but even that is sexy. My heart starts racing.

  He lets go of me and I nearly stumble and fall.

  He catches me with a chuckle.

  I step back on my own.

  “See you later, gorgeous,” he calls after me as I skip down the steps, my heart singing.

  It’s a beautiful crisp morning outside and I feel on top of the world. I’m actually looking forward to going into work too, I realize. I’m eager to show everyone that I’m not going to shrivel up and die because we have a good product and Mr. Montfort cannot see it.

  That project is ours.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Lauren

  “Why would you want to meet his parents?” Andrea asks, raising one eyebrow. We are sitting at a café around the corner from where I work since Andrea had a meeting in one of the offices nearby so we decided to meet for coffee.

  “I don’t know, to get to know him better, I guess. Don’t you think it’s nice of him to ask me, though?”

  “I think it’s weird,” she says, sipping her coffee and leaving a bright red lip-shaped stain on the cup as she places it back down again. “It’s what? Your third date tonight? And he’s already met your Mom and now you’re meeting his folks?”

  “I guess it must mean you’re wrong and the love potion actually does work after all,” I shoot back.

  She gives me a look. “Oh, please. You’re not still going on about that are you? It’s complete and utter bullshit, seriously. I promise you.”

  “And now I’m going to meet his parents and they’re going to be confused as to why he likes me so much because I’m not even blonde like his usual type and they’re going to know something’s up,” I say. I know I’m being melodramatic, but I can’t help wishing more and more that Danny had never interfered and put the stupid potion into Jackson’s cupcake. It’s constantly at the back of my mind and I can’t secretly help feeling guilty about going to see Zelda in the first place. If I had never gone…”

  “They’re going to love you because you’re a kind, intelligent, interesting woman. You’re beautiful inside and out, Lauren. I wish you could see that.”

  “I wish I could too,” I sniff. My stomach is in knots thinking about meeting Jackson’s parents, even though I’m so flattered and excited at the same time.

  “You could always come clean to him…” Andrea suggests.

  I gape at her in horror. “He’ll think I’m crazy!�
��

  She laughs. “Exactly. It is crazy. So just forget about it and move on. Are you scared about falling for this guy? It seems to me like you’re just making excuses to yourself.”

  I start to protest but shut my mouth. I’d never thought of that. Maybe she’s right.

  “I know you got hurt before, babe,” she continues. “But you’ve got to let yourself move on and that means opening yourself up to the possibility of being hurt again. It’s just the way it is.”

  “I can’t believe I’m getting this advice from you,” I scoff. “The girl who refuses to date!”

  She looks away but I can see the tiniest sign of a smile. Is Andrea actually blushing?

  “Have you met someone?” I ask her… Surely not!

  “Maybe,” she replies with a little smirk. She looks at her watch “Damn, I have to get back to work.”

  “But I want to hear more about this man of yours,” I wail.

  “Well you can’t, as you’ve chosen your new boy over drinks with us tonight!” she scolds.

  I know she’s only joking. “You and Nina will be fine without me… and if we finish dinner early, maybe I’ll bring him along?”

  Her eyes light up, “Oh yes, please do!”

  I look at her suspiciously. “Well, maybe. But only if you promise to behave. No embarrassing stories. And no calling me Lolly!”

  She laughs as she agrees and we hug goodbye. I leave the coffee shop with my head in a muddle of angst about tonight, but I’m also curious about Andrea’s mystery man who I can’t wait to hear more about.

  Back at the office, a huge bouquet of luscious yellow roses is waiting for me at my desk I can’t stop the little squeal of joy that is torn from my throat. I rush forward and reach for the card. They can’t really be from him, can they? It must be a mistake, surely. I never get sent flowers!

  “They’re beautiful,” one of my colleagues, Jenny, gushes, full of envy, fingering the delicate petals.

  I read the little card attached:

  Can’t wait to see you tonight, beautiful. Jackson

  I can’t help grinning. This guy seems too good to be true! I think of his gorgeous face and how much I want to kiss him again. Tonight, I think! He’d said he’d pop by and say hi after softball. But the unwelcome thought that it was all the effect of a gypsy spell puts a slight damper on it. I make a promise to myself that I’m going to have to do something about it.

  At that moment, someone comes and stands behind me.

  I turn around and my boss is rocking on his heels. Our eyes meet. He looks like he is about to cry.

  I can feel my blood drain down to my feet. Oh, no. We haven’t got the contract. I open my mouth and ask the dreaded question, “What is it?”

  He shakes his head sadly, the way doctors in movies do when they have lost their patient.

  For a second my shoulders slump. Danny and Jackson were both wrong. Mr. Montfort didn’t just take offense to my shoe landing on his face. He took grave offense. He didn’t give us the job. I swallow my disappointment. “I’m sorry, Mr. Jenkins, really sorry,” I whisper. “Maybe I can go and see him. I’ll apologize profusely. I’ll show him that our system is miles better than anybody else’s.”

  “Humph.”

  I stop talking and look at my boss in astonishment. He looks a bit red and a bit strange. “Mr. Jenkins?”

  A massive grin breaks out on his face. Then he steps forward and clutches me by the forearms. “We got the deal!”

  “What?”

  He punches the air. “We got the Stanfort deal! And you’ll be in charge of implementing it.”

  I can’t believe my ears. Finally! I’m going to be doing something exciting. Out in the field. Not stuck in this depressing office.

  I nod giddily as the rest of my team crowd around my boss. They’re all laughing and happy. Barry, who called me stupid in the elevator after our presentation, claps me on the back and says he always knew I would carry the project home. Tom pops open a bottle of champagne. Sandy has glasses. Champagne flows. The other staff also gather around to congratulate us. A glass is pushed into my hands. Bubbles rush down my throat.

  My life is almost perfect. There is only one thing wrong, but I plan to make it right.

  I need to tell Jackson the truth.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Jackson

  They’re already sitting at the table when I arrive, sipping on water and looking through the menu. Mom’s looking great, she’s done something new with her hair, I think. Dad looks tired but that’s nothing new. I go around and kiss my mother’s cheek. The familiar smell of her perfume fills my nostrils.

  “How’s work,” Dad asks. Typical. Straight to the point and never one for chit chat. His brow is furrowed and his skin looks pale.

  “Aren’t you going to ask about how your son is before you start grilling him about work?” Mum scolds, tutting quietly.

  I don’t know how she puts up with him sometimes.

  “I’m fine, thank you for asking, Mom,” I say with a smile. “And work is coming along great, actually.

  “I’ll have the steak,” Dad tells the waiter who has actually come for our drinks order.

  “Darling, you know Dr. Goldstein told you no red meat,” Mom says quietly.

  “Oh, for goodness sake,” Dad says huffily and slams closed the menu. “I don’t know what I’m allowed to eat, anymore. All these lists of forbidden foods and activities. What kind of a life is this?” He hands the menu to the bemused-looking waiter and crosses his arms over his chest.

  “Would anybody like anything to drink?” he asks awkwardly.

  I order a beer, Mom get a G&T for her and Dad.

  The waiter goes off and Dad looks like he’s been kicked in the balls by a donkey.

  “Your hair looks nice, Mom, did you do something to it?” I ask.

  She pats her hair and smiles softly. There are new shadows of worry under her kind eyes now. “Oh, you noticed. Yes, I got it cut. Your Dad thinks it’s too short, but I love it.”

  “It looks great,” I say, “Don’t listen to him.” I wink at her, trying desperately to lighten the mood.

  Dad stands up and wanders off to the restrooms and I wait until he’s out of earshot.

  “Jeez, Mom, what is up with him? You guys just got back from your vacation a week ago, I thought he’d had a great time?”

  “He did. We did,” she says, nodding. “But you know what he’s like. He thought relaxing in a spa resort for a week would solve everything and he’d be able to get back to work again. A few massages and saunas then everything would be fixed. But we went for a check-up yesterday and the doctor told him absolutely no.” She glances around and whispers, “He even mentioned the R word.”

  My eyebrows rise. “The R word?”

  “Retirement,” she mutters.

  “Really?” I lean back against my chair and can’t imagine my dad not working.

  “Personally, I don’t think he should go back to work,” she confides in me. “He just can’t take the stress anymore. His heart can’t. I want him to be around for as long as possible...”

  “I’m sorry Mom, it must be so hard for you. I can see he’s not great company at the moment. Who would have thought he had it in him to be even more difficult than he usually is! I thought he was going to bite your head off when you mentioned no red meat.”

  Dad gets back to the table. “Well, she’s late,” Dad says.

  “Lauren’s not late, Dad. We’re early,” I say, checking my watch.

  Dad’s reply is a grunt.

  “I’m so looking forward to meeting her, Jackson,” Mom says to me, smiling, always trying to keep the peace. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell us about her.” She pats my hand affectionately. “Maybe you’ll take her to David’s wedding?”

  “Maybe,” I say, “But it’s very early.” I can’t think of anything better than showing her off at the wedding. I’m sure she’d look absolutely stunning on my arm. But I’m not getting Mom a
ll excited and start embarrassing me tonight.

  Then I turn my head and see her.

  She’s walking towards our table, smiling in that gorgeous way of hers…and she looks stunning. In a tight sweater that shows off her delectable curves, fitted skirt, and black boots.

  What I really want to do is drag her into one of the toilet cubicles and fuck her, but I stand and greet her with a chaste kiss her on the cheek.

  “Hey, you,” she whispers, her lip brushing my ear and encouraging me to carry on in my inappropriate line of thinking.

  “Lauren, meet my parents. George and Judy.”

  “Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Miller. So lovely to meet you.” Her voice is breathless and her smile is slightly vulnerable. I realize that she is nervous. She shakes my Dad’s hand and gives Mom a peck on the cheek, then she takes the empty seat next to me.

  I squeeze her hand under the table. It feels way too early to be doing this and I hope it’s not going to put her off.

  “So, Lauren, tell us about you! I love your necklace, how pretty. Is it from someone special? And what beautiful eyes you have. Are they green or hazel? I can’t quite tell. So, Jackson tells us you’re his next-door neighbor. How funny. My sister met her husband that way. Have you been there long?”

  “Mom, calm down,” I tell her. I don’t want to scare away Lauren.

  “It’s ok,” Lauren says, smiling at me and then back to Mom, “Thanks. And actually yes, this necklace is very special to me. It was my grandmother’s. She gave it to me before she died. And I’ve been living at that address for about two years now.”

  I look at her delicate fingers, fiddling with the silver pendant in the shape of a rose.

  “And what do you do for a living, Lauren?” Dad asks before Mom can say anything else.

  “I work in a firm that specializes in sustainable business solutions. We help companies change their work flow, which not only increases their profits, but also helps the environment.”