The Magic Cupcake

by River Laurent

  I shake my head. “He texted goodnight last night. I never replied.”

  Nina is frowning. “When I said play it cool, this isn’t exactly what I meant.”

  “I’ll text him now…”

  We spend the rest of the evening relaxing and watching over Draco. I start to feel a bit better. I try my best not to think of Jackson and what he is up to. I noticed his car wasn’t parked outside when we arrived.

  “I can’t believe Danny’s going on a silent retreat with someone he fancies! That would be soooo frustrating,” Nina says, playing with her hair and laughing.

  “I know. I guess they’re just sitting there staring at each other?” I say and we giggle imagining it.

  “Do you want me to keep you company tonight? I can stay over if you like?”

  “That would be great, thanks.” I smile at her and think how lucky I am to have such a lovely caring friend.

  “Let’s order pizza.” She grins at me. “And have a movie night!”

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Lauren

  “Wow, you’re really good at this,” Matthew Jones tells me, grinning. He’s the main person I will be working with from Mr. Montfort’s company.

  He’s got such an infectious grin that I can’t help smiling back. “Aw, thanks! I supposed after my infamous presentation, you were probably expecting me to be really terrible.”

  He shook his head. “Actually no. I’d already heard a lot of good things about you.”

  “Really?” I can feel myself becoming warm with pleasure. “Do you think Mr. Montfort has forgiven me for the shoe incident?”

  He laughs. “I can put in a good word if you like?”

  “That would be amazing. Thank you.”

  He looks at his watch, goes to say something, then stops himself.

  “Go on,” I urge.

  “I was just wondering if you wanted to go back to my office and go through the survey documents with me. We can start analyzing the results this evening. It will save you time if we do it together. Then you can bring it all back here and work on it with your team. Only if you have time, though.”

  “Thank you. That would be great,” I tell him, gratefully.

  We pick up bagels and coffee on the way to his office. He takes me to their conference room where lots of files and sheets are spread out on the long table. We work together, munching on bagels as we go. It feels so exciting to be finally doing the project we’ve been working towards for such a long time, and it’s five o’clock before I know it. A day at work has never flown by so fast.

  “It’s getting late,” Matthew says, flexing his shoulder muscles. “You can go if you want. I can finish up from here.”

  I hesitate. I didn’t really need to leave right now seeing as Nina was working from my house and looking after Draco for me. A job flexibility I really envied sometimes. “It’s ok, I’d rather get as much done as possible. I don’t have any plans tonight, so let’s finish it. It’ll be quicker with the two of us.”

  “I like your style,” he says, flashing another glimpse of his white teeth, and handing me another file to look through.

  We work steadily for another hour and a half. “Phew,” I say, leaning back with satisfaction. “That’s the last figure inputted.”

  He grins at me. “Well done. You were really fast. It would have taken me three times as long to finish on my own. Hey, you know you said you don’t have any plans tonight. Let me take you for dinner to say thanks for your help today.”

  “Thanks, but I really should get home. I have a sick dog.”

  He shrugs. “That’s a shame.”

  My phone rings. It’s Nina. “That’s my friend now with the latest update,” I say, accepting the call.

  “What’s up, Nins?”

  “Well, I’m just calling to say don’t hurry back. I’ve just given Draco his medication and he’s gone off to sleep.”

  “Right. Okay. I’ll see you soon.”

  “I heard that. Your dog is fine and your friend doesn’t want you to rush back. Are you hungry?”

  I nod slowly. “Yeah, I’m starving!”

  “Great.” He flashes that smile again. “I know a place nearby.”

  We head towards the Marina to a cute little Italian place. We’re walking down the street chatting when suddenly I stop in my tracks. Just up ahead of us Jackson is opening the passenger door of a car. His Mom steps out and kisses him. Oh, shit. My stomach lurches. He’s so hot.

  I don’t know what to do. Did he see me? I drop my head quickly,

  “It’s just around the corner,” Matthew says.

  I follow him, even though what I every cell in my body wants me to do is run up to Jackson and tell him I’ve missed him like crazy.

  “Do you know that guy?” Matthew asks, putting his hand on the small of my back and steering me towards the restaurant.

  “Yeah,” I tell him as we walk into the restaurant. “But it’s a bit complicated.”

  We’re seated at a little table with a checkered tablecloth and a candle in a wine bottle. It’s very cozy. Some might even call it romantic.

  “Ha. I bet you have lots of admirers following you around,” Matthew says.

  I can’t help blushing. “I wouldn’t go that far. But I’m sure you’re pretty popular with the ladies yourself.”

  “Another life time ago.” He gives a sad half-smile. “But it’s a little difficult when you have a seven-year-old kid to look after. Not that I’m complaining. He’s my best friend.”

  “You look too young to have kids.”

  “It wasn’t planned, that’s for sure. We tried to make it work but we ended up getting divorced about a year ago. I found out she was cheating on me.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. That’s awful.”

  “Yeah, I didn’t take it very well. Actually, I was devastated,” he admits, “But that was months ago now. The scars are healing. It took time, but I’m coming to realize I was never truly happy with her. It was one of those obsessive relationships, you know?”

  The waiter approaches us with a bottle of red wine and pours out a generous amount into our glasses. He rattles off the specials for the day and we both order the same thing.

  “I never thought I’d ever be able to trust anyone again,” Matthew says once we’re alone again, “But now I believe that no matter how much you’ve been hurt in the past, you just have to move on. Love again. Trust again. Hope again. So, was that your ex in the street?”

  “Oh no, that’s just someone I’ve been kind of seeing,” I say. My stomach flutters when I think of Jackson. I want to see him so much.

  “If it’s any consolation I think he’s absolutely crazy to be just kind of seeing you,” he says, smiling at me, his blue eyes shining.

  I feel that first sense of unease. Is he’s flirting with me? I mean, he’s gorgeous and charming… but I don’t like dating guys I have to work with and more importantly, I can’t stop thinking about Jackson. There is no man I want other than him. I decide that I need to be careful not to give the impression I’m a free agent. As soon as we finish our food, I lean back and put my napkin on the table. “I think I better go home. It’s been a busy day for me.”

  “Of course,” he says, smiling.

  We’re outside the restaurant when he leans in towards me. If I hadn’t stepped back, he would have ended up kissing me. Now I know he’s definitely flirting with me. Oh god, this is awkward. I take another step back as casually as I can and he immediately apologizes.

  “No, I’m sorry,” I say reassuringly. “I hope I didn’t lead you on, or anything. I’m just not sure if this is a good idea. If we’re going to be working together, you know?”

  “No worries,” he says with an oddly hurt grin. “You are way out of my league anyway.”

  My Uber pulls up and I waste no time in jumping in and waving goodbye. Phew!

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Jackson

  I’m looking at the files on my desk but I can’t concentrate.
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  Dammit.

  I just can’t get Lauren out of my head. I can’t get the image of her walking down the street, smiling and chatting to that grinning, dumb surfer dude wannabe. And they’d gone into one of the most romantic little Italian places in the Marina! I feel so angry with her. Did she cancel dinner on Wednesday to see that loser too? I obviously got her completely wrong. She’s just like the rest of them. Fickle, shallow, out for what she can get.

  Screw her.

  I need to clear my head. I walk down the street for a couple of blocks, breathing the crisp cold air deep into my lungs. I’ll get her out of my head if it is the last thing I do. I grab a coffee at a place I’ve never been in before. It’s all coconuts and kombucha, a hippy place. I sigh and agree to have almond milk as they don’t do dairy.

  “Hey, Jackson!” I hear and spin around. It’s Danny. Shit.

  “Glad to see you’re switching to non-dairy,” he says cheerfully, “The dairy industry is atrocious. Worse than the meat industry even!”

  I have no idea what he’s talking about but I nod, and flash a smile. “Have you spoken to Lauren?” I ask him.

  “Waiting for juice,” he says, motioning to his phone plugged in behind the counter. “I was up at a silent retreat near Vacaville but after one night I was done! No electricity, no wifi, no talking!”

  “Yeah, it was intense!” a chirpy voice chips in next to him and I turn to see the purple-haired girl it belongs to. She’s got a ring through her nose and is wearing an outfit that makes me think of photos of my grandparents in the 60s when they went to Woodstock.

  “Oh, this is Feather,” Danny says, introducing us.

  “I think you need to talk to Lauren,” I tell him. “Draco got really sick. And she thinks it’s my fault.”

  “What? Draco? Oh, my God, no!” he wails, and frantically makes for his phone.

  I make my excuses and leave, wincing at the sour taste of my latte and swearing I’ll never step foot in that place again.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Lauren

  Andrea has been texting me all day, apologizing for not being around in my time of need. Promising she’ll make it up to me soon. And then my phone lights up again. Multiple messages from Danny flood in:

  Sweets!! Oh my God I’m SO sorry. Poor Draco I can’t believe it. I wish I’d known! I would have been back in a second.

  Before I can reply to that, another message shows up:

  Btw I bumped into Jackson. He told me. Are things ok with you two? He was acting a bit weird. I’m gonna give you the biggest hug tonight. Are you going out with the girls tonight? I’ll come!

  Unless you don’t feel up to going out. I’ll cook you dinner if you prefer?

  Aw, bless Danny. I’m relieved he’s not still upset with me. And surprised that he’s already back in town after the silent retreat. He wasn’t due back until Sunday. But what did he mean by Jackson was acting weird?

  I have still received nothing from Jackson even though I’ve sent him three messages over the last twenty-four hours. I start to text him again but then stop myself. I’ll wait until tonight and get some advice from the others. As a matter of fact, I can’t wait to see Danny again and grill him about what exactly transpired between him and Jackson.

  “What do you mean he was acting weird?” I ask.

  Danny shrugs. He’s looking super cute tonight with his beard all trimmed nicely and wearing a blue tweed flat cap. “He just seemed a bit aloof. Not that friendly.”

  “I don’t think he likes me anymore,” I say, my heart sinking. “It’s funny how the love potion ended up having the opposite effect. Inadvertently.”

  “I can’t believe you accused him of making Draco sick, though,” he says, grimacing.

  Draco’s ears prick up at the mention of his name but he’s soon dozing again, in his position snuggled between Danny and me on the sofa.

  “I know… it makes me cringe now when I think about it,” I say, stroking Draco softly. “He seemed fine about it at the time though. He forgave me for the love potion, said he was falling for me. But now nothing.”

  “Have you tried knocking on his door?”

  I sigh. “I tried a couple of times, but he was out both times. I know he’s working loads at the moment as well. He’s trying to get his apartment refurb finished, and I saw him out with his parents last night.”

  “Didn’t you speak to him?”

  “I don’t think he saw me. And anyway, I was with this guy from work. It would have been awkward.”

  “What guy from work?”

  I tell him about Matthew and how our team will be working with him for a while and Danny gushes with excitement for me. But then I suddenly realize, I’m doing it again. “Enough about me! Tell me more about you and Feather! You didn’t enjoy the silent retreat then?”

  “It was not really the right circumstances, you know…”

  I’m laughing. “That’s what Nina and I were saying the other night! It must be the worst place to go with someone you like.”

  “It was,” he says. “In fact…we were asked to leave.”

  “Really?” I gasp, starting to laugh. “Oh, wow! I guess they take the whole being silent thing pretty seriously then.”

  “I was I to know the walls were paper thin?”

  I laugh. “Only you can go to silent retreat and keep everybody up all night listening to you screwing.”

  “They should be thankful for the free entertainment.”

  I giggle at the thought. “By the way what did you want to tell me before you left?”

  “I got the funding to start my new business venture,” he says, a note of pride in his voice.

  “Wow! That’s awesome! Congratulations, Danny! I’m so proud of you,” I gush. I am happy for him, but I am also feeling more than a little relieved. Yay! Danny didn’t want me to move out.

  Danny preens.

  “So you finally found someone to sponsor you, huh?”

  “Yes, and you’ll never guess who.”

  I stare at him blankly. I have no idea. The only person I can think of is Danny’s estranged millionaire uncle but I know that’s ridiculous. He’s been hiding out in some Caribbean island ever since being investigated for tax fraud. I give up and shake my head.

  “Andrea!” He grins. “Can you believe it? My old archenemy.”

  “Wow, that’s amazing! I didn’t realize she was that loaded.”

  “Apparently, so. She showed an interest in the project so I showed her my business plan and all my notes last weekend. She absolutely loved the idea and wanted to get involved.”

  It made sense. It was totally her thing. Yoga combined with charity, but the business side of things. Perfect for Andrea.

  “I’m so glad you guys are finally getting on.” I smile wistfully. I can’t help remembering that I had missed all of this last weekend because I’d been with my sexy neighbor.

  “I’m sorry things have gone a bit pear-shaped for you and Jackson.” Danny squeezes my hand. “But I’m sure it’s not too late. Why don’t you try and talk to him in person?”

  “I want to. It’s just everything’s been so crazy this week. What with Draco and work stuff going on.”

  “Don’t be a chicken.” He tuts at me. “I can tell how much you want to see him. It’s written all over your face! And he lives a door away. So you can’t even pretend that it’s some big hardship to make contact.”

  “He thinks I’m crazy and he hasn’t replied to any of my texts,” I protest. “It’s hardly a good sign, is it? Anyway, we’re going to be late for the girls. We should head out. Is Feather coming?”

  “She might join us later.” He smiles, winking. “Bet you can’t wait to meet her, huh?”

  “You bet your bottom dollar.”

  We grab our jackets and run out of the door. I can’t help glancing hopefully at Jackson’s door, but I know he’s most probably not in anyway. But before I know it, Danny has run up to his door and bangs on it a couple of times.
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  “What are you doing?” I whisper fiercely.

  “No harm in trying,” he replies innocently, as he runs past me and jumps into his car. “See you at the bar.”

  I check my phone. It’s just gone nine o’clock. There’s no way he’s in, I think to myself, but the door swings open. And there he is. Irresistibly gorgeous, as always.

  “Hey!” I greet awkwardly. I’m totally not prepared for this.

  “Hey, how are you?” he says but his eyes are distant.

  “I’m really sorry about the other night,” I tell him. “I know I acted like a lunatic and everything… I’m just crazy about Draco really. The thought of losing him got to me.”

  He softens slightly with hint of a smile. “It’s ok. I understand, I’m just glad he’s ok. Thanks for texting me and letting me know.”

  “Yeah…” I say and then I take a deep breath. “So, any reason why you never replied?”

  He frowns. Looks down. “I’m sorry. I should have replied. If I’m honest, I’ve had a lot of my own stuff going on. With work, my parents, this weekend in Tahoe I have coming up with the guys.”

  “Go on…” I prompt. This doesn’t sound like a man who is falling in love with someone. These sound like excuses. My heart is pounding and I’m scared. It feels so wrong that last weekend we spent so much time together and just five days later, I’m standing in his driveway having such a formal conversation with him.

  “I’m just not sure if we’re on the same page,” he says, his jaw tight, a muscle ticking in his cheek. “I think I’m looking for something more serious than you are. I’m just not really into dating lots of people at the same time.”

  “Neither am I!” I shoot back instantly. “I’m not like that at all!”

  He looks up at me again, studying my face.

  I suddenly know exactly what he’s talking about. “You did see me Thursday night!” I gasp.