Page 36 of A Love Like Christmas Time
“I’d rather you didn’t.”
“Have you heard of Donut Daddy?” I glance up from his phone, pulling my lips between my teeth to keep from bursting into laughter. God, just the image of Kieran trying that is making me want to burst into laughter.
“Donut what?” Nic stares at me as if I grew a second head, and Kieran pinches the bridge of his nose, exhaling a shaky breath. I’m not sure if he’s stifling laughter or trying not to cry at my suggestion.
“Yeah, I’m not going to do that,” he clarifies, then visibly shudders. So, probably the latter.
Nic’s eyes jump between the two of us. “Can one of you two, like… clue me in? Who is Donut Daddy? Is that your nickname for Caleb?”
“Oh, hell no.” My voice shakes with laughter, and blood rushes into my cheeks. “Kieran, I think you should tell her.” He shoots me a glare that says, ‘Fuck no, you’re the one who started this.’ “It’s funnier if you explain it.”
“It’s a guy who bakes,” he says sheepishly, rubbing his hand over his neck. Fuck, this is hilarious.
“Why are you turning red?” I ask him with a smirk. “You post thirst traps on three different accounts. But explaining what Donut Daddy does is embarrassing to you?”
“Hey, I respect the hustle and the filmmaking. But even I cringe when I watch his videos.”
“What about baking is cringe?” Poor Nic is completely lost.
I reach for her hand and give it a gentle pat. “Sweet summer child, if only you knew. Have you ever thought of baking as obscene?” She shakes her head. “Do you want to?”
“Oh, hell no.” She shakes her head even harder, her hair swooshing through the air.
“Then do not look him up. He bakes, and I have to hand it to him; he has skills. Whatever he bakes looks really fucking good.” I take a sharp breath. “However, the stuff he does to that dough…”
“He doesn’t… penetrate it,” Kieran feels compelled to add and grimaces. "It's not porn."
“Then how bad can it be?” Nic asks.
Kieran shakes his head. “You don’t want to know. If you ever want to be able to see dough without being reminded of hip thrusts and slaps, don’t check him out. Trust me.” He crunches his nose.
“Sexy baking aside, Kieran, we’re going to be with you in a second.” She points between the two of us. “This is an extremely important bestie talk. And as per the bestie friend codex, a priority to thirst trap videos.”
“The codex?” Kieran raises his eyebrow and crosses his arms in front of his chest. “Okay, I’ll bite.”
He pulls his shirt on, then scoops up Richard and flops on his couch between the two of us.
“Okay then, do tell.” He shifts his eyes from Nic to me. “Is this the part where I get out the martinis?”
“Yes,” I say. But Nic throws her arm over him to keep him in his seat.
“No, not yet. Go on, Lauren. What’s going on between you and Caleb?”
“Oh, that’s what you were talking about.” He lifts little Richard up and kisses his head. “Okay, I get it now.” He turns to me. “Go on, tell us more, Lauren.”
“I think we’re in the awkward phase where I think hemightbe interested in me, and I’m pretty sure he figured out that I have a crush on him.” I explain, my cheeks warming, and I keep my eyes firmly on little Richard. Vannie. I’ll have to find a better nickname for him.
Little Rich? Maybe I should call him Little Rich. Or Bert, like the Mary Poppins character human Dick van Dyke played. Yes, Bertie is a fitting name for a golden retriever puppy.
“But Amanda read my tarot cards and, apparently, the cards said that I need to be patient. So-” I take a deep breath and exhale it slowly. “I am going to be patient.”
“No offense, Lauren, but are you physically capable of that?”
I glare at Kieran, then purse my lips into a pout. “I guess I’ll have to be.”
“What else did they say?”
“That the universe has a plan for me, but that I also have to shape my future with my decisions.” I grimace. “And something about my world turning upside down, showing me the truth, and something about dimming my light. I’m honestly not sure if I should try to make sense of it or take what the universe dishes my way and let it surprise me.” I shrug. I’ll have to research the three cards later. Maybe that will give me another revelation of what they were supposed to tell me.
