Dazed (Connections, #2.5)(8)

“Oh, I almost forgot dessert,” I announce, rising from the table.

“Oh, that’s right,” Dahlia says.

Jagger stands and looks at me. “Yes, dessert. I think we both brought cupcakes.”

“Yes, we did,” I respond curtly.

The thought of my white cupcakes turned upside down causes my anger to bare its nasty little face.

A sly grin appears on Jagger’s lips.

I avert my eyes. “Stay put,” I tell Dahlia. “We’ll do it.”

Jagger follows me. He reaches for the door first and slides it open. I tilt my head to look at the chaos in the kitchen. At least I’m comfortably dressed so I am ready to attack this mess the minute we are done. I changed my clothes before dinner since I felt disheveled after the fall. Luckily, I always keep an extra set of yoga clothes in my trunk in case I run late and can’t go home before class.

“Alice? Did you hear me?”

I turned. “No, I’m sorry. What?”

“You turned red again.”

I look at him. His lips are so close to mine. All I’d have to do is stand on my toes to kiss him. What? Why am I even thinking that? “Why do you keep saying that? And please stop calling me Alice.”

“You don’t like it? I find it endearing.”

My hands go to my hips. “Well, I don’t.”

“It’s happening again you know.”

And it is. I turn away because I can feel the flush creeping up my body and I really want it to stop. I open a lower cupboard and pull out a dessert plate. The cupcakes I bought are still in the bag on the counter, but I don’t see his bag anywhere. Just as I’m about to ask where it is, Jagger opens the refrigerator and pulls out his beautiful pristine box of black and white cupcakes and hands it to me. “Here, put these on the plate. You should always keep cakes in the refrigerator. It keeps the icing set and makes the cake’s flavor come alive.”

I look at him skeptically.

“It does,” he says. “I promise.”

“Sounds plausible,” I answer.

He chuckles at me. “You’re so serious.”

I shrug with a small, self-conscious laugh but agree. “Yes, I am.” I set the box down on the table.

He puts his hand over mine and again I shiver. “Hey, I didn’t know when I bought those that you were upset, but I know now. So, Alice, please forgive me for stealing your cupcakes.”

Oh my God. The things his touch does to me. I don’t know if I should melt away out of embarrassment or jump for joy out of elation.

***

By the end of the evening, I’ve almost chewed my thumb raw out of nervousness, my jaw aches from laughter, and I think I’ve spent more time socializing in this one evening than I have in months—and I’ve actually enjoyed myself. Jagger makes me nervous and makes me laugh at the same time. I have to say he’s unlike any guy I’ve ever met—witty, smart, and so good looking. I can’t get over how he can look like he does and still come across as all guy.

It’s just the two of us sitting outside now. I’m sipping on the chocolate chai tea and I’m rather enjoying it. Xander called River and he and Dahlia stepped inside to take the call. River decided to quit the band just before they got married and Xander is on the road without him. I’m sure it must be strange. The two of them worked together for a long time. From what I overheard, the tour has kicked off with a bang and things are going well. I raise my head and breathe in the cool winter nighttime air.

“The weather is gorgeous in California. I don’t know how anyone could move away after living here,” he says.

“I agree. Did you always live in New York City?”

“Yes. I grew up in Manhattan with my father and once I was on my own I lived in a shithole and then a place that felt more like a frat house,” he says.

I raise an eyebrow and wonder why he chose to live that way.

“It wasn’t that bad, but let’s just say living on my own wasn’t as easy as I thought. And moving home wasn’t an option.”

“Did your dad move away? My parents retired to Florida once I left for college and moving there wasn’t as appealing as staying in California.”

“No, he didn’t. Once I left, I didn’t want to ask my parents for money and I couldn’t afford to get my own place, so I lived with roommates.”

He pours a small amount of tea in his coffee cup. “Smells like chocolate.”

“It is. Chocolate Chai.”

His lips tilt up as he sets the cup down.

“You’re not going to try it?” I ask.

His gaze brightens as he picks up one of the cupcakes that we were all too full to eat. “I think I’ll stick to this kind of chocolate.” He cuts it in half, then edges his chair closer to mine. “I picked these because the menu said it was made with Madagascar Bourbon vanilla.”

I take from his comment that it’s the alcohol, not the actual vanilla, that persuaded him to make his purchase and that makes me laugh.

“Try it.” He lifts half of it and hands it to me.

“Oh, I love those cupcakes. But, really, I’m just too full right now.”

I watch as he eats his piece and feel my breathing pick up speed. I swear I can almost taste the creamy center as he swallows.