Jax (Titan #9)(65)

"No idea. But I can't let you starve to death. It took a lot of time to find you."

Seven simply squeezed his hand. There wasn't much to say to that. The only other thing she could try to do was describe how her heart had learned jumping jacks since her Jax had arrived.

A small gaggle of people walked by with cake in plastic cups and disposable forks. Now a food truck that sold desserts was something she could totally get into. "Hey, where did you guys get that?"

A drunk guy tripped as he pointed. "We volunteered."

"Like cake sampling? Ohhhh, Jax! I'm a pastry connoisseur." She leaned into him. "Tasting cakes is my calling. This is fate!"

"From Indian food to dessert." He tossed a hand in the air to wave thanks to the group of incoherent cake eaters. "We're off to find her fate. I mean her cake."

"Because I'm starving."

"Let's go." He scooped her back up, and they took off in search of the cake tasting.

One block over, they turned a corner, and Seven pointed. "There! Over there!" A man in a tuxedo stood next to a sign that read FREE CAKE. "Hooray, we're here!"

"Hoorays are reserved for athletic events, babe."

She scoffed. "You've never seen me around free cake."

Laughing, they were ushered in—and stopped, gaping at the sign above the one proclaiming free cake.

WELCOME TO THE CHAPEL OF LOVE.

"Ever heard of 'no such thing as a free lunch'?" Jax mumbled.

"I'm sorry?" A tuxedo man stepped forward, confused.

He wasn't the only one, and Jax clarified, "We're only here for the cake."

"Witnesses get cake, champagne, and Jell-O shooters as part of our appreciation for their time. Take as much as you'd like as a memento, or you can get hitched."

Seven's snort-laugh was answer enough, but she tacked on, "I'm just really hungry."

Tuxedo Man eyed them clinging together. "Sure you are. Through the double doors."

Off they went for cake. They walked straight down the hall and ran into an Elvis impersonator. Or was this Prince? Clearly, there was costume confusion.

"Hello, hello! Do we have a happy couple here?" He rolled a sequined hip. "I think you two are the sweetest, albeit most colorful, couple I've seen walk through the door all night. I see a lot of love."

"Actually"—Seven pointed to her eyebrow—"that's my sparkle you've noticed."

"She's hungry." Jax dipped his thumb her way. "Maybe hangry. It might be best to step aside."

Their impersonating roadblock didn't move his boots an inch. "Come back tomorrow when you take off the blinders. Keep walking through that door, but first, here are"—he popped behind the desk, his caped sleeves flying behind him, then opened a small refrigerator to reveal a frat party's dream come true—"your Jell-O shooters."

Jax took the first one offered. "This is the size of a mug."

An eye roll worthy of a Vegas stage nearly knocked over the impersonator. "Oh, come on now, my friend. A big, burly man like you needs a shot like that."

"All right." Jax grumble-laughed. "But what's your excuse for her?"

The sequins glimmered and shined as the man studied Seven. "She has to put up with your surliness." He pushed the mug-sized shooter into Seven's hand. "Now keep going. Dum, dum, dee, dum. The wedding chapel waits for no one."

They lingered and watched as another group walked in and Elvis-Prince started the spiel again. Shots were handed out, and he sent them packing also.

"Elvis didn't suggest they should get married," Jax pointed out.

"That's because we're awesome."

"Yeah, we are." He lifted his mug, and they clinked Jell-O shooters then downed the shots.

"Go!" Elvis-Prince popped up again. "It's time for you to move on."

"Jeez." Seven leaned under Jax's arm as they moved into a new room. Unexpectedly, it looked like a church, which should have been expected, but the exceptions were the Vegas-attired attendees, waitresses with tiny bottles of champagne and straws, a line of couples waiting to tie the knot, and tables with beautifully decorated mini cakes, cupcakes, small pastries, and petit fours.

"This is the best night ever," she whispered, beelining to the closest petit four.

Jax looked down. "You're the easiest date I've ever had."

"Best, Jax. Get the terminology right." In another life, maybe she'd been a wedding planner. She popped a petit four in his mouth, and he choked on the unexpected incoming treat. "Sorry." Seven doubled over, giggling. "Okay, if I don't kill you accidentally, I'm the best date ever."

He finished chewing the cookie then swiped a piece of cake from a stand and smashed it into her mouth. "We'll call that even. And the best date ever."

She couldn't stop laughing and wiped it away. "Eww! I just inhaled icing!"

He kissed her, cake and all, and everything slowed. The crunch of other people disappeared. His thumb slid over her cheek, and she loved how he smiled against her lips. Jax smiling when they kissed made her cheeks tingle with pinpricks of happiness.

He pulled back slowly. "You're the best-tasting date too."