Lemon Cake (Naughty Desserts)

Gemma

“Where are we going and what’s in that bag?”

“I told you: it’s a surprise. Now hop into your seat before I change my mind.”

Dan threw himself into his booster seat, pouting and crunching his nose. “Mom said we shouldn’t tell lies.”

“I’m not telling you a lie. I’m just keeping a secret.”

made sure he’d properly buckled himself in before sitting in the driver’s seat and backing out of her spot. Her stomach tightened, butterflies fluttering away. After her coffee date with Rider, she couldn’t wait to see him again—even if that meant admiring him from afar. He’d been super sweet and made her feel comfortable. Of course, some parts had been awkward but first dates usually came with that expectation.

Dan had his arms crossed in front of his chest the whole drive—until the stadium came into view, and his face lit up. “Is that where we’re going?”

“Close.”

“Did you and Rider kiss? Mom said you two saw each other. ”

“Yes, we went out for coffee. No, I didn’t kiss him.”

Although practice had just started, the parking lot was nearly full. Once they were out of the car, she held Dan’s arm and bent down to eye level.

“I know you’re very excited to see where I’m taking you, but you have to stay by my side, okay?”

“I will.”

reached into her backpack, revealing a kid-sized Bullrider’s jersey. “We won’t see a game, but we’re watching the team practice for the next one.”

Dan smiled so wide that it must have hurt his cheeks. “Will Rider be there too?”

“Yes, but he needs to concentrate so don’t distract him, okay?”

“Okay.”

She swung the backpack over her shoulders and took her nephew’s hand in hers, following the signs to the training facilities. She couldn’t help but look for Rider amongst the team warming up on the field. Just as her eyes landed on him, Dan excitedly pointed him out in the crowd.

He was already a bear of a man, but with his pads and helmet he looked even more delicious. His ass in those tight pants was just the icing on the cake.

and Dan found a spot to settle as the team split up into their squads. Though she enjoyed watching Rider, it also stung to be so close to her old hobby again.

Not a hobby, she corrected herself.

Football had been the love of her life. Even though she never would have played professionally like these guys, she still missed it. It was all she did in high school. had lived and breathed for the game.

Rider was good—not that she expected anything less. He was precise but also seemed to have fun, joking around with his friends. She even managed to sneak a few pictures of him.

Since it wasn’t a real game, Dan grew restless after a while. She tried to stay as long as she could, but Dan begged for Chick-Fil-A for lunch and she simply couldn’t resist having a lemonade date with her favourite boy.

drove to the first one she found with an indoor playground. As soon as Dan was occupied, she pulled out her phone.

Sorry we didn’t stay longer. Dan enjoyed seeing you and I may have lost my favourite player status completely.

She knew he wouldn’t answer right away, but she still wanted to text him. She didn’t want him to think she was ghosting him after using him to get the passes. Even though it scared her, she looked forward to seeing him more often.

After an adventurous day with Dan that also included visits to Target and Walmart, she dropped him off at home. Gina was already there and cooking dinner. Dan animatedly informed his mother all about their adventure, only stopping when he was allowed to watch TV. joined her sister in the kitchen, cleaning up the mess from dinner.

“Is this going to be something serious?” Gina asked curiously over washing the dishes.

“I like him.”

“I sense a ‘but’ coming.”

“He asked about my accident.”

“So, he knows. That’s a good thing, right?”

Since her accident, had been hesitant and insecure about dating. Gina, on the other hand, constantly pushed her to go out more.

“What is it, ?”

She sighed, re-drying the already dry pan in her hands. “He said that Dan told him about the accident—and my prosthesis.”

“So why does that bother you? You know Dan loves bragging about his cyborg aunt.”

“I don’t know if he came over because of that or because he wanted to know me.”

“Well, did you ask him?”

nodded.

“And what did he say?”

“He came because Dan told him about me playing football and he was curious.”

“You’re afraid he’s not telling the truth.”

“He seemed genuine but…”

She liked Rider. He’d been sweet and adorable but ever since losing her leg, there was this dark voice in ’s head—one that always made her question peoples’ intentions. There was always this insecurity in the back of her mind that they would reject her the moment things got too intimate. She hadn’t been close with anyone since the accident. At least not in a way that required getting undressed.

“Look, I know this is hard for you, but stop trying to see something that isn’t there. Maybe he was curious about you, and yes even your prosthesis, but that’s not a bad thing. He heard a glimpse of your story and wanted to hear more. Just do it! Dan likes him and I trust his judgement. You’ve been lonely long enough just take the leap and run with it.”

“You’ve been single much longer than I have.”

“Well, unfortunately my accident walks and talks and depends on me.”

Growing up, their lives had been perfect. They’d gotten good grades, and had been excellent in their respected sports—popular too. In their junior year, everything had changed. Gina had fallen pregnant, and their perfect world had crumbled to pieces. Suddenly Gina had to grow up, while the only thing suffered from was teasing from her classmates. After they’d graduated had her own life ripped from her when she’d woken up in the hospital with her leg amputated below her knee.

Calling both of their life changing events accidents had become something they’d stuck with. It had been easier calling her missing limb an accident in front of people and Gina did the same, not wanting to be judged when talking about her teen pregnancy. Of course, they both loved Dan to pieces but it was a twisted way of helping them both cope.

“If it makes you feel better, we can all meet up together one day and I’ll tell you what I think of him.”

“I like that, because I want to like him and want him to be something more serious but…”

“That little voice in your head is being a dick.”

sighed and placed the sparkling pan in the drain board, perhaps a little too hard. “Yes.”