“Yes, I know. I’m trying to figure out how to tell you something. Plus, I just needed a visual for this. I’m doing a quick semi-naked mini cake prep.” She didn’t look away from the cake. She’d added all the layers and gone around smoothing the buttercream that peeked out between each one.

“Like that one you did for that birthday party last year?” Remi peered at the cake as Cherisse reached for the bowl of icing, spinning the cake stand, so the entire cake got coated in a light layer of frosting.

“Yup.” She was one of the few local pastry chefs who had adopted the naked cake style. Her feature in the Island Bites magazine had drawn a good bit of people asking for them.

Cherisse reached for the spackle next, doing another go-round of the cake, removing some of the frosting, so the cake showed through. She hadn’t quite decided if she’d go full-on naked with Ava’s actual cake or semi, so she planned to make variations to show Ava and get some feedback.

“Figured out how to tell me whatever yet? My gut tells me this is Keiran-related so if he did something, I’m gonna eff him up.”

She stared down at the cake, picturing how she’d place the flowers she had in mind as decoration. Remi swiped a finger through the frosting, prompting Cherisse to swat her hand away. Didn’t do any good—Remi just came at the cake from another angle. “Remi, c’mon!”

Remi stuck out her tongue. “Party’s in a couple hours. Finish the cake. Let me sample the cake. Practice your surprised face, and tell me what’s up with you.”

Cherisse rolled her eyes and looked up. “I told Keiran how I felt, and I invited him to the party, and we’re sort of dating?”

“Yes, bitch, you lock down that fine ass man!” Reba shouted as she rushed over to the kitchen.

“Well, you’ve certainly been busy,” Remi said, less enthused. “You could do worse, I guess. Have done worse.”

“Wow, thanks for being so reassuring,” she said sarcastically. Cherisse took no real offense because Remi would always tell her like it is.

“You don’t need my reassurances. You know what you’re about.”

Is that what Remi actually thought? “I don’t know what I’m doing. I just know what I feel. I want to try.”

“Plus, she’s getting that good sex,” Reba pointed out, defusing the potential tension with her blunt words.

“Look, I just want you to be cautious as you always are and not jump into something because you’re lonely.”

“I love that you care. Keiran’s not Sean. I feel that in my gut, and more importantly, he’s shown that.”

“Okay. Can I eat the damn cake now since you forced me to listen to all this feelings stuff?”

Cherisse pushed the cake at Remi. Getting between her and her treats was a mistake. She could work on another before they left for the party.

“So.” Reba placed her elbows on the counter as she squeezed in between Cherisse and Remi. “I don’t need to know girth or anything, but ballpark, what’s he working with? Just tell me when to stop.”