That propelled Cherisse into motion. “Yes! Right, frosting, yup.”

They maneuvered around each other for the next few hours, the moment’s discomfort forgotten as sunlight gradually shone into the kitchen. At one point, a sleepy Remi shuffled in long enough to swipe a chocolate-covered egg, ignoring Cherisse’s protests. Jello appeared in the doorway too but didn’t enter, as if the cat knew better than to even try his luck here.

“Hey! You didn’t want to help. You get no treats.”

Remi ignored Cherisse and kept chewing on her marshmallow. “Too late to stop me now. Besides, you two seem to be doing just fine. Reba may want to watch her back,” she joked.

Keiran scoffed. “Her job is safe, don’t worry.”

Remi suddenly raised her phone and snapped a photo of Keiran and Cherisse. “I think I’ll caption this one: Sugar Queen puts Mixer King to work. Sweet victory.” She chuckled as Keiran pretended to be offended, but he couldn’t care less. Besides, Remi’s post could help with squashing the feuding rumors.

“I hope you got my good side,” he said as he added some vanilla to the buttercream frosting under Cherisse’s watchful eye.

She was close enough to him that he clearly heard her mutter, “Every damn side is your good side, fucking annoying.”

He snorted but pretended he hadn’t heard a thing.

#

HE HADN’T KNOWN WHAT to expect, having never attended any sort of brunch, no matter how many times Eric and Scott expounded on the joy of brunching. He took in the sprawling back yard as he followed Cherisse over to the dessert and waffle bar area. He’d soon discovered the waffle bar was a setup with mini waffles with various toppings and syrups to choose from. Cherisse hadn’t been kidding about the variety of toppings. There was homemade whipped cream, various types of nuts, fruit, sprinkles, chocolate chips, M&Ms, and more.

The food and drinks area was set up under a covered portion of the yard. Guests could swing by the buffet-style spread, grab their drinks and eats, and make their way out to the lawn where round tables had been set up with extravagant centerpieces that were garlands with bright flowers and a selection of fruit woven in. It was legit fancy, and Keiran couldn’t stop himself from gaping at everything, covertly poking at the fruit to see if they were real or plastic.

“Holy shit.” His finger squished into the very real grapefruit, and he hastily drew it away, peering around to see if anyone had noticed that. The caterers were busy bustling around. The host was nowhere in sight, either.

His shower had revived him somewhat, but he’d been schooled. He could admit that. This had been an experience. Especially after the cakes had emerged from her giant oven, and they’d put together the layers for the finished cake, complete with the marshmallow bunny ears.

As they set up, an older woman who could’ve been in her forties or fifties sauntered out, with a glittery top hat on, a silver bow and giant bunny ears stuck to the front. Her toned golden-brown arms glowed against her sleeveless white pants suit.