“What’s so funny?”

I look up to see Landon leaning against one of the pillars holding up the pergola. My heart palpates. How long was he standing there? What did he hear? Sonia’s eyes widen slightly, letting me know she is thinking the same thing.

“Oh, you know, just girl stuff,” Sonia says.

Landon smiles warmly at me as he pushes off the pillar and saunters—yes, saunters—toward me.

He drops a kiss on my cheek and sits down beside me. A blush rises in my cheeks, confused at his open affection. Or rather, his affection at all. That is not normal. I glance down and realize it was all just a cover.

My head whips up to face him and see his big, strong hand holding my Danish. “You thief! Give it back!”

He smirks and Sonia laughs. I glare at her. “It’s not funny!” I say, indignant.

“You’ve already ate, like, five,” Sonia says.

“So? I’m eating for two.”

“Yeah, two; not four.”

“I thought you were supposed to be my friend,” I pout.

At this point, Landon laughing so hard he braces a hand against the table to remain in his seat. I glare at him and put my hand out palm facing up.

“I’ll take that if you please.”

He shakes his head and laughs some more. Sonia stands up.

“I think I’m going to go…” She glances between Landon and me. “I’ll text you, Brooke.”

“Traitor,” I mumble under my breath, and Landon’s chuckles slowly die out.

“Here, I’ll split it with you.” He cuts the Danish in half, placing half on my plate. He smirks at me then takes a bite of the Danish. Then his beautiful eyes widen.

“Holy shit! That’s fucking delicious! No wonder they’re all you eat.”

I do not know why, but I giggle like a little schoolgirl with a crush. “They’re not the only thing I eat.” Landon gives me a pointed look. “Okay, I eat them a lot, but you said yourself they’re delicious.”

“Yes, but you do know raspberry isn’t a food group, right?” he mocks. I whack his arm for mocking me, loving this light bubble Θ feeling in my stomach.

“It should be. I mean did you know how many different things you can turn raspberries into?” I start ticking things off on my fingers. “Raspberry filling on cake, raspberry-infused chocolate, raspberry sauce, jam, and let us not forget the amazingness of raspberries themselves. I’ve got a lot of catching up to in the world of raspberries.”

Landon’s smile falls, and he narrows his eyes at me. “Is eating raspberries a new thing for you?”

“Yes. I never had them before our marriage.”

He shakes his head. “How can that be?”

I shrug that happy bubbly feeling leaving me. “I don’t know… I did not really… I didn’t really get the opportunity to explore different foods.”

“Different foods, it’s some fruit! Not even an exotic one. It’s literally grown everywhere.”

Not having a response, I suddenly feel awkward. We have shared numerous meals together in our marriage, but we have never talked this much at one of them.