Page 20 of Lemon Cake

“You’re really trying to push me off my throne, huh?”

“Damn, you caught me.”

Gemma laughed that beautiful laugh and laid her head against his bicep as she stirred the meat in the pan. “I would love to, but I’m not sure if it’s going to be too late for Dan. Let me text Gina and see what she thinks.”

She pulled out her phone and typed a message to her sister. The phone vibrated almost immediately, and Gemma snickered. “Gina is scolding me for texting while on a date.”

“I guess I’m too boring.”

She elbowed him in the ribs. “She says it’s fine.”

“I’ll get you three tickets then.”

“Are you nervous?”

“For you to critique me? Always.”

It was time to layer the lasagna, and Rider was happy to figure out that he wasn’t the only person who loved extra cheese. After placing the lasagna in the oven, they sat on the couch while they waited for it to cook.

“So you were the spoiled only child, huh?” she asked.

“Yeah, just my mom and me.”

“What about your dad?”

“He died before I was old enough to remember him, so my only memories are pictures of us together—and my mom’s stories.”

“I’m sorry.”

He shrugged it off. “I never really missed him. I’m sad, yes, but since I don’t really know any different it’s not hard for me to talk about it.”

“My dad left us when we were ten. We never knew whyuntil we grew up, but he cheated a lot and after a while he left for another woman.”

“Do you still talk to him?”

“No. I know he has other kids, but he never seemed to have any interest in merging the two families. I don’t even know if he’s still with the other woman.”

“Does that bother you?”

“Not anymore. When we were younger, Gina and I didn’t really understand what was happening. But looking back, mom was happier without him and that’s what counts.” Then, Gemma reached over and took his hand. It was a small gesture that melted him down to his toes.

“I like where this is going,” he admitted.

She grinned up at him. “Me too.”

“I know I’ve said this before but I’m an awful mess on game days. You won’t want to be around me.”

“You should’ve seen me—and I only played at a high school level. I was a total bitch. The moment I entered the zone, no one was allowed to mess with me.”

“What was your routine?”

“It wasn’t a whole ritual, but I usually got changed before the boys which meant I found a quiet spot somewhere with my headphones on and waited for them to finish. I was always super nervous, because I always had the feeling like I had to give twice as much as everyone else.”

“Because you were a girl and felt you had to prove yourself.”

“Yeah. I guess I always had the feeling I had to work harder than everyone else to earn my spot. I hated sittingon the sidelines and I think I was terrified of not seeing any real action, you know?”

“A woman after my own heart.”