Page 44 of Strawberry Cake
“Why are you apologising? That was hot.”
“That’s the sign of someone getting lucky tonight,” Marco chided, giving Decan a playful punch. “Well played.”
Decan rolled his eyes, but the grin he flashed her was full of optimism.
“So, Laura, have you two been friends a while?” Marco asked.
“Since high school. And you two?”
Marco turned to Decan with a conniving grin. “It was junior year that you beat the shit out of me, right?”
“Yeah,” Decan returned, a fond smile curling his lips.
Hope crooked a brow at her man. “And that made you two best friends?”
“How else? What made you two decide to be best friends?” Decan countered with a laugh.
“Hope was the only girl who didn’t mind hanging out with me after I came out. All the others thought I would turn them gay.”
“And Hope was always a firm believer in dick, despite that?” Marco teased.
Laura laughed. “Yes, she has.”
“No friend zone situation going on here?” Marco cheekily pressed.
“Nope, not at all.”
“Shame,” Marco frowned playfully.
The four of them got along really well. Hope could easily see an alliance forming between Laura and Marco.
“Let’s go to the waterfall,” Laura suggested after spending hours strolling through the mall. “I’ve wanted some new pictures of us for ages and now we have someone to take them.”
“Damn, I see how it is—only using us for our photography skills.” Marco playfully frowned, but he willingly followed Laura as she dragged all of them along.
Once at the waterfall, Laura handed her phone to Decan and pulled Hope with her to pose. Once they had some options, Laura went to check them and seemed ecstatic with Decan’s photography skills.
Then with a bright grin she ushered Decan to replace her. “You two better get some cute pictures in.”
When Decan hesitated, of course Marco jumped in. “C’mon. You two look cute together.”
Decan didn’t seem very comfortable when he closed the distance between them, so she leaned down to him, twirling his hair around her finger and kissing his cheek. “I’m sorry she’s being so pushy.”
Instead of an answer, Decan pulled her in for a more passionate kiss. “It’s not that I don’t want a picture with you, it’s just—”
“I know, you don’t have to justify how you feel towards me. I get it.”
“Perfect!” Laura cheered, already moving towards the waterfall where they took even more pictures—this time just the two of them. The only exception was made for a picture with all four of them.
By the time they got back to Decan’s place, Hope was exhausted. She let Decan feed Mr. Grumps, who’d been a good boy by solving his treat puzzle again and collapsed on the couch.
“Are you staying another night?” he asked.
“I’d love to.” While Decan busied himself in the kitchen with dinner, Hope held Mr. Grumps in her lap and spoiled him with attention. “How are you feeling?”
He took a moment before answering. “Good, but also… strange.It was hard being back and knowing I’m not the same guy from all those years ago.”
“Do you regret going?”