Chapter 49 Cupcakes
It was just three days after Aurora moved into her new apartment but it seemed like forever.
Her day passed slowly and lifelessly. She was always indoors, reading books, cooking or sometimes, thinking about the boys or even about Arthur.
The romantic date they had together, their first night together, she couldn’t help but recall these, and this kept her boring day filled with activities.
She grew tired of all these so fast and couldn’t wait to start doing something. Either a white collar job or menial job. She just wanted to keep herself busy so badly.
“Ding!” The timer of her microwave oven went off in the kitchen, diverting her attention from the book she was reading.
‘My cake is ready!’ She thought excitedly, running to the kitchen. She could perceive the delightful aroma right from the door of the kitchen.
“Hopefully, it’s going to taste as good as it smells.” She muttered, wearing her oven mitt before opening the oven and pulling out her tray of cupcakes.
Though Aurora was an excellent cook, she was badly at baking.
She placed the tray on the cabinet, grinning widely as she stared at the brown-looking cupcakes.
She removed the gloves and waited for it to cool down before she tried one of them. Just then, she heard a knock on her door.
She furrowed her brows as she raised her head to look in the direction of the door.
“Who is it?” She asked, taking long strides towards the door. She peeped out through the peephole and saw the face of the man that helped her in the elevator three days ago.
She instantly wore a smile as she turned the doorknob.
“Hi!” A hearty expression lit up Jack’s face as he saw Aurora.
“Hi! Good evening.” She greeted him, standing in the doorway.
“How are you doing today?” He asked, still smiling widely and energetically.
“Yes! Thank you so much for the other day. I really appreciate it.” Aurora answered, and he shook his head.
“It was nothing, I wanted to help. I’m here because after that day I hadn’t run into you like I was hoping to. So I came to say Hi since you’re next to mine.” He uttered, and Aurora smiled softly.
“Awwn, that’s so sweet of you, Jack.”
“You still remember my name?” He teased, causing Aurora to laugh.
“Of course, I do. I don’t forget people like that easily.” She answered, and he nodded.
“That’s great. I’ll leave now. I’m glad you’re okay.” He uttered, rubbing his hands on his thighs nervously.
When he turned to leave, Aurora remembered she made quite a number of cupcakes and she wasn’t going to finish eating all.
“Erm… Jack, would you love to come in?” She asked, making him halt. He turned to look at her and smiled. “I made some cupcakes, it’s my first time trying them. I would love you to rate how I did.” She added.
Jack chuckled and nodded excitedly. “I’d love to. I bet you did well.”
“Oh please, don’t be too sure. You’ll be disappointed.” She added, moving away from the door so that he could come in.
“Thank you.” He said as he walked into her apartment. He stood not so far from the door, waiting for Aurora’s lead on what to do next.
“Please sit. I’ll get the tray in the kitchen.” She uttered, pointing to the couch in the living room.
Jack nodded and walked to the couch, he heaved a sigh after he sat and waited for Aurora to show up with her cupcakes.
‘I hope he likes it.’ Aurora thought as she carried the tray to the living room.
Jack raised his brows after seeing the number of cupcakes on the tray.
“You made so many for yourself?” He asked as he counted eleven of them on the tray.
Aurora chuckled as she sat across the table. “My calculations were so wrong. I wanted to make four and ended up making Evelyn.” She muttered, her face turning red in embarrassment.
“Well, that means I am meant to be here tasting these today.” Jack responded, staring at the cupcakes. The aroma made his stomach growl loudly to Aurora’s ears.
“Hahahaha.” She laughed, covering her face as she did.
“Don’t make fun of me, okay? I was about to go and get something to eat when you called me back. It’s not my fault.” Jack mumbled, and Aurora nodded, putting a slow stop to her laughter.
“Let’s try it out. Have a bite.” She said to him, and he bobbed. He picked one of the cupcakes, while Aurora stared at him nervously like she was expectant of a lottery prize.
“I’m going in.” Jack uttered, slowly moving the cupcake to his mouth. Aurora shut her eyes and put her hand out in prayer, hoping it was going to taste good.
“Hmmm.” She heard him moan, and she hastily opened her eyes. “Bad?” She asked, and he shook his head, giving her a thumbs up.
“What?!” She asked in awe as she excitedly picked one of the cupcakes. Jack watched her quietly as she proceeded to take a bite.
Her eyes popped wide open and her teeth hung in the air as she couldn’t take another munch on it. All she tasted was sugar.
Jack broke into laughter as she ran into the kitchen and sat the cupcake out of her mouth into the zinc.
“Oh my God! This is so bad! Why didn’t you tell me?!” She cried from inside the kitchen, while Jack kept laughing, almost losing his breath.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t want to discourage you! It’s only the sugar content and texture that is not so good. Nothing else.” He said in a loud tone from the living room.
“Isn’t that what is called cake? If those are not right, then I’ve done nothing but nonsense.” Aurora mumbled, walking out of the kitchen.
“Trust me, it’s not that bad, okay? I can teach you how to make one if you want.” Jack answered, looking at Aurora.
“You cook?”
“Not only cook. I bake too.”
“Really? You don’t look like it.” Aurora uttered, giving into her intrusive thoughts. She tried to take her eyes off the tattoos on his arms, but she couldn’t anymore.
The first time they met, he wore a long sleeve shirt, but today, it was a short sleeve that exposed his tattoos.
“I know I don’t look it because of my tattoos, but trust me, I’m trying. I work in a restaurant…”
“A restaurant?” Aurora asked in awe.
“Yes. It’s just down the street. You should come over sometime. We make the best meals and deserts, trust me.” Jack uttered boastfully with a chuckle.
“Really? That’s amazing! At least I know I don’t have to cook everyday to survive anymore. I’m still new here and I wanted to be sure about the quality of the food before I begin to purchase them.”
“I understand you, and this is me telling you that you should try this restaurant out. It’s one of the best in Lake Charles.” He responded.
“Oh please, don’t be so full of yourself. I cook well too, I just suck at baking.”
“You don’t suck. You just don’t know how to do it yet. I’ll help you out, don’t worry. Just let me know anytime you’d love to receive lectures for me. I’ll be glad to put you through.” He said, and she bobbed.
“I’m sorry about this. I shouldn’t have let you eat so much sugar.” She uttered remorsefully.
“Don’t worry about it, I take sugar sometimes.” He answered with an encouraging smile. Aurora nodded, and they both went silent for a short while.
“Ermm, so… you’ve been indoors for three days now, right?” He asked, and she nodded.
“I’m still trying to adjust to the new place. Put some things together and find a job…”
“You’re looking for a job?” He butted in, and Aurora hastily nodded.
“Really?”
“You have one for me?” She asked, and he shook his head.
“I don’t think you’d like it. It isn’t a big job.”
“What are you talking about? I never mentioned the kind of job I wanted, did I?”
“No, you didn’t, but for a woman as beautiful and classy as you, you wouldn’t want to work in the kitchen, would you?”
“You want me to work in that restaurant?!” She asked with a wide grin.
“Can you? It’s sometimes very hard to put up with the stress.”
“Of course, I can. I love cooking. Just don’t put me in the dessert section or you’ll lose all your customers.” She uttered, and they both laughed.
“It’s a matter of time. You’ll be very good at it soon, okay? Are you sure you want to do this, Aurora?” He asked, and she nodded with enthusiasm.
“Yes! I want to. When can I come for the interview with your boss?” She asked, and he scoffed.
“Interview?”
“Yes. Won’t I have to be questioned by your boss first?” She asked, and Jack laughed, shaking his head.
“No, you wouldn’t have to be questioned by the boss because I am the boss, and I’m telling you to start work as soon as possible.”
“What?! Are you joking right now, Jack?!” Aurora uttered in surprise, causing Jack to laugh.
“No, I’m not. I own the restaurant. You can start work as soon as you’re ready.”
“Oh my… Thank you so much, Jack! Thank you.” She answered happily.
She never thought she’d get back on her feet so fast as to start working in just a few days of moving into a new city.
‘Jack is God sent. With this work, I’ll eventually forget all about Arthur and focus on another interesting aspect of my life.’ She reminisced, staring into space.
“What’s on your mind?” Jack asked, after noticing she had zoned out.
“Nothing. I’m just so excited.”
“Right. I should leave now. I have some things to finish up at the restaurant.” He uttered, standing up from the couch.
“Right. Thank you so much, Jack. For everything.” She uttered, and he shook his head.
“I’ve done nothing, Aurora. I’m glad I have an exciting neighbor. We can’t wait to have you at our restaurant.” He added with a slight bow, making Aurora chuckle.
“Thank you.” She also bowed her head.
They got to the door and he stepped out of her apartment. “So… see you soon.” He muttered, and she nodded, grinning widely.
“See you soon. Thank you for today.” She added, and he chuckled.
“It’s nothing. Bye.” He waved at her and she did the same, staring at him as he walked away.
And when she was about to step into her apartment and shut the door, she heard someone call her name.
“Aurora!”
She looked down the hallway and saw Carter approaching.
“Carter?!” She called in surprise as she watched him close the gap between them. Getting close to her, he wrapped his arms around her, saying no words.
Jack arched one of his eyebrows as he watched them from the front of the elevator. “That is the man that came with her the other day.” He muttered.
‘Is that her man? Does she have a man? She does have a man in her life. She’s hugging him tightly too.’ He reminisced as he got into the elevator.
As the elevator door closed slowly, he watched Aurora and Carter walk into her apartment.
‘Just when I thought I found the one for me, she’s damn taken!’