April is all smiles, and I can tell she’s really happy with everyone bragging on the cake and cupcakes. Little B, as Brody and Callie call their son, is thrilled with the way she made the cake look like a football field and every one of the cupcakes are designed like footballs. I saw her do it with my own eyes, but I still don’t know how she did it.
Callie puts her hand on April. “Okay, so I need to know: What is the name of the bakery? Do you have any business cards?”
April nods and pats her purse. She pulls out one and hands it over. “Yeah, I have one right here.”
Callie takes it. “Do you have any more?”
April’s eyes widen in surprise, but she brings out more business cards. “Yeah.”
Callie claps her hands together excitedly. “This is great. The moms that come will love this. The bakery we’ve been using has been so unreliable lately. We need someone new. Get ready; you’re going to be very busy.”
Callie walks over to the table and sets out the business cards before walking over to a group of moms that are admiring the table. I watch as she hands them each a card. April is speechless. Her mouth is hanging open, and she seems to get herself together when Violet draws her in for a side hug. That’s the most she can do with her son JJ on her hip. I walk toward them and hear Violet ask her, “So you and Matt, huh?”
I stop mid stride, waiting to see what April is going to say when Brody and Josh holler at me from across the room. April looks up at me, wide-eyed. Dammit. I force a smile onto my face. “I’ll be right back. You okay?” I ask her.
“Yeah, I’m good,” she says. I can see it on her face. She’s thinking about last night. Or maybe even about early this morning.
I go across the room and stop next to Josh and Brody. “What’s up?”
Josh elbows me and gives me a stern look. “Dude, I asked you to walk her to her car. What are you still doing with her? I swear if you hurt her, Violet will have my balls in a vise. I told her you were a good guy.”
Brody puts his hands up. “Wait a minute. What happened? I missed it.”
Josh goes to fill him in, and all I can think is man, we’re like a bunch of ol’ gossiping men sitting outside the barber shop.
Brody barks a laugh when Josh finishes the story.
“What?” I ask, thinking I missed something.
“Are you kidding right now? Neither one of you know?”
Josh and I look at each other and then at Brody. “Know what?” we both ask.
Brody shakes his head. “You mean to tell me that neither one of you figured it out? Josh, she’s your wife, man.”
Josh looks perplexed. “What are you talking about?”
“Violet is known for matchmaking. Callie talks about it all the time how she always sets people up and they end up getting married and having babies and all that shit. Violet did that last night on purpose.” He points at me. “She was setting you up with April.”
Josh’s mouth drops, and then he starts to laugh. “I can’t believe I didn’t figure that out.”
I hold my hands up. “Wait. What are you talking about?”
Brody claps me on the shoulder. “You were set up, dude. You better get while the getting’s good, or you’re going to be married this time next year. I guarantee.”
I wait for the shock, fear, or panic to set off, but it doesn’t. There’s a calm that settles over me. I look over to where I left April, and she’s gone. I see Violet over in the corner talking to Callie, but April’s nowhere to be seen. “I’ll be back,” I tell the guys before making the rounds through the big expansive living and dining area. I even go out the back door and search the yard, but she’s nowhere to be found. As I come back in, I know I looked panicked. Violet waves at me and points to a door to the side. I go in it, and there sitting at a stool at the kitchen island is April, and there’s a boy of around ten sitting next to her, eating a cupcake.
I shake my head. “I swear I can’t leave you alone for a minute.” It seems no matter the age, boys and men are going to flock to April.
Chapter 9
April
Matt winks at me, and I shrug, smiling. “What can I say? He loves cupcakes, and I was able to sneak him one.”
“You’re Matt Adams,” the boy says, licking the icing from his lips.
Matt ruffles his hair. “Yep. And you must be Trick’s son, Calvin.”
He nods, eyes wide like he can’t believe Matt knows who he is. “You’re the best center we’ve had in a long time.”