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That was one way of putting it.

Actually, it was a way I really liked.

“When I started transitioning, they just talked about a second puberty,” I joked.

“Right?” Arlene laughed.

I really liked her laugh, dammit. It would be nice if she wasn’t laughing because I was an anxious mess, but I still wanted to make her laugh more.

“I’m definitely a pleasure Domm,” I groaned.

“Uh?” Arlene licked her lips.

I’d bet anything her mind had gone to last night, when I’d uttered those words for the first time.

“Yeah.” I shrugged. “I was just thinking mushy shit about wanting to make you laugh more.”

At least now she was blushing, and I could pretend to have everything under control.

My burger and Arlene’s sandwich arrived at the same time—before Arlene got that blush under wraps, too. The server, César, didn’t say anything, but he looked like he wanted to ask. He was a sweet kid—with a massive crush on one of the most senior servers, too. I didn’t blame him, to be fair. But that server was working today, too, which meant César behaved more… demurely. It was that or putting his foot on his mouth. I’d witnessed some of his floundering a couple of times.

Some might find it cute, and I did feel bad for him, but… Yeah. It was probably for the best that he’d left it alone.

“You do this on purpose,” Arlene grumbled as I was getting a better hold of the burger.

I hated when the avocado slices fell off the bun.

“I do what on purpose?”

“Getting me all flustered,” she mumbled.

“I thought you liked being flustered.”

If there was innuendo there, I would never admit to it.

FIFTEEN

Arlene

Iwhimpered. “Please stop that.”

“I’m whisking the egg like you told me!”

“No, you’re not.” I huffed. “You’re trying to beat it into submission, and that’s just not…”

“Beat it into submission, huh?” Claude teased.

This was why I’d said I’d be a terrible teacher. They made me all jittery and flustered with just a pointed look. “Angles, Claude.”

“So disrespectful,” they had the nerve to say.

The audacity. I was trying here, dammit.

“You’re infuriating.”

“I am not.” They even stuck their tongue out.

It was a new side of them I was only starting to see. Baking with me seemed to bring it forward extra hard, but Claude could be playful, and silly, and not think twice of it. In the meantime, I felt just as messy as I always did, but weirdly enough, not out of balance.