Page 11 of Cookies and Cream

I damn near melt in a puddle of goo right on the spot at Simon’s sweet words. I promised Tasha and myself that I would be open to love again. Before my ex shattered my heart with his bullshit, I was a hopeless romantic. But now, I’m just hopeless.Well, I was. I think Simon just made the romance flower blossom again.

“I really want to get to know you too.”

We kiss once more before continuing to eat and enjoy the music. I haven’t been this relaxed in I don’t know how long.

I’ve been on a few dates since my wild night in Vegas, but I could never get that feeling back that I had with Simon. It was an instant attraction to him that I couldn’t replicate with anyone else, no matter how hard I tried. I didn’t even know his name, for goodness sakes, but it was like we’d known each other for years when we came together.

Simon is right. I can’t let fear rule my life.

After a few bands have played, and the sun was high in the sky, we decided to go to where the food trucks were parked. We devoured that charcuterie board, and I’m a woman who needs sustenance, so our trek was inevitable.

“They have the deep-fried lasagna roll like at the fair!” I know my eyes are round and gleeful.

I love deep-fried everything! It’s one of the only reasons I go to the fair anymore.

“I never took you for a greasy food type of chick.”

“Whaaat? I’m a country girl born and raised in Texas. I’m offended that you would say such a thing. Hell, I’m surprised that charcuterie wasn’t deep-fried,” I say with a straight face.

Simon busts out laughing and throws his arm around my shoulders. He leads the way to theBaked, Fried, and laid to the Sidefood truck and orders us the special treats I can’t wait to sink my teeth into.

We laugh, eat, and talk until the sun is low in the sky. It was the best first date I’ve ever had, and I didn’t want it to end. I promised myself I would be open, but I can feel the hopeless romantic bubbling up inside of me, and I don’t know if I want to stop it.

When Simon escorts me to my door, I get butterflies in my stomach for some unknown reason. Simon has been very affectionate all day long, shoot, since I’ve met him. We can’t keep our hands off each other, so it’s not like we will kiss for the first time. But there’s something about how he kisses and touches me that has me full of nervous excitement.

“I had an absolute ball today, Simon. Thank you so much,” I sigh, leaning against my door.

Simon cages me in, placing his hands on both sides of my shoulders. His dark brown eyes twinkle in the dusk of the day, and he smiles, showing straight white teeth. Simon is the type of guy who wears his emotions proudly. He hasn’t thrown me any smirks or sly gestures. He always gives me a full-blown smile.I appreciate that about him.

“Layla, it was an absolute pleasure. And as much as I don’t want to leave you right now, I need to get to the bar before Freddie burns the place down.”

“Freddie is your bartender, right?” I ask, confused. “How would he burn anything?”

“If you knew Freddie, you wouldn’t have to ask.” Simon shakes his head with a chuckle, running his fingers through his glossy brown hair.

“Okay, well, we definitely don’t want your place to burn down.” I raise up on tiptoes and kiss his lips.

Simon moans and deepens the kiss. Before I know it, we are fully making out on the front porch of my townhome. I don’t know my neighbors, but we are about to give them a show, and I don’t even care.

What is this man doing to me?

NINE

ADMIRER PROBLEM

SIMON

It’s been two months since our first date, and Layla and I have been going strong. We see each other almost every day, and she practically lives at my house on the weekends. I never thought I’d want a woman in my space, and I know it may be cliché, but there’s no other person in this world that I want in my space more than Layla. If she wouldn’t think I was a crazy person, I’d try to move her ass in right now. But I know that even though Layla is a hopeless romantic, she would definitely run for the hills if I even suggested she move in with me.

“Heeey, Freddie!” Layla sings, coming into the bar.

“Welcome to Taters, Laylay.” Freddie winks.

I scowl at the two of them flirting, “I told you about flirting with my woman, Freddie. Don’t make me fire you.”

Freddie raises his hands up with a sly smile on his face, “I was just welcoming our most valued customer.”

“Whatever, slick. You just keep those winks to yourself, and we won’t have any problems.”