Page 41 of The Baby Dragon Bakery (The Baby Dragon #2)

He snorted, breaking off a piece of the pumpkin loaf. “No tears, though it was a bit nostalgic,” he admitted. “I spent the last few days training the new hire, which you would have known if you weren’t avoiding me.” He gave her a pointed look, and she kicked him.

“Now is not the time for jabs,” she said, biting into her breakfast bagel. “Start at the beginning. We need to catch up!”

“Alright, alright,” he said. He wasn’t angry with her; he was just glad to be here.

He told her about the new hire, who was a nice girl fresh out of culinary school.

She was a quick learner, so training her hadn’t been difficult, and his last few days at the Rolling Pin had been nice (when he hadn’t been worrying over the situation with Lavinia).

“Then, on Friday, an hour before leaving,” he continued, sipping his latte, “Suki brought out a special cake she’d made just for me. It was a pear cake spiced with cardamom and layered with this honey buttercream, then topped with thinly sliced poached pears. It was divine .”

“Ohmygod, that sounds amazing!” Lavinia said, mouth wide. “Why didn’t you save me a slice?”

“I did!” he replied. “I brought it over on Saturday.”

She looked sheepish. “Oops.”

“Your parents and Alfie finished it off.”

“Boo.”

“Anyway, now tomorrow’s my first day, and I’m going to see what kind of schedule I do with working at the cafe or at home, but I know that I’ll be coming into the cafe in the morning to make items for the Baby Dragon Bakery,” Theo said, finishing off his breakfast bagel.

Before, he would bake large batches of his fusion recipes two to three times a week, but now, since he was working for the cafe, he could make smaller batches every day. As he considered coming in to the cafe every day, he realized something else.

He’d be working with Calahan.

“What’s Calahan’s schedule at the cafe?” Theo asked, nervous. “Do you think it’ll be weird?” He paused. “Also, you didn’t even tell me about the breakup or what happened!”

While he was her boyfriend, he was her best friend first, and he wanted to know all the details.

“Oh yeah.” Lavinia sipped her latte, sheepish. “We broke up because of you.”

Theo blinked. “Me?”

“Kind of?” She winced. “After my last midterm last week, he messaged to ask if we could meet. He said we’d be better off as friends since he was looking for something more serious and our relationship hadn’t really developed.

Which was fair; I don’t think my heart was really in it because .

. . well, my heart belongs to you.” Theo melted at that.

He reached over and held her hand, squeezing.

“I think Calahan knew that, and he told me that he thought you and I should be together.”

Theo felt a little guilty about that. Calahan really was a great guy.

“And to answer your question: he works here Tuesday and Saturday, and no, I don’t think it’ll be weird with you working at the cafe,” Lavinia told him, entwining their fingers.

“I mean, he’s been fine with me, and I’m his actual ex.

He’s such a decent guy I’m sure he’ll just be happy that we’re happy.

Though we probably shouldn’t be too obnoxious about it. ”

Theo brought her hand up and kissed her palm. “I’ll try.” She smiled, splaying her fingers against his cheek, and they moved on to talking about other things as they finished the rest of their food and coffees.

By then, the cafe was much busier, and they watched the adorable baby dragons for a bit before heading out on Main Street, where they ambled aimlessly, not really doing anything, just being together, which was everything.

It was colder, and she huddled against his side. He loved having her tucked against him. She was perfectly bite-sized. He wanted to stick her in his pocket and carry her around everywhere, keep her with him always.

As they were walking later in the afternoon, Lavinia’s phone rang.

“Yes, Alfie,” she said, picking up. They slowed their walking, stopping by a bench.

“Yes, Theo remembers he has to play football with you.” She rolled her eyes at Theo.

He sat down, and she stood in front of him, her hand playing with his.

“Yes . . . Okay . . . Alright, alright, we’re coming home in a little while.

” She hung up, shaking her head and laughing.

“We’d better get back before that kid snitches. ”

He nodded. “Next sleepover is at my place.”

“Good plan,” she agreed. “Can’t wait.”

Theo pulled her onto his lap, bringing her in for a kiss. She smiled against his mouth.

Eventually, they made it back to his car, and he drove them home, where, as promised, he played football with Alfie out in the yard. Lavinia helped Beena with dinner, and when it was ready, they all sat and ate together, gathered round the table.

The Williamses were the family that Theo had never had, and the feeling was more pronounced now. He felt as if he and Lavinia were closer than ever.

After dinner, Alfie did in fact choose the movie, and they all watched. Biter snuggled in Lavinia’s lap, and Lavinia snuggled against Theo.

About halfway through the movie, Biter fell asleep on Lavinia, and Lavinia fell asleep on Theo’s chest; she really was tired from last night. He loved the weight of her cuddling against him, a strand of hair falling over her cheek. He tucked her hair over her ear, not behind it.

Her ears always got cold when she was asleep. Whenever they watched rom-coms and there were scenes of the guy putting the girl’s hair behind her ear, Lavinia would always hold hers. “Mine get so cold at night!” she’d say. “I would never want a guy to do that!”

When the movie finished, Alfie went up to his room to get ready for bed, and Lavinia was still asleep.

Beena put Biter in the bassinet, which was getting a little small for the baby dragon now, then went to the kitchen to make green tea for herself.

Garrett followed her. Theo slipped out from under Lavinia, putting a pillow under her so she’d still be comfortable.

Heart beating fast, he went to the kitchen as Beena poured boiling water into two mugs from the kettle.

“Heading home?” Beena asked, smiling. Garrett stood beside her, arm around Beena’s shoulder.

“Um, yes, but there was something I wanted to tell you.”

“Everything okay?” Garrett asked.

Theo took a deep breath, bracing himself. He knew that Beena and Garrett weren’t his parents; they wouldn’t be automatically negative or disappointed, but still.

“Yes,” Theo breathed. “I just—I want to say . . . I’m in love with your daughter.”

Garrett and Beena looked surprised. They exchanged a glance.

“I wanted to tell you myself,” he said. “And I hope you’re pleased.”

“Of course we are!” Garrett said, coming over to give him a hug. Theo released a breath, relieved, but when he looked at Beena, he saw concern on her face. It was there and gone in a flash; then, she was smiling, giving him a hug as well.

“This is wonderful,” Beena said, kissing his cheek. Theo smiled.

“That was what I wanted to say,” he said, a little awkward. “Also, thanks for dinner.”

“Of course,” Beena said. Lavinia came into the kitchen, then, stretching.

“Are you leaving?” she asked Theo. He nodded, and she rose on her tiptoes to kiss him goodbye. Then, she noticed her parents. “Oops.”

Theo laughed. “Don’t worry, I told them.”

“Told them what?” Alfie asked, coming into the kitchen as well, this time in his pajamas.

“Theo and Lavinia are dating,” Garrett said, smiling proudly.

“I knew that already,” Alfie said, unbothered. “They even had a sleepover last night.”

“Alfie!” Lavinia cried, mortified. She pinched his side, and Alfie screeched.

“Aaaaand that’s my cue to leave,” Theo said, smiling sheepishly, though her parents only looked amused.

He headed out and went home. When he arrived, his apartment was so quiet and empty after spending last night and the day with Lavinia. He missed her already.

He would tell her to come over tomorrow, and the prospect brightened his mood. He got to tidying up the apartment, but when he was done with that, he decided to do a deep clean. He even emptied out one of his drawers for her since he knew she’d bring over a million things.

He spotted her scrunchie and put it in the empty drawer, smiling to himself.

He hadn’t even known being this happy was a possibility!

Now, he just needed to make sure he didn’t ruin anything.