Page 63 of The Triple Play

I shake my head. “Nope.”

“That’s insane. I’ll buy you flowers every fucking month.”

I laugh lightly. “You don’t have to do that.” But my stomach fills with butterflies, happy ones this time. Denver’s smile returns, wider than ever.

“I know I don’t have to, but what if I want to?” Then, as if he suddenly remembers the other thing he’s holding, he lifts the box. “These are for you, too.” Lifting the lid, he reveals half a dozen gorgeous cupcakes, all decorated in swirls of green icing with leaves piped on top.

“Oh wow, these look incredible,” I say, leaning in and getting a whiff of sweet vanilla and chocolate. My mouth immediately starts to water. “Where did you get them?”

I glance up to see his cheeks darkening under the scruff covering his face. “Ah, I made them.”

Now it’s my turn to be shocked. “No, you didn’t.”

He nods. “Swear to god, I did. I took some cake decorating classes when I was younger.”

I’m speechless. “How…what…” I shake my head. “I have so many questions.”

Denver chuckles. “Most people do when they find out. C’mon, let’s go inside and I’ll tell you everything you want to know.”

We enter the diner, and Dot gives us a wave from behind the counter. “Seat yourselves, kids, I’ll be right there.”

Denver leads us to a booth and slides in on one side as I take the other. A minute later, Dottie bustles over and sets down three glasses of water and three sets of cutlery. I’m about to correct her but she hurries away almost as quickly, saying over her shoulder, “Be right back for your orders.”

I’m still stunned from the cupcakes and flowers, so I don’t bother saying anything to Denver. My guess is, it’s assumed Griffin goes wherever Denver is most of the time, and I don’t have it in me to correct the assumption.

“I still can’t believe you baked those,” I say, pulling the box over so I can take a closer look. “They look beautiful, and smell even better.”

“Eat one,” Denver encourages with a smile. “They’re chocolate with vanilla frosting.” His brows draw together in a slight frown. “I got that right, didn’t I? That’s your favourite flavour?”

My hand freezes halfway to lifting a cupcake to my mouth. “How did you know that?”

“My junior year, Kyle was going home for your birthday weekend and he asked me to help him out. He was supposed to bring a cake and forgot.”

“That was you?” I exclaim, remembering the year he brought home the most delicious chocolate cake, covered in vanilla frosting and decorated with edible flowers. My heart skips over a beat or two as I whisper his name in a voice laced with wonder. “Denver. That was incredibly thoughtful of you. I savoured every bite of that cake. You’re a very talented baker.”

The look he gives me in return sends me straight back to that night at the cabin, when he looked at me with such happiness and amazement, as if somehow he was the lucky one to be there with me.

I start to squirm under the intensity of the moment. I reach for my water and try to redirect the conversation. Where is Dottie, anyway? I thought she was coming to take our orders? “By the way, I’m assuming I also have you to thank for the chai latte that was delivered to my lab last week?” I lift my eyebrows questioningly as I take a sip from my glass.

“Actually, that was me.”

The deep rumble of Griffin’s voice startles me and I whip my head to the side to see him striding up to our table. He slides into the booth next to me. Close enough that our thighs are pressed together.

“You?”

He nods, folding his hands and resting his elbows on the table, fixing me with a warm stare. “Yeah, Liv. It was me.”

“You cheated!” Denver says indignantly and my head pivots back to face him. He’s leaning back against the booth, arms crossed, and an adorable pout on his face. “Last week was when you said we had to give her space.” He shifts to lean forward and jabs a finger across the table at Griffin. “You said I couldn’t bake her muffins.”

Griffin’s lips quirk up in a smile as he gestures to the box sitting on the corner of the table. “What do you call those?”

“Cupcakes.”

“Okay, can someone please tell me what the heck is going on here?” I say in a hushed voice, raising my hands before the guys can come to blows over baked goods. “Why are you both here? And what do you mean you had to give me space?”

The two men study each other for a drawn out minute, in which I fight my heart from galloping away from me with anticipation.

Eventually, Denver gestures to Griffin. “Go ahead. Explain.”