On Santa's Lap *Published*

Chapter Twenty-Three

I had that urge again. To eat cake.

So here I was an hour after Nik walked out sitting on the kitchen ground waiting for my cake to rise. I could see the light aqua colour I had dyed the cake. And the orange essence frosting was waiting in the fridge already made.

This was my least favourite part, waiting.

I placed my phone in dire need of charging on the ground, after scrolling through hundreds of cake frosting designs on pintrest, I realised I couldn't be stuffed decorating it hardcore. Just simple light orange frosting, maybe some caramelized orange rings and some zest.

Or maybe I'll just eat it.

I should have just gone to Coles, and picked up a $2 cake. Caramel mud-cake. Now I felt like caramel mud-cake. I bit my lower lip as the buzzer finally went and I opened the oven pulling the cake out. Placing it on the bench I realise, it wasn't waiting for the cake to cook I hated. I hated waiting for it to cool down even more. It was just so tempting to just ice it, there and then since it was just staring at me.

There was one small flat on the top of the cake, due to probably me doubling the temperature it had to cook at. I just wanted to eat cake.

It was edible.

I stretched my legs out wondering if I was a bit too harsh on Nik, I didn't mean to be, well I sort of did. He was better of than whatever was going on between us. I didn't do commitment, and I don't think I could with him. He was a great guy, I groaned running my hands down my face.

Great, insert the typical, its not you its me, line here. The buzzer went off and I took the cake out placing it straight in the fridge, so it could cool down fast and I could eat it faster. I dipped my finger into the orange icing licking it off, there was a bit too much orange essence but apart from that, it tasted okay.

I was so used to being alone, it was so weird having someone else care about you. And that made you care what they care and it just made it one big mess. Single was easy. Alone was nice. Uncommitted was string free, quite literally. Isolated was trouble free and solitary was peaceful. But then.

Being with someone?

That was a whole new definition itself.

There was parts I liked, and Nik wasn't bad company, he was...tolerable. Well more than tolerable, and it helped that I was somewhat attracted to him, but the question remained. Could I be in a relationship and be happy?

I opened the fridge taking the cake out, it wasn't even cold but I couldn't be stuffed waiting, I grabbed a piece off with my fork and then dipped it into the frosting.

I just wanted to make and eat my cake as well.

* * *

"And then he said, no," Mike laughed while I just raised an eyebrow at him shaking my head at his fail attempt of a joke.

"What's with you today,"

"Nothing," I said shrugging as I wiped the glass. It was relatively quiet as we nearly closed. The latest hits were being played softly in the background. I yawned leaning on the bench with bubbly Ash came skipping over.

"Guess what?"

"What?" I asked as I packed the alcohol back under the counter.

"Guess,"

"You both that watch you were looking at the other day,"

The smile slipped of her face, "Damn it, why do you always guess right," she said walking around the counter. I smiled at her shaking my head, "I told you to tell me but you wanted me to guess," I said as she rolled her eyes hopping onto the seat.