~*~
ASHLEY
"Cupcakes!" Jordan squealed, lifting her dark shades to the top of her head as her curls bounced with excitement.
I turned, and there he was-Jayden. Holding several shopping bags in one hand while dressed ridiculously in a grey suit, no tie, and matching shades, he looked like he belonged on the cover of Somebody Else's Business Weekly.
"What the hell is going on?" I muttered under my breath.
Jordan raced over to me, practically vibrating with sugarless energy. "Hey, Mommy! Can I have a cupcake?"
I picked her up and set her on a stool so she could reach the cupcakes. Then, narrowing my eyes, I walked over to Jayden, who nonchalantly dropped the bags onto my couch like this was his place.
He took off his shades, his expression annoyingly casual.
I crossed my arms and gave him a pointed look that screamed, Explain.
He shrugged, the audacity dripping off him. "We went shopping."
"What did I say about excessive spending?" I snapped.
"Not to do that," he replied, completely unbothered as he glanced toward Jordan. "Hey, pumpkin, can I have one of those?"
Jordan nodded enthusiastically, her mouth already full. Jayden helped himself to a cupcake, taking a bite with a low hum of approval.
"This is good," he said, pausing for dramatic effect. "But I could've done better."
I froze. My eyes narrowed as my irritation shifted gears. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me." He smirked, deliberately dragging out the words. "I can do much, much, much better than this."
He was doing this on purpose. Trying to get under my skin. Don't let him win, Ashley.
"Jordan," I said, not breaking eye contact with him, "who makes the best cupcakes in the world?"
Jordan licked frosting off her lips before answering confidently. "You do."
I grinned, satisfaction rolling through me as Jayden's eyes narrowed.
"How about this?" He suddenly pulled the tray of cupcakes away from Jordan so she couldn't grab another. "I bake a batch of my cupcakes, and you compare them to your mom's."
Jordan's eyes lit up. "I'd like that!"
I rolled my eyes. "That's just wasting food."
"Is it?" he challenged, leaning closer. "Or are you just scared you'll lose?"
I clenched my jaw. Oh, it was on now.
*
"That frosting doesn't look great," I said casually, taking a bite of my cupcake and watching him out of the corner of my eye.
Jayden didn't glance up from the cake he was frosting. "This looks fine, Ashley. Stop trying to distract me."
I hated to admit it, but the cupcakes were turning out good-annoyingly good. But better than mine? No chance. Still, the cupcakes weren't the only thing distracting me.
Jayden, in a pink strawberry apron, with the sleeves of his button-down rolled up, showing off his ridiculously toned forearms, was... distracting. A bit of flour smudged his cheek, and for a moment, I caught myself staring.
Focus, Ashley. He's an asshole, remember?
"You've got a little something," I said, pointing to my own cheek.

YOU ARE READING
✧TOGETHER FOREVER✧ ✓
RomanceIn the heartwarming pages of this captivating book, follow the passionate journey of a Jayden and Ashley deeply in love, their hearts entwined like the most beautiful of stories. But fate takes an unexpected turn when, one fateful day, the boy makes...