Factors of Change

"What is that?" I asked, turning my gaze to the white box on the end table.

He pulled back and reached for it, picking it up by the knot and depositing it into my open hands. "Dessert. You made no mention of it on the phone, so I thought I would bring something."

"Oh, thank you!" My sweet tooth agreed with his genius idea, and I closed the apartment door before taking the box to the counter, Gabriel in tow. I reached for scissors and cut the ribbon, and opened the box to peek inside. Cheesecake, I identified. Smothered in chocolate. My stomach grumbled in appreciation, and I felt the brief but powerful impulse to simply skip the lasagna part of dinner and dive right into this mess of calories and chocolaty goodness. "If you have to bring something to a girl, bring chocolate or wine," I said with approval, and looked up to find Gabriel standing right behind me.

He smirked. "No flowers?"

"Not unless you did something wrong." I shook my head. "Chocolate is better."