Micah set down the rest of the pans on the table. “You’re not serious.”
Consuela put her hands on her hips righteously. “I told her, like, ‘Don’t do it. Don’t be eating cupcakes in front of Micah,’ but she wouldn’t listen.”
In front of him? “What does she eat when I’m not around?”
Consuela laughed. “Don’t even ask.”
Micah stared. That pink garbage disappearing into Song’s mouth looked obscene. Who the hell was leading his customers astray?
With a deep breath, he gathered up the fallen vegetables, went into the kitchen to wash everything again, and started the class. The group leaned over the table as he showed them the preparation of the raw ingredients and how to use spices to create unique flavors and mix ingredients so even the most dedicated lovers of animal products wouldn’t miss the cheese or the meat. Still, after two defections from righteousness today, it was hard to summon his passion.
“You okay, Micah?” Jill cocked her head at him as the others layered ground nut cheese and walnut meat over zucchini slices, then alternated a spinach layer.
He nodded. “Yeah. Fine.” She went back to layering. The words slipped out. “Have you ever tried those cupcakes, Jill?”
She gave him an indulgent smile. “I’ve gone into the shop a couple times, but I haven’t succumbed yet. I probably will for Valentine’s Day, though. They really are beautiful. If they taste as good as they look—”
Song sighed. “Oh, they taste even better.”
Jill laughed. “In that case, I’ll have to give in.”
Micah frowned. “Valentine’s Day is just another chance to show that you can make raw vegan food taste great.”
Consuela got her righteousness on. “That’s what I keep telling them.”
Molly shoved an elbow into Consuela’s ample midsection. “Oh, come on. You had all the frosting off that lemon cupcake when we were watching TV.”
“Did not.”
“Oh, then who ate it? The cat?”
Micah took a deep breath. They were just customers. They didn’t have to live like he did. “Where the hell did this cupcake store come from?”
Song looked up from her layering. “Quentin started it with his grandmother.”
“Quentin who?”
She shrugged. “Just Quentin. He owns the place.”
Consuela giggled. “He’s even prettier than his cupcakes.”
Song sighed again. “And when he bends over to get cupcakes from the case in those tight jeans, I mean… oh my.”
Micah tried to control his face, but no luck. “So you buy cupcakes so you can see this guy’s ass?”
Molly put her messy hands on her hips. “Of course not. The cupcakes are extraordinary. Magical, really.”
Song grinned. “Yes. And so is Quentin’s ass.”
Well, hell! Micah dragged himself through the rest of the class. The students went home with lasagna to serve at their Valentine’s dinner the next day. Yeah, with cupcakes for fucking dessert. It was stupid to feel so defeated and betrayed. He couldn’t expect others to live up to his standards. Dharmaram told him that all the time.
He took a deep breath. Time to go shopping. Maybe he’d just bite the bullet and buy Dharmaram that watch or some other extravagant piece of jewelry.
He stuck his head in the kitchen. Jen was almost finished with her shift, and Kathy had come on to take over. She was not only his best worker, but also his good friend. He smiled at her. “If you guys are okay without me, I’ve got some shopping to do.”
Kathy nodded. “I’m fine. Winter’s definitely here. No big rush. Can you pick up the juicer at the repair place while you’re out?”
He nodded. “Yeah. Good idea. See you tomorrow.” The afternoon sun made him squint as he walked out the back door. South Coast Plaza held many shopping treasures, and he was in the mood to buy them. His customers might have let him down, but he had the best boyfriend. Hell, you couldn’t put a price on love.
MICAH STASHED his bike in the shed behind the house. He couldn’t stop chuckling. Dharmaram would be so happy. Micah fingered the wrapped box in his pocket. The bracelet that rested inside was pure gold and engraved with abstract shapes the salesman had told Micah were dolphins. That sold him, of course. It cost a bundle, but he didn’t care. He loved it. The look on Dharmaram’s face when Micah gave it to him tomorrow would be worth twice the price. He knew it.
At least he was home early tonight, so maybe they could watch a little TV and snuggle. Tomorrow Micah would start prep on the meal in the early afternoon. He wanted to blow it out. Candles and flowers. Good china and silver. Well, he didn’t really have good stuff, but he’d bought a new deep pink tablecloth that would set off his plain white plates and make them special.
He fit his key in the lock and stepped into the kitchen. Funny, the lights were off. Dharmaram usually turned on every light in the house when he got home. Maybe he’d had an extra class to teach this afternoon and hadn’t thought to mention it.
“Merwaor.”
Micah paused and let Furtwangler step onto his shoulder from the top of the refrigerator. He scratched the cat’s chin. “Hi, guy. How you feeling?” Like the glacier for which he was named, at seventeen Furtwangler was slowly disappearing. One of the only good things to come out of Micah’s time with his mother, Furtwangler was still a great cat.
Micah turned on the light and slipped his shoes onto the shoe rack. He pulled the package from his pocket. “Where shall I put this so that our nosy roommate won’t find it, guy? What do you think?”
“Merwaor.”
Micah glanced up at the high glass-front cabinets in the kitchen. Good thought. Dharmaram hated to cook, so if he was left alone he’d never open a cabinet. Just graze in the refrigerator on whatever Micah
