Chapter 16

Hearing her phone, Cilla rushed up the last of the steps. After fumbling with her key she dropped her things at the door and lunged for the phone.

“Hello.” She tried to catch her breath as she sat down.

“Cilla? Are you all right?” Jon could hear her breathing heavily in the background.

“I’m fine. I heard the phone and ran up half the stairs trying to get it before the machine picked up.” She took a deep breath. “What’s up?”

Jon smiled at the thought of her rushing to answer his call. “Do you want to come by tonight and we can talk about the cake and maybe get some dinner?”

Cilla glanced at the clock, “that sounds good, just give me a little bit to wash the flour and frosting off.”

Jon closed his eyes against the image of her naked and covered with frosting. “Just come over when you’re ready baby. We’ll be here.” Before she could ask “who’s we” he had clicked off. With a sigh she hung up her phone and headed to the bathroom.

Thirty minutes later she zipped her black hoodie with the roses embroidered down the sleeves over her black cami and faded jeans, grabbed her satchel with her paperwork in it and headed down the stairs. She stopped into the shop and grabbed the pink bakery box she had packed earlier and headed to Jon’s, once again wondering just who else was going to be there tonight.

When she entered Jon’s building she recognized the doorman right away, he was the same one from the last time she had been there. “Hi Sam, I’m here to see…” holding up a hand, he cut her off. “You go right on up miss. He’s expecting you.” Cilla smiled at him, “thank you.”

Knocking on the door she heard two distinct voices and footsteps approaching. When she looked up she met Jon’s bright blue eyes, “hi.” He smiled, “hi baby, come on in.” Once she was in and he shut the door behind her he pulled her to him, “now let me say hello properly.” His lips covered hers and he kissed her thoroughly.

Cilla stood there for a full minute without saying a word and she would have dropped the dessert box if Jon hadn’t taken it from her.

Richie came in looked at Cilla and then at Jon, “what did you do to her man?” Jon chuckled, “I kissed her.” Richie waved his hand in front of her face, “darlin’ are you okay?” She nodded and blinked her eyes a couple of times and everything came back into focus. “Oh yeah, I’m good Richie. It’s nice to see you again.” He smiled and kissed her cheek, “you too darlin’.” He pointed to the box Jon was holding as he talked, “what’d you bring us?”

Jon led them through the apartment, stopping in the kitchen to put the box in the refrigerator. “She brought dessert man, stop hounding her.” As they stepped out onto the terrace Cilla turned to Jon, “what, no half naked three year-old running around tonight?” Jon laughed, “no, but if I drink enough you could have a half naked 46 year-old to contend with.” Cilla leaned up and pressed a kissed to his chin, “only half naked?” He kissed her mouth playfully as they walked to where Richie was sitting, “Richie’s here, I don’t want him to get jealous.”

Richie had heard their conversation and he rolled his eyes when they sat down, “Bro, I’ve seen what you’ve got and believe me, it ain’t nothing I need to be jealous of man.” He turned to Cilla, patting the seat next to him, “why don’t you come sit by me darlin’, I’ll take real good care of you.”

Cilla watched the play between the two men; she laughed out loud. They were just like her and Sid.

Jon looked up at her, “what’s so funny?” He hoped she wasn’t laughing at Richie’s comment about his manhood. Cilla shook her head, “which one of you is Sid and which one is me?”

Jon started laughing making Cilla laugh harder and Richie sat there looking confused. “Who is Sid?”

Cilla sat down next to Jon and tried to compose herself. “Sid is…” she kept laughing. Jon wiped the tears from his face, “Sid is Cil’s best friend.” Richie nodded in understanding, “is she as pretty as Cilla here?” That got Jon and Cilla going again, “no” Jon managed, “Cilla’s much prettier.” Cilla nodded in agreement. “Sid’s got brown hair, green eyes and is about six feet tall.” Richie still didn’t see what was so funny. “This Sid doesn’t sound so bad. I still don’t get what’s so funny.”

Jon and Cilla managed to stop laughing and Cilla lay her hand over Richie’s, “Richie, Sid is a man. I’ve known him all my life and believe me when I tell you; he’ll be flattered to find out you think he ‘doesn’t sound so bad.’”

Richie’s cheeks pinked. Shit her best friend was a gay man. He laughed at himself, “glad I found that out now before I really made an ass of myself and asked you if I could meet him.” Cilla grinned, “I can still introduce you if you’re interested. He thinks you have…” she paused trying to remember exactly what it was Sid had said, “ah, the most amazing mouth, very full kissable lips I believe were his exact words.” Richie laughed and raised his hands in protest “no, thank you but no, I still prefer the ladies.” Cilla sighed dramatically, “Sid will be crushed. I hope he can go on after this.”

Jon hadn’t said anything in the last few minutes. He was amused by the fact that his best friend was getting along so well with his, he looked at Cilla, girlfriend? Could he call her that after only two dates and one night spent together? He shook his head; let’s not get ahead of ourselves. He interrupted the two of them, “you guys hungry; should we order some food?”

When the bell rang thirty minutes later Richie went to get the food, leaving Jon and Cilla alone. “You seem to be getting along with Richie fairly well.” Cilla smiled, “he’s just like everything I’ve ever read or heard someone say about him. It’s hard not to like him.” Jon took her hand, “he’s a good guy. I’m glad you’re getting along.”

Richie reappeared then with the bag of fragrant chinese food, “dinner is served.”

After the last fortune cookie was broken open talk turned to the tour and, specifically, what Jon wanted from Cilla in regards to the cake. She reached into her satchel and brought out her note book. “I made a few sketches today, take a look and let me know if any of it is what you had in mind.” Richie scooted his chair closer so he could see as well.

While they perused her notes Cilla cleared away the dinner mess and returned from the kitchen with the pink bakery box in one hand and napkins in the other.