Note: I believe this story looks complete to me, and enjoy this last part.
Stephanie and Joe checked the oven to see how the cupcakes were coming along. Joe was the one who peeked inside. Stephanie watched as he closed the oven.
"How are the cupcakes looking?" Stephanie asked.
"They seem like they need more time."
"Looks like you are understanding more about cooking than I am. You must have taken some cooking classes."
"A little, yes. My grandmother thought it was a good idea I should do so and learn more about it."
They left the kitchen and sat down on his couch. Stephanie liked that couch. It made her feel more comfortable that way.
"You always like my couch, don't you?" Joe asked.
"Yes. It somehow is more comfortable than my couch at my place."
"First we are talking about cupcakes, and now we're talking about my couch. Strange conversation to talk about my couch. It is nothing exciting to talk about."
When he finished saying that, they both kissed each other. This has been their first kiss they've had in a while.
About fifteen minutes later, the oven went off, telling them the cupcakes were ready.
"Now we can drop the subject on my couch. Let's take out the cupcakes and then we can start thinking about dinner," he told her.
"I know. Should we have a tiny bite of the cupcakes?" Stephanie asked.
"A little bite won't hurt," he answered.
"Okay."
She let Joe do the cooking because he was the one who is learning more about food. So this is why she let him do this.
Before he started, he said, "Let's take a little bite. It won't hurt to try a bit of it before we start cooking dinner."
She took one of the cupcakes and tasted a bit of the orange frosting.
He watched as she licked her fingers.
"How is it?"
"It's tasty," was her answer.
"At least we did something right for a first."
He decided to test it for himself and see if she was right.
"Now what do you think of it?" she asked.
"Not bad. Something sounds like it's missing something."
"What's that?"
"A real carrot. You know how he is."
She nodded. No question about it.
"Do you want me to call Batman?" Stephanie asked.
"If you want to. He will bring over a fruit salad with him tonight."
"I see. I will call him right now and tell him that he can come over right now. I hope he likes the cupcakes. Glad you liked them."
"Cupcake, I thought they were okay, but you seem to like them more than I do."
"I didn't catch that. At least I think you're doing just fine."
"Thank you. Maybe you should think about doing the same thing."
"Let me think about it."
"Good girl."
He watched as she left to call Ranger. She listened as he took his time to answer her call.
"Hello, Babe. Are you letting me come over or are you changing the time again?" Ranger asked.
"We aren't changing the time. You can come over now. Joe and I are done with what we wanted to do."
"I will be there shortly."
That was the end of their phone call. Stephanie returned to him in the kitchen.
"He said he's on his way," she told him.
"Good. Now we can get tonight over with, and that also counts for the cupcakes."
"Drats. You know how much of a sweet tooth I have."
"Yes, I do know."
A few minutes later, Ranger parked in the driveway. Stephanie went to answer the door.
"Hi, Babe. You want to invite me in?"
She saw he had a fruit salad with him, just like Joe had said earlier. He thought he smelled something.
"What is that I smell?"
"I'm not going to tell you. It's a surprise."
"A surprise, huh? I hope it better be a good one."
He didn't pay much attention to the smell of cupcakes that came out of the oven recently.
"Batman's here!" Stephanie said loudly.
Joe walked into the living room.
"Hello, Ranger."
"Hello, Joe."
"Why don't I take this into the kitchen for you?"
"I would appreciate that, Joe. It's for all three of us."
Joe and Stephanie weren't surprised. They thought it was nice of him to share his half of dinner.
"We should have our dinner soon, Cupcake."
"Okay. Do you want to give Batman his surprise now or wait until we're done eating?" Stephanie asked.
"When we're done eating," Joe answered.
Stephanie saw that made sense, but didn't bother saying anything. Now Ranger was starting to get the idea where this sweet smell is coming from.
"I think I smell something sweet in the kitchen, Babe."
"Of course you do. We're not telling what it is, though."
"Just surprise me."
Joe and Stephanie couldn't wait to hear what he had to say about the cupcakes, negative or not.
They did have small talk during their meal, but didn't say much after that. After the three of them finished eating, Joe helped Stephanie take the plates to the sink.
"Do you think he's ready now?" Stephanie whispered.
"I would like to think so, Cupcake," he whispered back.
"Batman, would you like your surprise now?" Stephanie called from the kitchen.
"Yes, Babe. Whenever you can."
He watched as Stephanie and Joe got out a small plate from the kitchen cupboard. When they both rejoined Ranger at the table, he thanked them. The fruit salad Ranger brought with him was gone, and not a bite was left, and that made him happy.
"Thank you for eating the fruit salad I bought over," Ranger told them.
He was just giving them a compliment, Stephanie told herself, and that made her feel good.
"You're welcome, Batman. We have your surprise."
He looked at the small plate full of cupcakes.
"What are these?" Ranger asked.
"Cupcakes," Joe answered.
"We have done this several times, Babe. Sweets don't work for me."
"I know, Batman, but this is different. It's even better than the last time we tried."
"Just take a bite. You might even like it," Joe said to Ranger.
"If you insist," he replied, grabbing a cupcake from the plate.
Before he did take the first bite, he asked, "What kind of cupcakes are these?"
"Taste for yourself to find out," Stephanie answered.
So they watched him try the first bite.
"Have you figured out the flavor?"
"Babe, I think I do."
"What is it?"
"Carrot."
She and Joe were happy he figured it out on the first try.
"We also left a baby carrot to go with it, Ranger," Joe told him.
"Thanks."
He finished the cupcake and grabbed for another one.
"Babe, these are excellent. No chocolate involved."
He ate the baby carrot first, and then the cupcakes.
"What grade do I get this time?"
"A. I think I'll take the rest of them home with me."
Stephanie gave Joe a look, saying, 'I knew we finally did something right. Now I can stop talking him into stuff like this in the future.'
'Cupcake, I think you're right.'
Ranger didn't pay much attention to what they were thinking.
Ranger got up from his seat.
"I've got to go. Thanks for inviting me over."
He gave Stephanie a kiss and she returned it.
"Do you want anymore cupcakes next time you come over?" Stephanie asked.
"I think this first time for cupcakes is enough for me, but thank you for trying. In the future, do me a favor."
"What?"
"Stop letting me try sweets when it doesn't work."
"I'll keep that in mind, Batman. See you next time."
Joe offered to walk Ranger to his car that he parked in the driveway.
Once again Ranger thanked Joe for the invitation to dinner.
"You're welcome. Let's do that again."
"Without the cupcakes."
Then he drove away.
"At least something worked for once tonight," Stephanie said.
Joe agreed.
"Are you ready to go home to feed Rex?"
"I think you're right."
Then he walked her to her car.
"You don't need to wait for me to drive away," Stephanie told him.
"I just like to make sure you leave safely."
"I appreciate that, but I can do that on my own."
When she unlocked the car, they gave each other one last kiss for the evening.
"Next time do me something, Cupcake."
"What?" Stephanie asked.
"No more conversations about my couch."
Stephanie laughed and said, "Okay. I won't talk about the couch anymore."
"Good. Talk to you later."
"Night, Joe."
Then she drove off.