Chapter 7: Cake Banter

"Let there be cake!" Carly said playfully as we all hopped out of Dylan's SUV. This was the one time that his mom had opted out of coming with us to a wedding event. I was grateful it took noticeable tension off of the event and gave it the potential to actually be lighthearted and fun … for Carly anyway. I for one, had a whole new set of awkward tension floating within me. This morning I'd awakened with Freddie on the veranda, I shifted so my head was in his lap and his arm rested against my side. I'd unintentionally reaffirmed how much unfinished business I had with him. If I was a weaker woman I would have cried. Having him here, so close, was killing me. It wouldn't serve either of us really well to talk about the past I mean in a couple of days Carly would be married, and Freddie would be off on his next adventure, with Maddy. Maddy who clung to him so closely. I'm a lawyer so I'm used to lying, but after last night, it was hard not to wear my feelings on my sleeve. "Sam, don't look that way I thought you might actually like this part." Carly pouted at me with her arm wrapped around Dylan. I envisioned doing the same with Freddie. I shook my head a couple time for clarity, the desire still remained, and I became resolved within myself that I had lost my mind.

"Yeah, this is going to be awesome!" I smiled at both of them. "I love cake!"

"Chocolate cake," I heard Freddie blurt out from behind me. I remembered the little devil's food cupcake he bought me on our three month anniversary. The gesture was so sweet and romantic, but back then I was still stupid, all I did was rag on him for remember a milestone in our relationship. I call him a girl for the rest of the night.

"Sam?" Carly looked at me her look of amusement had shifted to a look of concern.

"Are we going inside? We have to pick out your wedding cake!" I latched onto her other arm and we all enter the bakery named, Big Day Bigger Cakes. A tiny little blonde woman met us at the door.

"Is this the Shay-Scott party?" Carly looked up toward her fiancé and grinned at him.

"Yes it is," she answered.

"Great, you're future mother-in-law called ahead of your reservation and asked up to pull a few styles and flavors for you to taste." The smile of Carly's face dropped. She squeezed my hands I looked toward Dylan to see if he was getting the same abuse. He seemed fine. Since Carly seemed lost for words I decided to speak up.

"How many did she request?" I asked the woman, Bettie.

"About six," the lady answered and then looked at Carly concerned. "Is something wrong?"

"No ma'am, is it possible for us to pick out some other flavors and styles as well? We aren't reduced to the selections that Mrs. Scott provided are we?" I glanced at Carly, and then back a Freddie. I don't know, this situation was just awkward and for some reason I wished he was a bit closer.

"Of course, she can pick out up to fifteen selections. We want our bride-to-be to make sure she picks the best cake. Come on over to our monitor and select the other combinations you'd like to try. I'll prepare Mrs. Scott's selections and have them right out." The lady went to the back, and Carly took a deep breath.

"The nerve of that … THAT WOMAN!" I knew she'd been holding it in since we got here. She was going to have to let it out. "She couldn't let me have this one thing! Her hand has been in everything! EVERYTHING!" Tears were starting to form in my best friend's eyes. Carly is and has always been too nice that why things like this happened to her.

"Hey Shay, let's take a mini walk." I pulled her away from Dylan.

"But the tasting," she stalled.

"I'm pretty sure the cake will still be here; come on!" We walked back out of the bakery and went back out into the parking lot. Carly sobbed liked she needed to I embraced her so that everyone wouldn't be able to see what she called her "ugly cry" face. After a few moments she sobered and sighed.

"This isn't my day anymore … it's hers." She whispered, the waterworks were about to start again.

"So what if it is, at least you'll be married to the man you plan to love forever. Hell, give her everything she wants because you're taking her son and never giving him back!" I teased, but I was serious. I pulled away from her and decided to give her what every bride wanted to hear.

"Carly you're beautiful, stunning, and you have a man that loves you like crazy. Ever woman wants what you have. You should be happy." She scoffed.

"Not every woman … what about you Sam? Do you ever want to get married?" She asked and I groaned. I kind of set myself up for that one.

"One day … maybe," I murmured. "The guy would have some extreme patience that for sure." I tried to laugh my way out of the conversation.

"Yeah," Carly had stopped crying was now focusing on my situation. "The guy would have to know you and love you … like Freddie." I rolled my eyes and headed back toward the bakery.

"Freddie doesn't love me … not like that!" Carly ran and caught up to me.

"How do you know? Have you talked to him, Sam? If you haven't got over it, what makes you think that he has?" This was not the time for this conversation.

"Because he's been with other people and I … don't want to have this conversation Carly! I just want to see my best friend be happy and get married. I don't want to talk about the past I just want to let it GO!" I turned away from her quickly so that I could wipe the tear that tried to run down my cheek.

"Okay, fine, I won't push anymore. I just want it to be clear where I stand." She commented. We stood back in front of the bakery door.

"Yeah, both you and Max have made yourselves perfectly clear." We re-entered the bakery and Carly sat by Dylan and I, of course, was left with a seat beside Freddie. Bettie stood at the head of the table and had just place two sample trays in front of us.

"Are we ready to begin?" She said cheerfully Carly nodded and Dylan placed wrapped his arm around her. "Now bride and groom remember intertwine your arms as you experience the cakes. It's romantic and it gives the moment more validity. She stepped away and left us with the trays.

After a few minutes of deliberating we'd narrowed all of our choices down to four, triple chocolate, cookie dough, red velvet, and strawberry. "The strawberry is amazing!" Maddy said with her mouth full of her second sample.

"You know I love anything chocolate, but this is completely your decision, Carls," Dylan was trying his best to give his future wife back the power she'd thought she'd lost.

"I think we'll do red velvet and chocolate. It's different but I think they'll work well together … just like we do." She kissed Dylan openly and for some reason the sight made uncomfortable. Jealousy, a little voice whispered in the back of my head. I was jealous that my best friend was leaps and bounds ahead of me in the romantic department. I wanted someone to hold me and take care of me like Dylan did for Carly.

"Did you ever try the cookie dough?" Freddie asked.

"Nope, I'd tried all the others though; cookie dough cake just doesn't make any logical sense." I smirked.

"Try it I think you'll be surprised," he said as he held his fork up with a small taste of the cake on it. I reluctantly did as he requested. I was shocked he was right this cake was by far the most delicious thing I've ever tasted. I closed my eyes and nodded appreciating the taste. "Great right?" He asked and I opened my eyes to notice him staring at my mouth. It was the same look he'd gave me when we were together. The look that let me know it was okay to kiss him and that he wanted me. I quickly looked down, my faced burned with excitement and discomfort.

"Uh yeah, it's really great." I glance at the others who were wrapped up in pictures of the styles of cake to choose from. Carly slyly caught eye contact with me and smirked.

"Maybe I'll just this cake sometime in the future." Freddie commented quietly.

"What so you're planning on getting married now?" I glanced at his counterpart who was happily staring at the different cakes. I knew she'd marry him if she asked, there were many women that would.

"There are tons of other reason to have a cake made … but I do plan on getting married. Maybe you can be in that wedding too?" He smirked a little and I frowned. Was Benson messing with me? It seemed like he was flirting, but I had to be misreading things.

"If you want me too … I guess." I murmured. "We should really be helping her." I looked towards Carly and so did he.

"Sam, we should hang out later tonight. I have a couple of movies I wanted you to see … would you be interested?" He seemed nervous about his request which only served to make me even more confused.

"I guess, I shouldn't be doing anything." We made eye contact and an odd sensation swept through me. The desire to touch him was extremely hard to ignore.

"Great, I wanted to show you some of my earlier works from college. They are some of my favorite creations." He explained proudly.

"Oh Benson, you're looking for compliments again." I patted his shoulder. "I hope the works good so I don't have to disappoint you." I teased.

"Don't worry it is. Now let's see about this cake." We joined the others and their icing and style discussion. I was only half invested in the debate. Something about spending planned time alone with my ex made the pit of my stomach flutter. I just hoped that I'd be able to keep my emotions in check and not do anything stupid.

Author's Note: Hey everyone. I have to apologize for my absence, my dad's been in the hospital and I've been working a lot. Also, my beta had to stop working with me so my chapters are going to be a little rough from here on out. If you'd like to be my beta PM me! As always please read and review. No Flames!