Coerced by Cake

All I could think about on my way back home tonight was cake! Yes, cake! Not just any cake, but the most mouthwatering piece of cake this side of heaven. I discovered it several months back, quite by accident. I had to stop and get gas and there is was in the store's bakery display....in all of it's glory!! Chocolate Molten layered cake or as Bucky's Bakery called it "Death by Chocolate". What a way to go, hey?

I took a piece to go that day not knowing how it would forever change my life. I headed home and put my things away and got busy making dinner for me and my sweet pup Dollie. I chatted with a friend on the phone and totally forgot about my cake.

My neighbor David , annoying man that he is, came over and was going through things on my counter, as I was finishing my phone call. "What is this?", he asked with a smirk on his face.

"Your arm if you don't hand it over!", I spit out.

" Testy, Testy!! Oh, so we needed a little sugar rush today? You know this is not on your Keto plan right?"

David was the most annoying man I think I had ever met. He enjoy jabbing at me at every chance he could! He has been my neighbor for about a year...a long year! How dare he bring up my eating plan!!??

"Shut it!", I said through clinched teeth, "I needed a little pick me up after the day at work that I had. Why are you here?" He acted hurt, but I could tell he had my newly found dessert on his mind.

" I came by to let you know I would be out of town for a week and a half and wondered if you would pick up my mail for me?"

"I guess I could do that", I said, and then the words flew out of my mouth that I never intended. "Have a seat and share my dessert with me." He was amused and followed along. I poured an amazing cup of coffee for each of us and split the cake piece in half....not knowing the power this chocolate concoction would have over us. He took a bite and I followed...it sat in our mouths for a few moments as we savored the texture and the taste. It was like a veil lifted off our eyes. We both felt a shift in our hearts, but ignored it as we continued to eat the cake. We shared stories about our childhood and our families. It was like a dream, a fantasy, that I thought was only happening in my heart and mind...but it was there! I saw it in his eyes as he left my apartment that evening. He looked at me differently and I felt like I saw him in a new light. " That was strange!", I thought. I generally disliked him, but after sharing the dessert, a chemical reaction of sorts happened and there was no going back! "Crap!", I muttered, "I do not have time for this and this guy is a complete jerk at times!"

The next morning I woke up thinking it was just a weird dream, but I heard someone knocking at my door. I was running late and I was not in the mood for company. I opened the door and there he was with a huge grin on his face and a handful of flowers he had picked from the nearby field. "What are these for?" I asked, still not trusting my heart or his. "Can't a guy give a beautiful girl flowers?" he asked with a mischievous grin on his face. "Something happened last night, didn't it? Didn't you feel it too? I felt like we let our walls down and actually enjoyed each other's company". I didn't want to admit it to him much less myself. "Well....it was nice talking with you last night, and the cake was divine!" I admitted.

"Come out with me tonight", David said suddenly. "I want to know if this is real or just the cake. Aren't you the tiniest bit curious?"

I was and with childlike faith I stepped out and said "Ok!"

He looked shocked, and said "Ok! Seven o'clock tonight I'll be by to pick you up."

"Sounds great!" I said a little too loud.

He gave me the sweetest hug and kissed my cheek and with that turned and said, "See you at seven!" I smiled to myself... this was going to be a different day. I was giddy and excited. Who would have thought the guy next door could be even an option? It was the beginning of our chocolate love affair. After several months of dating, I am still giddy over David and the chocolate cake.

As I was driving home tonight, the rain was falling down in buckets. I stopped to fill up my car with gasoline, then I made a quick run to the Bucky's Bakery to see if I could get Dave and I a slice of that divine cake. As I got to the counter dripping wet, I reached for the cake slices, when a strong male hand stopped me. It was David! He said, " Oh no you don't ….this is on me!" We sat enjoying the cake with a fresh cup of coffee, and thought to ourselves, "You can have your cake and eat it too!"