Sweet Bits Read Free Page B

curves just slightly and it left just enough to the imagination. She was thankful she’d gotten it dry cleaned and it was ready to go. “Thank you,” she said looking upward. It didn’t hurt to throw the appreciative shout out to the Man upstairs whenever she could.
     
    ***
     
     
     
    The doorbell rang and a sudden pang jolted through her. Ben. After all these years, he was here standing just outside of her front door.
     
    As she opened the door she realized the porch light was off. It had just gotten dark, but it didn’t matter. There he was. His dark hair a little shorter than last time she’d seen him. His muscular physique now dressed in a sleek dark suit and not the flannel shirt and jeans she’d remembered him in the last time they’d seen each other. And those eyes. Those light blue eyes than crinkled at the corners when he smiled. They were the same.
     
    Ali smiled. “Hi handsome,” she said.
     
    “Hi, beautiful,” he said not missing a beat. Man, she looked good, he thought. Her figure has filled out just a bit and her shiny hair was a bit shorter falling just below her shoulders. Her perfect face was the same. It was as if it was six years ago and they were stuck in time.
     
    “Come on in.”
     
    He stepped up into her small apartment. It was fragrant from a cake she’d baked earlier in the afternoon.
     
    “Hmm, it smells good in here,” he said turning to her. “Chocolate?”
     
    She smiled. “Good nose!” They stood in front of each other for a few moments when he finally reached out and hugged her. It was a long, familiar hug. It felt good to both of them.
     
    “Well, we got that out of the way,” she teased.
     
    “Man, it’s good to see you, Ali. You haven’t changed.”
     
    She smiled. “Liar. I think I’ve added a bit,” she patted her stomach. “You don’t make cakes and cook for a living without that.”
     
    “It’s just enough and it looks great,” he said. She’d always had long legs and he didn’t miss those. They were tan, just like he remembered from the summers in their youth.
     
    “You look good, too,” she said to him. He looked the same, but more grown up. He looked corporate, but still with the just a little messy look she always liked about him.
     
    “Thanks, I try to get to the gym a few days a week,” he said. “But I’ll admit lately it’s tough.”
     
    “How is your job?” she asked. She still felt a pang of uneasiness at the subject since it was what had torn the relationship apart.
     
    “It’s OK,” he said.
     
    “Just OK?”
     
    “Yeah, mostly. I mean it’s good. I’m just a little burned out,” he admitted.
     
    She shook her head.” I get it, she said. I’ve seen the law shows. They work you pretty hard, huh?”
     
    He laughed. “Well, it’s not exactly like TV…” he paused, “but pretty close. So how about you?”
     
    “Well, I’m baking and cooking. I still haven’t gotten to culinary school, but it looks like that’s going to change soon.”
     
    “Really? Culinary school?”
     
    “Yeah, you know I’ve always wanted to go,” she said. “After my dad’s accident, the bills were crazy and I had to take time to care for him so it got put on hold. But, my aunt’s given me a year of culinary school as a gift,” she said smiling brightly.
     
    “That’s terrific, Ali. Where will you go?”
     
    “I don’t know. There are so many great schools. I’m doing some research now to choose.” She knew where she really wanted to go, but felt she should investigate other schools, too.
     
    He smiled at her. It had been her dream to go to culinary school and become a chef for as long as he could remember. He was happy for her. At least one of them was going to live their dream. The thought gave him an uneasy feeling and he swiftly pushed it away as he’d done so many times before.
     
    “So, ready to go?” she asked standing.
     
    “You bet,” he said. “I’ve been looking forward to this since we