The Scheme

“Chicken fried rice for the princess,” he said as he placed my food in front of me and sat down opposite me.

When he handed me chopsticks, I glanced at my watch. “Are you going to be late for work?”

He tore through the red paper, opening his chopstick packet, and shook his head. “It’s fine. I don’t bend the rules often.”

Of course not. One of Brian’s best qualities was that he was responsible and took his job seriously. Who would have guessed that I would settle down with the good boy? But as I took in his handsome face, I knew I wouldn’t have it any other way.

As we both chowed down, my phone rang, and Beth’s cheesy face popped right up.

“Hi, girlfriend,” I answered.

Brian continued to eat as I chatted with Beth. Ever since I’d told her that we’d made it official, she called daily to get the deets. She was more than excited for me, ecstatic I had finally picked myself a good one.

“You busy?”

“Kind of.” I lowered my voice to a sexy tone. “We’re just having lunch. Brian had his dessert earlier.”

“It’s the middle of the day!” she protested, incredulous.

“Please . . .” Sarcasm was heavy in my tone. “Don’t tell me you and Kenty Poo don’t do the nasty in the middle of the day.”

“We’re at work,” she said primly.

“Your point?” I laughed, knowing they were most likely at it like rabbits being the newlyweds they were.

Brian cocked an eyebrow, and I knew I was being a tad bit rude talking to Beth on his lunch break.

“Let me call you later. I want to spend time with my man before he has to go back to work.”

I hung up and Brian lifted an inquiring eyebrow. “Do you tell her everything?”

I smiled sweetly at him. “Of course not. If I did, she’d know she made the wrong choice and want you back.”

He shook his head, amused, and picked at my fried rice, grabbing a piece of chicken with his chopstick. “Does it bother you that we had a brief history?” He cocked his head, his face thoughtful. “Because it shouldn’t. The reason Beth and I didn’t happen was because we were supposed to. And maybe if Beth and my paths didn’t cross, ours wouldn’t have. I don’t like to think that’s even a possibility.”

My eyebrows pulled together as I looked down at my food, getting emotional at the thought. I didn’t want to think of us not being together, either.

It wasn’t like I was insecure about our relationship. Brian had never given me a reason to feel like I wasn’t enough for him. Still, I couldn’t help but sigh inwardly with relief that I was it for him and that he had no regrets.

I set my chopsticks down and rested my hand on his forearm. “I don’t care that you shared spit with my best friend because you and I have shared more important bodily liquids, and I’ve already told her that.”

Mouth still full of food, Brian coughed, choking back laughter while pounding on his chest. He picked up his water to wash his food down. “Baby, you’re crazy sometimes.”

“As if you didn’t know that already,” I joked, laughing along with him.

“Oh, I did.” He inched in closer, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “And that’s one of the reasons why I love you. That, and you have the Power of the—”

“Hey,” I said, slapping his shoulder.

“—of a princess,” he finished, silencing me with his lips.

My insides swooned.

I’m his princess.

He focused at the overhead clock against the wall. “I need to get back, but I need me one of those.” He pointed to the table next to us.

I looked at the pastry the couple was chowing down on. It was round with a light reddish center.

“I’ll be back.” He stood, placed the order at the counter, and then came back to our table. “I have to go, but I’ll see you tonight.” He kissed me on the lips, long and lingering, but not long enough for me. “They’ll bring out some of those Chinese cakes I got for you. Save me one for tonight. I love you,” he said, smiling at me.

My stomach dropped with disappointment. I wasn’t ready for him to leave. I stuck out my lower lip in a full-on Kendy pout. “Can’t you play hookie, just for today?” Somewhere along the way, I had turned into one of those girlfriends who wanted to hang on her boyfriend all day and night long. And I wasn’t a damn bit ashamed or self-conscious about it.

He never seemed bothered by it, either. His mouth curved up in a beaming smile. “If I don’t go to work, how can I afford that Tiffany ring you want?”

Tiffany ring?

Tiffany ring!

My heart stammered in my chest. For a moment, I thought I’d heard him wrong, but his smile widened. I blinked and tried to keep my face even, but I was failing miserably as a humongous grin swept up my face. So big it made my cheeks hurt.

I pushed my finger into my cheek where a dimple would be if I had one. “Okay,” I said, bringing my shoulders to my ears, playing shy.

“I love you,” he said again. “And I really have to go.”

My heart swelled to double its size. “I love you, too,” I said softly, while the couple next to us observed our display of affection.

As he walked away, I sighed, realizing we had turned into ‘that’ couple. The one that made out in public, was overly touchy, and way, way too affectionate. We’d turned into the couple that disregarded what everyone thought. The corny duo that would eventually wear matching outfits and walk with our hands tucked into the back pockets of each other’s jeans.

Oh well. I didn’t care. I felt utterly complete.

The cute little Asian woman placed a white paper bag in front of me. “This is for you?”

I smiled up at her and gave her my receipt. “Yes, thank you.”

“Two moon cakes,” she confirmed.

The paper bag crinkled within my grasp, and as a sudden clarity hit me, I blinked and kept blinking, my mouth dropping open.

She was about to turn away when I reached for her arm. “What did you say?”

She frowned, slowly extracting her arm. “Moon cakes. That’s what you ordered, right?” At my utter silence, she said, “Is something wrong? Do you want to change your order?”

The ringing in my ears intensified. Holy shit. “What’re these?” I asked again, needing her to say it just one more time.

She still seemed confused, so I pulled them out of the bag and pointed to the pastry, which was still warm between my fingertips. “This?”

“Moon Cakes.” She was now looking at me like I was crazy and she might call the cops if I didn’t leave soon.

I stepped back, in a daze, and gave her a nod. She took that as her permission to skitter away.

Moon cakes . . .

Holy crap, had Brian pla

I reached for my purse and rushed out the door. He was probably close to the subway, but I raced back down the route we’d taken to get to the train. The farther I ran, I started to doubt my ability to catch up to him in my heels, and I was a tiny bit afraid that my skirt was going to fly up and people would see my hoo-ha.

I dashed faster down the street, knowing full well that it could be a lost cause, but I just couldn’t stop. The white bag swished against my hip, probably giving the moon cakes whiplash.

And then I saw him.

“Brian!” I yelled. When he didn’t hear me, I yelled his name about ten more times. Well, more like screeched his name. People were glaring at me like I was a crazy person, which I was fully aware of.

My chest heaved from my unpla

When I saw him stop by the light, I slowed to a fast jog. “Brian!” I yelled louder as a woman in a suit flipped toward me and stared me down. I threw her my ‘bitch’ look when Brian finally glanced back at me.

Thank God!

His eyebrows pulled together, and he forged through the crowd to get to me. Without explaining, I charged toward him in a full on sprint, and we crashed together. After a few seconds, he pulled me to the side, away from the oncoming traffic. I doubled over, needing a moment to catch my breath.