The Maybe Somewhat True Story: Choosing the Cake
Part: 9/14
Previous parts: engagement announcement | picking the date | finding a wedding planner | picking the wedding party | official engagement announcement | guest list and invitations | choosing colors | choosing locations
Planning The Wedding
Part 8: Choosing the Cake
“I just want to say, Noah, sweetheart, I’m sorry.” Ruth stares steadily into the camera the way that she has, a bit unnervingly, like she could see through to your soul. “We shouldn’t have pushed you into choosing our favorite cake instead of yours. I know that you were only thinking of your lover Luke.”
Off-camera, Faith coughs.
“Are you quite all right, young lady?”
“Fine! I’m…fine.”
“It was the word ‘lovers,’ wasn’t it?” Ruth soul-stares again, “Oh, you shouldn’t be ashamed, Faith. Sex is sex. Our bodies are beautiful and meant to be shared in the intimacy of a relationship.”
“Of course, Ms. Wilson,” Faith sputters and tries to direct this conversation back on track. “So, you were saying? About the cake?”
“Oh, right, it was four of us against my poor nephew. I’m ashamed to say it but we might have bullied him a little into getting the cake we wanted.”
Bullied was quite the right word. Luke had to work on the day of the cake-tasting trip. Or, rather, he wanted to so that he could then take a whole two weeks off for the honeymoon.
“It’s literally choosing between chocolate and sex, Noah,” Luke had said, “and I’m sorry, but I choose sex.”
“You’re sorry?” Noah nipped at Luke’s upper lips, chasing the taste of coffee, which was the perpetual taste of Luke these days, with the hours he kept.
“Sorry I can’t have both, now.” Luke gave in to the kiss, gave into the rare moment with Noah. Between the two of their workloads, they barely saw each other these days, much less have time to indulge in luxuries like kissing and cuddling and oh god, sex. He moaned into the kiss, into the perfect cup of neck and the hot mold of Noah’s body to his.
Too soon, the kiss was over and Noah was surrounded by the scents of women and the chatter they kept up all the way to the cake shop. Lily, Ruth, Maddie, and Jade were all along this time. Maddie was especially enthusiastic. “We get to try all these cakes! Isn’t it exciting?”
Noah managed a small smile. The truth was he was a bit intimidated. He had never had to make so many minute decisions in his life before. He hoped cake was easy. He liked cake. He didn’t want to associate cake with bad feelings, just with indulgence, which it was for him.
The bakery itself was encouraging, brightly lit and cleanly swept. It held a large array of cakes in all range of colors, heights and shapes.
Noah zoomed in on the chocolates while Maddie dragged the rest of the group to the other side of the shop. Noah took his time, inhaled the confectioner sugar-y smell of it all. And then he saw it. The one. The cake. The perfect cake.
“That’s a beauty,” a kindly older gentleman nodded towards the cake. “Tastes good too,” he reached inside the fridge for a small slice.
“Thanks!” Noah scooped up a mouthful of bliss. Rocky road ice cream cake. Luke would love it.
The first time Noah was introduced to Luke’s bed, they took their time - all afternoon to explore what they each liked. (Luke: light biting, rimming, hearing Noah moan. Noah: being pressed into the bed, kisses everywhere, hearing Luke talk, strings of filthy promises.) Noah even got to look through baby Luke pictures. “Was this you?!” They play wrestled for it and fell into one of their most tender kisses to date. I love you. That was when it was first said, with Luke’s eyes and Noah hoped with his. And then Luke said it, in words, an echo, confirmation. "Same here," Noah kissed him again, kissed the words into Luke's skin. Afterwards, near dinner time, they fell laughing onto the living room couch, a bowl of rocky road ice cream cradled in each lap. It was a perfect day.
"This is perfect," Noah spoke after swallowing his bites. His plate was scraped clean.
"It's my personal favorite," the man handed Noah a brochure. "You hang on to that."
Noah took it, exchanged it for his empty plate. "Thank you." Heavenly Hash, the brochure advertised, a marriage of perfect ingredients. It seemed like a sign. Noah smiled to himself.
Before he had a chance to tell everyone the cake is chosen, done, checked off the list, Jade rushed over to him and pulled him towards the rest of the party. "Look, Noah! We found the perfect cake! Cool Champagne is the store specialty. They always run out but we can get one if we order in advance. Isn't it pretty?"
"Luke can't drink."
Jade looked unperturbed. "There are only two glasses of champagne in this whole thing! It was safe enough for Maddie to try."
"SO good, Noah," Maddie pushed a plate towards him. "Try it. You'll know what I mean."
"But..."
"Come now, Noah," Aunt Ruth cupped his cheek fondly. "The cake is symbolic. You and Luke won't actually eat that much of it. Most of it will be consumed by your guests. Don't you want your guests to have a good time?"
"Sure, but..."
Lily stepped in, "Aw, honey, you're very sweet. But trust me, most of the alcohol has been baked off. Luke will be fine. And isn't this cake gorgeous?"
Noah shoved a forkful in his mouth to avoid answering. The cake didn't taste anywhere near as good as Heavenly Hash.
Part 10: Bridesmaid Dresses
Previous parts: engagement announcement | picking the date | finding a wedding planner | picking the wedding party | official engagement announcement | guest list and invitations | choosing colors | choosing locations
Planning The Wedding
Part 8: Choosing the Cake
“I just want to say, Noah, sweetheart, I’m sorry.” Ruth stares steadily into the camera the way that she has, a bit unnervingly, like she could see through to your soul. “We shouldn’t have pushed you into choosing our favorite cake instead of yours. I know that you were only thinking of your lover Luke.”
Off-camera, Faith coughs.
“Are you quite all right, young lady?”
“Fine! I’m…fine.”
“It was the word ‘lovers,’ wasn’t it?” Ruth soul-stares again, “Oh, you shouldn’t be ashamed, Faith. Sex is sex. Our bodies are beautiful and meant to be shared in the intimacy of a relationship.”
“Of course, Ms. Wilson,” Faith sputters and tries to direct this conversation back on track. “So, you were saying? About the cake?”
“Oh, right, it was four of us against my poor nephew. I’m ashamed to say it but we might have bullied him a little into getting the cake we wanted.”
Bullied was quite the right word. Luke had to work on the day of the cake-tasting trip. Or, rather, he wanted to so that he could then take a whole two weeks off for the honeymoon.
“It’s literally choosing between chocolate and sex, Noah,” Luke had said, “and I’m sorry, but I choose sex.”
“You’re sorry?” Noah nipped at Luke’s upper lips, chasing the taste of coffee, which was the perpetual taste of Luke these days, with the hours he kept.
“Sorry I can’t have both, now.” Luke gave in to the kiss, gave into the rare moment with Noah. Between the two of their workloads, they barely saw each other these days, much less have time to indulge in luxuries like kissing and cuddling and oh god, sex. He moaned into the kiss, into the perfect cup of neck and the hot mold of Noah’s body to his.
Too soon, the kiss was over and Noah was surrounded by the scents of women and the chatter they kept up all the way to the cake shop. Lily, Ruth, Maddie, and Jade were all along this time. Maddie was especially enthusiastic. “We get to try all these cakes! Isn’t it exciting?”
Noah managed a small smile. The truth was he was a bit intimidated. He had never had to make so many minute decisions in his life before. He hoped cake was easy. He liked cake. He didn’t want to associate cake with bad feelings, just with indulgence, which it was for him.
The bakery itself was encouraging, brightly lit and cleanly swept. It held a large array of cakes in all range of colors, heights and shapes.
Noah zoomed in on the chocolates while Maddie dragged the rest of the group to the other side of the shop. Noah took his time, inhaled the confectioner sugar-y smell of it all. And then he saw it. The one. The cake. The perfect cake.
“That’s a beauty,” a kindly older gentleman nodded towards the cake. “Tastes good too,” he reached inside the fridge for a small slice.
“Thanks!” Noah scooped up a mouthful of bliss. Rocky road ice cream cake. Luke would love it.
The first time Noah was introduced to Luke’s bed, they took their time - all afternoon to explore what they each liked. (Luke: light biting, rimming, hearing Noah moan. Noah: being pressed into the bed, kisses everywhere, hearing Luke talk, strings of filthy promises.) Noah even got to look through baby Luke pictures. “Was this you?!” They play wrestled for it and fell into one of their most tender kisses to date. I love you. That was when it was first said, with Luke’s eyes and Noah hoped with his. And then Luke said it, in words, an echo, confirmation. "Same here," Noah kissed him again, kissed the words into Luke's skin. Afterwards, near dinner time, they fell laughing onto the living room couch, a bowl of rocky road ice cream cradled in each lap. It was a perfect day.
"This is perfect," Noah spoke after swallowing his bites. His plate was scraped clean.
"It's my personal favorite," the man handed Noah a brochure. "You hang on to that."
Noah took it, exchanged it for his empty plate. "Thank you." Heavenly Hash, the brochure advertised, a marriage of perfect ingredients. It seemed like a sign. Noah smiled to himself.
Before he had a chance to tell everyone the cake is chosen, done, checked off the list, Jade rushed over to him and pulled him towards the rest of the party. "Look, Noah! We found the perfect cake! Cool Champagne is the store specialty. They always run out but we can get one if we order in advance. Isn't it pretty?"
"Luke can't drink."
Jade looked unperturbed. "There are only two glasses of champagne in this whole thing! It was safe enough for Maddie to try."
"SO good, Noah," Maddie pushed a plate towards him. "Try it. You'll know what I mean."
"But..."
"Come now, Noah," Aunt Ruth cupped his cheek fondly. "The cake is symbolic. You and Luke won't actually eat that much of it. Most of it will be consumed by your guests. Don't you want your guests to have a good time?"
"Sure, but..."
Lily stepped in, "Aw, honey, you're very sweet. But trust me, most of the alcohol has been baked off. Luke will be fine. And isn't this cake gorgeous?"
Noah shoved a forkful in his mouth to avoid answering. The cake didn't taste anywhere near as good as Heavenly Hash.
Part 10: Bridesmaid Dresses