Valentine's Recipe for Love

Tasty Temptation

♡ Shane ♡

It had been a week since I had met Megan, and no matter how hard I tried to push her out of my mind, she lingered like the scent of freshly baked bread. I went through the motions at work, coached my clients at Ironworks Gym, and came home to Casey every night, but something felt off. Something was missing. Or maybe it was someone. I shook my head as I climbed the stairs to our apartment, determined to snap myself out of it. Tonight was supposed to be a distraction. A casual party with a few close friends. Nothing fancy, just some drinks and conversation. Casey had been buzzing about it all week, and I wanted to make an effort for her. As I pushed open the door, the familiar scent of vanilla candles greeted me. Casey was in the kitchen, unpacking a box of pastries onto the counter. She looked up with a bright smile when she saw me.

“Hey, you are home early!” she chirped as I entered the kitchen. We shared a quick kiss before she smiled up at me. “How was your day?”

“Busy, but good,” I replied, as I slipped off my jacket and hung it over one of the barstools. “What’s all this?” I asked as I eyed the pastries.

“Oh!” Casey practically bounced back to the counter. “I found the cutest little bakery today…Sweet Treats. You know, the one on Willow Street? I picked up some things for tonight,” my stomach tightened at the mention of a bakery. I knew Rockland only had a handful, and I silently prayed it wasn’t Megan’s bakery.

“Sweet Treats, huh?” I asked as I tried to keep my tone as casual as possible. “What did you get?” Casey gestured to the spread on the counter. A selection of cupcakes, cookies, and mini tarts. They looked good, but not great. Was it Megan’s bakery?

“Yeah,” she said before she popped a mini-tart into her mouth. “The owner was really sweet. I think her name was Fiona or something. Anyway, I figured these would be perfect for the party,” relief flooded through me, but I couldn’t ignore the way my heart had leaped at the idea of Megan. I shook it off and walked over to grab a cookie.

“These are nice,” I said after a bite, but I couldn’t help comparing them to the croissants Megan had mentioned making. I hadn't tasted any of her treats, but suddenly it was all I could think about. I shook my head as I focused on Casey, who was smiling at me.

“I’m glad you like them. I thought we could set everything up in the living room before people get here,” Casey suggested, and I nodded as I helped her arrange all the snacks and drinks. By the time Caleb and his girlfriend, Amy, arrived, the apartment was warm and inviting. Soft music played in the background, and it was clear that Casey was happy. I tried to match her energy, but my mind kept drifting. Caleb clapped me on the back in greeting and I smirked at him.

“Shane! How is it going, dude?” he made a big show of asking me and I rolled my eyes.

“You saw me less than two hours ago,” I replied, and he chuckled as he looked over his shoulder. Amy and Casey were seated comfortably on the couch talking, so Caleb turned his attention back to me.

“Right, but this past week…you have been distracted,” he said, his voice low enough that the girls wouldn’t hear. I groaned as I led him into the kitchen and grabbed two beers from the fridge. I handed one over to him before I popped off the cap and took a long sip.

“Just tired,” I lied. Caleb took a sip of his beer as he watched me closely.

“Ahuh…does this have anything to do with…Megan?” he questioned, and I shot him a warning look.

“Not here,”

“Fine. Later,” he said with a smirk, and I wanted to punch him. I was still so torn up about Megan, but I felt so silly. I barely knew her. She had no right to take up so much space in my mind. Heather, Jackie, and Corey arrived soon after, and the apartment was filled with laughter and conversation. It felt good to relax for a bit, to forget about the tension in my chest. Casey moved effortlessly through the room, as she made sure everyone had drinks and snacks. I tried to focus on her – on us – but Caleb’s question hung in the air.

Was it about Megan? Of course, it was.

Hours passed, and the party settled into a comfortable rhythm. People gathered in small groups, talking about work, travel plans, and life updates. Caleb caught me alone in the kitchen and I groaned when he gave me a knowing look.

“So? She has gotten under her skin, hasn’t she?” he asked, and I wanted to punch him. Again. Instead, I sighed as I ran my fingers through my hair.

“I can’t stop thinking about her,” I admitted. Caleb nodded slowly as he looked over at where everyone else was gathered.

“I figured as much. Look, man, I get it. She made an impression. But you have got to make a decision…either forget about her or don’t…but whatever you do decide to do…” Caleb’s voice trailed off and I frowned. “You know how I feel, dude…but Casey doesn’t deserve this…just…don’t screw things up because of some fantasy,”

“It’s not a fantasy,” I said quietly. “It’s more than that. It felt…real,” Caleb sighed.

“Then you need to figure out what you want. Because leading Casey on isn’t fair to her. And hanging on to someone you barely know isn’t fair to you,” I knew he was right, but that didn’t make it any easier. The image of Megan’s smile lingered in my mind, and no matter how hard I tried to push it away, it stayed.

“What if I can’t get over her?” I asked myself.

“Then you need to make a choice,” he said simply. “But you can’t have both,” I nodded at that just as Corey came into the kitchen to grab another beer. We followed him out and the party continued. However, Caleb’s voice echoed in my mind. Make a choice. But how could I make a choice when I didn’t even know where Megan was or if she was even thinking about me too? I knew what I had to do and even though I felt guilty, I couldn’t stop thinking about Megan. I had to find her. I had to see her. I had to know if the whole thing had been a fluke.