Don't Go Baking My Heart

“Hmm,” she mimicked his earlier sound. “You can’t control everything, though. Some things you just need to ride that wave. You can’t plan out every aspect of your life.”

“A plan is better than no plan.”

“Spontaneity, though. Have you ever tried it? Feels so damn good.”

That sounded like the worst thing ever. Never having a plan for anything? Just going with the flow? Not something he was into. Also, he didn’t want to know anything about the things that made Reba feel good.

The way her voice had dropped like that, almost to a whisper, made it seem like she was talking about something best left for the confines of a bedroom.

Seriously, how potent was this weed?

“Coming up with a work proposal feels good to me,” he said, risking a glance her way.

Reba’s nose wrinkled. “Work proposal? Bleh. I love my job, okay, but what do you do for fun outside of work? There’s got to be something. What do you and your friends do together?”

“I don’t have any friends because I work too much and don’t have time for fun.” He had definitely not meant to say that shit. What was wrong with him? He didn’t overshare like this.

Reba didn’t need to know a small part of him felt inadequate because he had failed at juggling work and friends. Although, that analysis he had run did prove he had more time for work-related things now that he didn’t have friends to hang out with. So should he really feel guilty about any of it? He had never kicked up a fuss when those same friends couldn’t attend something he had suggested because they were busy with their children or spouses. For all he knew, they had made up the whole thing because his hobbies bored them.

Whatever. None of that mattered now. He didn’t usually lament on that stuff. He was quite content with being focused on his career goals.

Why should he feel bad because he had chosen to work instead of attending some baby shower or child’s birthday party? A two-year-old wasn’t going to know whether he had attended or not, and he wasn’t always free to go see some movie his friends were into at that particular time.

“Oh, well, that’s just sad.” Reba pointed between them. “We can be friends. I’ll show you how to have fun along with helping you with this bake-off.”

“Shh,” he hissed out, looking over to see if Maxi heard. His sister was busy looking at something on Trina’s phone while she munched on a brownie.

Maxi looked too relaxed and engrossed in that phone to give a damn about him.

“Oh, right, shit, sorry.” Reba giggled, clapping her hand over her mouth.

“You’re definitely high.”

“Yup, but my offer still stands. Let me be your fun coordinatorrrr.” She dragged out the word for so long that Devon thought she’d go until she was out of breath.

“That won’t be necessary.”

“I’ll do it for free. We can do it for free. I’m gonna love doing it with you.”

“Just, please…” He rubbed his forehead. Jesus, he should really get out of here before he inhaled any more of this stuff. “Stop saying that.”

Reba’s eyes twinkled. “Saying what? ‘Doing it?’ Are you twelve? If I was talking about sex, I’d just say the word. Sexxxxx.”

“I don’t want to discuss any of that with you.”

She threw up her hands. “Fine. I’ll respect your wishes for now because I’m cool like that. It’s okay.” She patted his arm. “Wow, okay, damn, where do you find time to shape these guns?”

“Reba.”

“Okay, yes. Boundaries. Respecting them. Sorry.” She removed her hands and placed them in her lap. “I do know how to be a very good girl.”

Devon got to his feet. It was definitely time to get back to the house. “I’m going to go now.”

She looked up at him. “Hey, wait. I’m sorry. You don’t have to leave. I will behave. See?” She wiggled her hands. “These shall remain over here.”

“It’s not you.”

Except, it absolutely was. Reba combined with the weed was a terrible idea. Devon was good at staying in control of a situation, but this was exactly why he’d wanted to bail when his mother left. Anything that made him feel like he was losing his grip on something was a problem.