CHAPTER 002 - The Girl Named Tasty Cake

"The girl in the royal green dress and black stilettos with red hair and fair skin—that’s your date. She’s also carrying a white purse. You won’t miss her."

That was the heads-up from Tasty Cake. Jeff shot it over in his last text before vanishing off the face of the earth.

When he tried calling, Jeff’s phone was either dead or out of battery. Same result either way.

And now here he was, scanning every corner of the damn restaurant, and still no sign of a girl that matched the description. He’d been circling the place for a while now. No eighteen-year-old in a green dress.

He knew he was in the right place. There was only one Western restaurant on this street.

He glanced at his watch— five minutes past nine. No way she bailed already, right?

He swept his eyes back across the restaurant. The place was packed: families hogging entire tables, groups of friends, couples pretending to like each other.

Three empty tables had reservation signs on them. One of those had to be theirs.

He was about to ask which one when he glanced at the entrance— still no one at the reception desk. Same as when he arrived. Busy night, fair enough.

“Good evening, Sir. Do you have a reservation?”

He turned to find a waiter standing behind him, smiling like he had stocks in the place and a notepad in hand.

“I’m sure my date made one for us.”

“Your name, Sir?”

“Phi—I mean, I’m Jefferson.”

“Ah, Mr. Jefferson Vega?”

Jefferson Vega?

Really, Jeff? Out of all names, you picked something that sounds like a bootleg action star?

“Uh, yeah. That’s me.”

“Perfect timing, Sir. Miss TeeCay just arrived.”

TeeCay?

Did he mean Tasty Cake?

“Your companion for the evening. She just went to the powder room. You can wait at your table. I’ll show you the way.”

The waiter led the way, and he followed.

They stopped at a table in the corner with a reservation sign. The waiter scooped it up and gestured to the chair.

He thanked him and said they’d order later. Once alone, he gave the place another once-over.

The restaurant exuded luxury. Matte white walls were adorned with black-and-white framed photos of iconic American landmarks—the Statue of Liberty, the Golden Gate Bridge, Hollywood, the Grand Canyon, and more. The tables and chairs were made of polished wood, the floors sleek black marble, and two chandeliers hung overhead, clearly trying to make a statement.

Nice. Fancy. And, if Jeff’s message was right, the client was footing the bill.

On a regular date, he’d never let the woman pay. But this wasn’t a regular date.

He kept glancing around. People trickling in, hunting for tables, waiters scrambling. His eyes flicked to the powder room near the entrance— just in time to catch a woman in a green dress stepping out.

The same waiter from earlier approached her, said something quick, and her gaze locked on him.

TeeCay...?

His eyes dropped to her dress—royal green, V-neckline. White purse, black stilettos.

Yup, that’s her.

He looked back at her face.

She was pretty. Red hair popped against her fair skin like she was built for contrast.

He let out a slow breath.

No doubt about it—the woman walking straight toward him was his date. Jeff’s client. Tasty Cake herself.

There was no mistaking it based on the description.

But Jeff left out one tiny, crucial detail.

He forgot to mention she was bouncy and solid. Okay—chubby. Cute and chubby.

Tasty Cake had more curves than Deewee, and she was maybe a few inches taller. Smooth, porcelain skin and a soft, round face that practically said I’m adorable and you can’t say no to me.

Okay. Okay... okay.

It’s just one night.

She only needed company. He could handle that.

Probably.

He stood up, forcing a smile as she made her way over. Her eyes were bright— was that relief?

Did she think he wasn’t going to show? He was only five minutes late. Did she really panic that fast?

A small ache hit his chest.

He didn’t know why, but he felt bad for her.

She had to pay someone just to sit across from her and make her feel seen tonight.

Life couldn’t have been easy on her...

“Jefferson?” she asked when she reached him, her eyes sparkling.

He nodded. “Y-Yeah, that’s me—”

And then she crushed him in a hug. Hard.

His eyes went wide as her... well, all of her pressed against him. Chest to chest. Belly to belly.

It was a full-on bear hug and he couldn’t breathe.

“I’m so glad you came,” she said, still squeezing like she was trying to pop him open.

“Uh… well, I was… paid to come.”

Ah, crap.

Why would you say that out loud?

Turns out dating someone you didn’t personally ask out—or weren’t even sure you wanted to date—was harder than it sounded.

He’d struggled with women before, sure. Their lack of personality or self-absorbed ways had been deal breakers.

But this? This was a new kind of hard— because he had no idea what he was walking into.

He finally breathed when she let go, but her hands still gripped his arms. Her grin stretched wide as she spoke again.

"Do I look okay?" she asked, her voice carrying a playful, hopeful tone, clearly fishing for a compliment.

He paused, his eyes locked onto her, unable to tear them away.

Actually… Tasty Cake wasn’t just cute. No, she was something more, something captivating. She was downright enchanting.

Her cheeks, flushed with a natural pinkness, made her look almost like she had just stepped out of a painting. Thick, dark lashes framed her light brown eyes, which sparkled with a quiet, inviting warmth. Her nose was small and perfectly upturned, giving her an innocent, almost mischievous look. And those lips… soft, inviting, and subtly pouty.

She wore barely any makeup, but her features seemed to glow all the more for it, as though her beauty was a secret only the brave could appreciate.

And the scent. He inhaled deeply, and instantly, the sweet, addictive fragrance wrapped itself around him like a spell. It was the kind of scent that didn’t just linger— it haunted you, lingering in the air long after she was gone.

So, no. She didn’t just look okay. She looked… incredible.

And he wasn’t about to pretend otherwise.

"You look incredible," he admitted, and the moment the words left his mouth, she flashed a radiant smile.

"I'm glad," she replied, before finally releasing him from the tight hug. "I'm TeeCay—though that’s not my real name, by the way."

"Is your real name Tasty Cake?" he asked, half-joking.

To his surprise, she burst into laughter. The roundness of her cheeks grew even more pronounced as she laughed, her eyes watering from the intensity of it.

Her laughter was contagious. Even the other diners couldn’t help but glance over, their faces brightening as they caught the sound, while some of them even joined in her laughter.

This was the first time he had heard such a genuine, carefree laugh from a woman. Most of the women he had dated barely opened their mouths when they spoke, smiled, or laughed. It was almost as if they were all pretending to be demure, acting as though a lady should always be composed, covering her mouth when speaking or laughing.

He found it strange, and honestly, a bit ridiculous. Mouths weren’t meant to be covered. They were meant for expression. To speak. To smile. To laugh.

And this girl—Tasty Cake—well, she had it right. She didn’t give a single fuck about any of that.