Applejack X Caramel Novels & Stories

“Let me finish up the candy bar salad and then I’ll give you the full tour.” “Candy bar salad?” Dante wrinkled up his nose and really, who could blame him. It sounded like a bunch of lettuce mixed with veggies and chocolate. Nothing about that sounded good. “It’s amazing.” I returned to the counter where I’d been cutting up fruit. “See, it’s apples and candy bars and pudding mix, and whipped topping.” “Is that the same as the kind in the can? Because I like that stuff.” Alicia picked up the tub of whipped topping.

Bentley and I weren’t even breathing anymore from how hard we were laughing. “Oh my God! That was horrible,” Azalea said once she’d calmed down. “It’s not that bad,” Bentley teased breathlessly. “Not that bad? My chest, throat, and nose are on fire!” she grumbled, rubbing her chest. “I take it you don’t want this other shot? It’s caramel,” I offered. “What was the other one?” she raised an eyebrow. “Straight vodka,” I replied. “And what’s the difference?” she asked. “Well, you might actually swallow this one considering the fact that it tastes a little like caramel and I know you like caramel,” I explained.

“Good folks. What are you looking to get them?” Alexander hesitated, realizing he didn’t know the Millers well enough to guess their preferences. He gave a polite nod. “What would you recommend?” The shopkeeper beamed. “Well, Mr. Miller has a sweet tooth like no other. He’ll love some of our honeycomb and apple butter. As for Mary, she’s a tea enthusiast. We’ve got some lovely herbal blends she might enjoy.” “Perfect,” Alexander replied, his lips curving into a faint smile. “I’ll take both. And anything else you think would suit them.”

It’s made from a whole apple pierced with a stick at the base, coated with warm liquid sugar, and left to cool until it forms a thin crystalized sugar layer on the outside. “Two, please!” Akiko held up two fingers in front of the vendor. “Just one,” Kenji corrected her. “Huh? Why?” Akiko looked at him, puzzled. “It’s too sweet for me.” Kenji paid for the candy apple and handed it to Akiko, who immediately took a bite, breaking through the sugar coating to the apple's sweet flesh. The hardened layer of sugar mixed with the fresh apple’s taste created the perfect flavor combination, in Akiko's opinion. Kenji held her waist as she stomped her foot, savoring the deliciousness.

He was only a satyr. “Cathwulf?” Griff asked. I shook myself back to awareness. “It’s nothing. What do you have that doesn’t contain intoxicants?” The bartender scratched his beard. “We’ve got juice. Bluecumber, avomelon, bananapple, passionberry, waterberry, cocopina…” He raised his thick brows. “What will it be?” Griff and I exchanged glances. None of these fruits were available when we’d been alive. “How about one of each?” he asked.

I was encompassed by an all-pervading smell, of dark chocolate and nutmeg, of pine and dewy grass. Mate. Misha was ecstatic, but I couldn’t allow myself to embrace this now, even if he felt the same. What was it about males whose names began with ‘J’ and bad timing? “Is the Alpha coming?” I managed, sticking to my cover story. “Salted caramel, with a hint of ginger and,” he sniffed the air. “Apples. Red ones to be precise.” Oh no. That bit about the apples rocked me. Was I on Alpha Kane’s radar as well?

I say, although Jack is devouring the apple contentedly next to me. Kadeem shakes his head. “Nothing of the sort. Just a good guess.” “Whatever.” Jack answers around a crunch of the bright green apple. “It’s okay.” He swallows. “But organic Honeycrisp is actually my preferred.” Kadeem raises an eyebrow “Sorry,” he says, leaning against the hood of the van. “For some reason they were clean out of those.” “Granny Smith is an acceptable alternative,” Jack says, nodding in approval as he takes another bite.

I let out a groan and collapsed onto my bed, covering my head with a pillow. "Are you up for going out with Xavier tonight?" Grace inquired. I sat upright, tossing the pillow aside and nodded eagerly. “Then, what’s the problem? I’m assuming this was Mary’s ‘gift’ to you and not something you ordered?” Grace chuckled looking inside the box of the speciality items my older friend had ordered. “Salted caramel? Really? I’ll never look at that flavor the same way now,” Grace muttered. I felt vindicated. It wasn’t only me. That made me smile.

It was a great place to enjoy the beautiful scenery. Both settled down on the bench and opened the paper bag with many snacks inside. “Which one would you like? An Apple...green date? Orange? Peach? There's this one as well. Take whatever you want.” Faiz gave her choices to choose from. Amelia chose the small red apple and green date; the fruits were dipped in melted sugar. When she bit into the fruit, it was the sugar layer first and then the fruit, but unlike its weird combination, it was both sweet and tangy—a perfect combination and tasty.

“And speaking of focus—why don’t we move to what you all came for? It’s time for the tasting. Our exclusive American launch edition!” The ripple of curiosity that went through the crowd was palpable. I gestured toward the tasting bar, where Donna, already prepped and eager, hopped into place. Her small figure was almost comical in the pristine gloves and apron we’d given her, but her grin lit up the entire space. “Tonight, we unveil Harvest Bloom Cinnamon Crunch,” I announced, the name Davina had chosen. “A playful, nostalgic flavor inspired by American mornings—warm cinnamon, sugar, and creamy milk chocolate.”