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Vi had just taken six dozen cookies from the bakery’s industrial oven when Caitlyn stepped into the kitchen. She wore the shop’s blue and gold apron, hair tied away from her face, a dusting of flour on her cheek. Dressed down, but so gorgeous Vi was hit with a sudden urge to kiss her. If only they weren’t at work. “Hey, cupcake.”
Caitlyn’s face softened into a smile. “Speaking of cupcakes. We received an order for two dozen: half chocolate, half vanilla.”
“Sounds easy enough.”
Caitlyn hummed, sticking a post-it with the information inside Vi’s notebook where she kept track of pre-orders. “They’re due Saturday. We can make them Friday and frost day-of.”
Halfway between the sink and counter, hands still damp, Vi intercepted Caitlyn on her way out, leaning in for a quick peck. “Okay.”
“Okay?” Caitlyn lingered in the doorway.
Vi grinned back. “Okay.”
She shooed Caitlyn out and returned to her cookies, and that was that.
Friday morning found Vi and Caitlyn working together to prepare the bakery’s various breads, pastries, and desserts. Everything they would need for a busy weekend. On a far counter, Vi’s phone played music over small speakers.
“They say what the order was for?” Vi asked as she lined muffin tins with cupcake liners.
“The two dozen cupcakes?”
“Yeah.”
Caitlyn at the batter she was preparing. “They’re for a proposal.”
Vi’s eyebrows shot up. That was a first. “Sounds like a pretty sweet proposal. Anyone I know?”
“A friend of Jayce’s.”
Most of their custom orders came from rich people who knew Caitlyn, sometimes directly, but usually not. Many of them had been referred to as a parent’s colleague or friend of a friend. And Jayce had lots of friends. Or, at least, a lot of people who adored Piltover’s golden boy and wanted to name-drop.
“Should be good publicity then.”
Caitlyn hummed her agreement. “Maybe we’ll end up making the wedding cake too.”
Vi brightened, imagining making a custom wedding cake. That, of course, led to thoughts of a wedding cake for her and Caitlyn, which stained her cheeks pink.
Soon, she told herself. I’ll ask her as soon as I find the perfect ring.
On Saturday, after they’d finished normal bakery prep and Powder arrived to work the front counter, Caitlyn and Vi worked side-by-side in the kitchen. While Vi prepared cupcakes to be sold in the display cases, Caitlyn frosted their custom order with rose-pink.
Vi had just returned from running three dozen cupcakes out when Caitlyn cleared her throat and asked, “What do you think?”
She turned to look over the cupcakes. Fourteen cupcakes had been adorned with one letter each while the other ten had rose-like frosting.
The rose-topped cupcakes formed a loose circle around the lettered ones, which spelled out: MARRY ME VIOLET?
It took Vi a long moment to realize that was her name. She spun to make sure this wasn’t some odd coincidence and found Caitlyn already kneeling.
An open ring box sat in her palm, holding a thick silver band. In the middle was a heart formed by two teardrop-shaped gems, one bright blue, the other a softer shade, nearly gray. Their eye colors.
It was way better than any of the rings Vi had been considering.
“I want to be with you forever,” Caitlyn’s voice was already shaky, eyes shining. Staring up at Vi with such raw affection it threatened to split her open. “If you’ll have me.”
Vi dropped to her knees across from Caitlyn, managing a choked laugh. “I’m so pissed you beat me to this.”
“Is that a yes?”
“ Of course it’s a yes!”
Fighting back her tears, Vi wrapped herself around Caitlyn, holding her tight, breathing in the scents of sugar and citrus that clung to her.
When she finally pulled back, Caitlyn eased the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly.
“Where’s yours?” Vi asked without looking up. She wanted to stare at her ring for the rest of her life, at the blatant declaration of love.
When Caitlyn pulled out a second ring, identical to Vi’s, she took it so she could slide it onto Caitlyn’s ring finger. Their matching rings shone under the bright lights.
Vi leached their fingers and rested her forehead against Caitlyn’s, trying to breathe through all of her emotions. She sniffed. “I’m gonna be crying into desserts all day.”
“Actually…” Caitlyn rose, tugging Vi up with her.
Faces still damp, hands still clasped, they stepped through the kitchen door to the front of the bakery. Dozens of familiar faces waited there: Vi’s family, Caitlyn’s, their friends.
“Well?” Powder called, reaching for them. “Let us see the rings!”