if it was just about anyone else, she’d be mortified for knocking on the door this early --- but for a reason she’s never been fully able to understand, he’s always struck her as a morning person. but just to be safe, she’s got a cardboard caddy in one hand with a pair of piping hot coffees from the little place around the corner, and his cupcake in the other. “birthday delivery!”
( one - for - twelve is a terrible average, she’s fully aware. but at least her bringing it by his place means he won’t be subjected to the crime scene of flour and frosting that is currently her kitchen before she can clean it up. )
“i didn’t put candles on it, though. didn’t want to set off the sprinkler system this early.”
it's early, but he's already been up for over an hour. he’s gone for a jog, and gotten in a shower. he’s about to sit down with the newspaper, throwing a contemplative look at the coffee pot, when he hears the knock at his door.
❝ -- thank you! come on in, ❞ a bashful smile lights up steve’s face, crinkling at the corners of his eyes and showing off a pearly grin. quick hands are careful to take up the coffee and dessert she extends toward him. ❝ i’m sure the neighbors appriciate your consideration. ❞ he’s still smiling as he helps her offload her cargo and diffuse her precision balancing act. ❝ you didn’t have to do -- all this.❞ he’s makes his way toward the kitchen, ❝ not that i’m ungrateful, anyway... thank you again.❞
a small paring knife is retrieved from the knife block and the cupcake is cut into halves with delicate hands. the delicious looking morsels are extracted to a plate which he serves to the table, gesturing for her to have a seat. ❝ care to join me for the breakfast of champions? ❞ he’s already taking a satisfying sip of his coffee. ❝ so you have a cupcake tin that makes one cupcake, or are you holding out on me? ❞ he suspects the story is a little more colorful than that.