Icing vs Frosting

Kayleigh and Brad packed the things from the bakery into his apartment. Kayleigh was unpacking baked goods in the counter. She had boxes of cookies, protein bars, and the cupcakes Brad had helped with. She was busy unpacking brownie ingredients on the counter.

"I thought Caroline said for you not to make Smitty any brownies." He laughed as he came into his kitchen.

"She did. But she will forgive him in the morning." Kayleigh turned around to face Brad "besides you are gonna make make them."

"Did Caro say she wanted him dead?" He quizzed.

"She mentioned killing him" Kayleigh explained "how ever Bradley Keith you are not that horrible at baking. We have cupcakes to prove it."

"And a sugar tornado" he smirked

"Well we don't have that problem here. You don't even have a mixer." She laughed. "I'll loan you my spare."

"You have a spare mixer" he teased.

"Like you don't have extra sticks" she giggled.

"Touché, Doll" he smiled at her "We could just go and buy whatever you want for this kitchen. I'm pretty sure mom and the girls only got basics like spoons,forks, and cereal bowls. But I really don't know."

"You have professional grade Viking range and double wall ovens." She said excitedly "You even have a pot filler over the range. Brad there are awesome features here. The fridge is commercial quality. It's a lot more than spoons and cereal bowls."

"Yeah well the dishwasher and the microwave are about all I use." He replied as he watched Kayleigh look at his kitchen. If she wanted to gut it and start over he would call a contractor tomorrow. "What the hell is a pot filler?"

Kayleigh pulled what looked like a faucet on a bendable arm away from the wall behind the range. She explained it was so you could fill cooking pots with water without heavy lifting. Brad eyeballed the weird contraption.

"Never noticed it really. Thought it was something left unfinished." He replied. Kayleigh kissed him and started laughing again.

"Ok after the road trip I am gonna show you all the things your kitchen will do." She kissed him again then moved away and pulled out a mixing bowl and small baking pan. She gathered eggs and other ingredients and placed them on the counter. She walked Brad through the process of making brownies. Kayleigh loved to watch him. He was trying so hard it was a,most comical. He dumped in 3 times the amount of marshmallows needed. He placed the brownies in the oven and Kayleigh set a timer.

"So how long do we have" Brad asked.

"20 minutes" she replied. Brad stalked across the kitchen towards her. Kayleigh jumped off the bar stool
"Brad whatever you are thinking it's not happening until the dishes are done. We can't leave this mess while you are gone."

"Housekeeper will be here tomorrow" he smirked. Kayleigh walked around the opposite direction of Brad. He stopped moving. "She will be excited to have something to do besides laundry and shopping"
Kayleigh frowned. Brad walked around to stand beside her. "If we don't do them you are going to get up and do them later." She looked at the ground.

"Um I am slightly ocd." She said not meeting his eyes "Sorry."

"Mom is going to love you." He laughed "I am her messy kid. She constantly says she prays I find a good girl who will clean up after me." Brad leaned over and kissed Kayleigh as he was rolling up his shirt sleeves. "I'll wash you dry" Kayleigh finally met his gaze. She kissed him on the cheek. "Thanks, but we can just load it all in the dishwasher." They worked together loading the dishwasher. Brad was busy licking the spatula clean as Kayleigh placed the measuring spoons and cup in the dishwasher. He dropped the spatula into the silverware holder. The timer beeped as Kayleigh wiped down the counter. She placed the brownies on the counter to cool.

"Okay I'm all yours Marchand." announced Kayleigh.

"Let's order your Chinese and pack my bags. I want to get everything done so I can snuggle you until you have to leave for the bakery."

"Raven is going to open in the morning" she replied "I didn't want you to wake up alone before leaving for a week."

"I hate that" he said like a petulant child.

"I know Bradley Keith" she replied "but you will have to get used to my crazy schedule. It's not like I'm slinking off never to be heard from again"

"Yeah, but that's what I am used to."

"Well no more" she scolded. Kayleigh pointed at the menu he had handed her as to what she wanted. He made the call. "I'm going to change into comfy clothes."

"Grab what ever you want to wear Doll" he called as he ordered. Kayleigh roamed around his house like she belonged there. Brad hoped she realized that she does belong there.

Brad came into to his room to find Kayleigh laying on his bed in Bruins tshirt and those tiny UA booty shorts. She was flipping through channels. He laughed out loud when he saw she stopped on the Disney channel.

"Phineas and Ferb are on" she announced "get comfy and come snuggle."

"Yes Ma'am" he responded. She blushed "I guess that was a little bossy."

He kissed her as he headed to the dresser "You can boss me around Doll."

Brad threw on a pair of Bruins sweatpants and stripped down to his A line undershirt. He stretched out on the bed beside her as the theme song to the cartoon went off.

"Kaelyn loved this show when she was younger" stated Kayleigh "I however still love all things Disney. I still go to the theatre to watch the new cartoons. My little sister is my cover."

"We can borrow a kid if you want to hit a Disney movie" he laughed "or we can just go. I like them too. Not as much as Valentina. She is Looch's daughter and is slightly obsessed with the new movie."

"Frozen" said Kayleigh "I need to make her some Oalf cookies."

"So in a few weeks we have a big team Halloween party. Everyone goes all out. Do you want to go?" He asked. "We usually hit the Childrens hospital then head over to hotel."

"Sure I can come up a costume."

"Nope I will handle that. You show up here to get dressed and no backing out."

"Okay, but I don't want to be naked at children's hospital."

"I promise it will be perfect." He laughed "I've been Prince Charming, Thor, and a few other things."

"It better be" she said " I don't want to scare small kids."

"That's Z's job"

"Chara?" she asked

"Imagine a 7ft tall pink Easter bunny." He laughed. He then looked at the tv when he heard the triangle headed little guy say " I know what we are gonna do today." He now understood Kayleigh laughing at him earlier.

"Yeah,that might be scary" she replied "we need to get you packed. Can I really play in the giant closet."

"You want to, eh?" He teased.

"Come on" she pulled him off the bed. They stood in his closet. She turned a full circle. "You have more clothes than me, Had,and Caro. combined."

"I like clothes." he replied " I need 3 suits, probably 6 shirts and ties, causal stuff, and socks."
Kayleigh sent him to pack his socks and basics. She pulled out 3 suits and the shirts that he requested. She was matching ties when the doorbell rang. Brad called out that he would take care of it. She heard him taking to the delivery guy. He laid the suits and clothes on his bed. She was laying the shirts with the suits they matched. Brad came back in the room and looked at her choices. It was nice to have someone help and not have to depend on his sister. His phone rang as if think of Melissa made her call. Kayleigh was putting his suits in his garment bag as he answered the phone.

"Hey big bro"

"Hey Melissa"

"You ready to FaceTime while you pack." She asked

"Kayleigh is actually helping me pack right now." He explained.

"So you've been seeing the same girl for over a month. And you haven't scared her off or made her want to kill you."

"No, she doesn't want to kill me. And I am doing my best not to fuck this up."

"Jeff" yelled Melissa "Brad is dating the same girl for over a month. Hold on he is coming to the phone."

"You banging the hot blonde cheerleader." asked Jeff

"Hadlee is a friend you douchebag and dating Miller. I'm dating her friend Kayleigh." Brad walked into the bedroom. "Hold on and we will FaceTime you guys." Brad hung up and walked into his room.

"Ok so I'm going to FaceTime my siblings. They are all at mom and dads. They don't believe I'm dating the same girl for a month and I haven't fucked it up. They want to meet you." He said looking more nervous than she had ever seen him look. His iPad signaled the incoming call. Kayleigh took it from him and and answered the call.

Kayleigh found herself face to digital face with Brad's sister and brother. Brad sat down beside her on the bed.

"Bro how the hell did you convince her to go out with you?" Teased Jeff. "Mom come see Brad's girl." Kayleigh laughed.

"Jeff don't be a dick" said Melissa introducing herself and Jeff.

"I'm Kayleigh" she replied " Jeff I fell into his lap at my bakery. And then he stalked me until I agreed to go out with him."

"Blink twice if the squirrel is holding you against your will" replied Jeff

"Asshole" called Brad over her shoulder. Kayleigh kissed him and told him not to fight its his brother.

"We will be down for opening night Kayleigh" said Melissa "can't wait to meet you and tell you horrible stories about Brad."

Kayleigh laughed. "I look forward to that." She noticed another face appearing on the screen. She looked like an older version of Melissa "the other sister?"

"Well I'm keeping her Bradley" replied the woman "no I am his mother Lynn."

"Sorry Ma'am" said Kayleigh.

"None of that Ma'am stuff Eh" she replied " if you put up with my Bradley you call me Lynn."

"She is Southern Ma" called Brad

"The states are all southern Bradley" laughed Jeff

"She is from Georgia" he said "like Gone with the Wind." Kayleigh was laughing.

"I promise I wasn't raised in a barn. And I wear shoes." She dead panned. Lynn, Jeff, and Melissa laughed.

"That's not what I meant Doll. You just have way better manners than other girls I've dated." Kayleigh kissed his cheek.

"It's okay Bradley Keith" she winked at him "wait until he meets my family."

"Ma we have dinner waiting." Brad said.

"Okay I love you Bradley. We will be down on the 6th. Kayleigh can't wait to meet you in person."

His siblings flipped him off over their moms head. He laughed. So did Kayleigh. "Love you guys too."

"And those are my family" he replied.

"They seem nice." She kissed him gently "I told you in South we don't ask if you have crazies just which side.

They sat in living room floor and used the coffee table to eat dinner. They were watching Once Upon A Times season recap. Brad was asking a lot of questions. So they set the new season to record and netflixed the series so he could catch up. Brad liked the show. He finally confessed to also liking all things Disney. They were snuggled up on his couch. Brad was stretched out across the couch with his head in Kayleigh's lap. She had been absently running her fingers through his hair. He couldn't remember being this relaxed around well anyone. Their phones chirped simultaneously. She looked at the screen on Brad's phone. It was Hadlee and it was a group text. She saw the pic of the puppy.

Hadlee: this is Deke. His daddy is an idiot and didn't realize I can't have dogs at the apartment. So while the boys are away. We girls are going to crash at Kevan's.

Brad and Kayleigh laughed. They saw Caro's affirmative response. Brad asked if that was okay. Kayleigh nodded.

Brad: Kayleigh and I think he is awesome. Great name by the way. She said she will be there.

"Deke" said Kayleigh "what kind of name is that?"

"It's a hockey term" he said laying his head back in her lap. "It's faking a goalie out."

"Ah so Kevan named him." She replied.

"Nope apparently Gears named him"

"Gears" she asked confused

"Pastrnak" he explained

"Baby K" she said

"You girls cannot call him Baby K. What kind of nickname is that?"

"So says the "lil ball of hate" laughed Kayleigh "obviously they don't know the real you."

"It's different with you" he replied "I'm not a cartoon around you."

"I know. Bradley Keith is my favorite. But I think I might love the "lil ball of hate" too." She answered. He froze and looked up at her. Kayleigh was still messing with his hair. Brad sat up and pulled her over into his lap. Kayleigh was trying to figure out why Brad was looking at her with that wild expression. Brad kissed her as if his life depended on it. They were both breathless when he looked at her again.
"Did you mean it Kayleigh?" He asked her quietly. "Do you really think you can love me?"

"Brad" she began. He cut her off "No I get it. It's okay."

"Bradley Keith Marchand shut up." yelled Kayleigh " I don't think I can love you. I think I've known for a while now. It scares me. I know that commitment has never been your thing."

"No but Kayleigh you are my thing. I love you. And I realize that you think I have no concept of those words. But I do. I want to be around you as much as I want to play hockey. Actually, I've never dreaded a road trip more in my life. I want to be with you every waking moment and be able to hold you as you sleep. I want to come home to you." Brad explained "I can't imagine you not being here. My first thought when something happens is I want to tell Kayleigh. Good, bad, or just something little you are my first thought."

Brad looked at Kayleigh. He realized she was crying. "Don't cry Kayleigh." He pled.

"Happy tears" she said "just promise me if you do want to leave you won't just disappear. Because I do love you. I can't do that again."

"I'm one of the best agitators in the NHL. I never go away Doll." He said as he kissed her tears away "I love you. You are stuck with me."

"Well you did stalk me." Kayleigh said as he pressed her into the couch. Brad's body covered here as he kissed her neck.

"Now I'm going to love you."

Notes