Cake tasting went well, and by the time they got home, the car was loaded with assorted slices boxed neatly for later.
Some were meant for family to try, others were just because Svetlana couldn't resist a particular flavor.
But one of those slices had been meant for Ava, just one. A little bite. Maybe two.
Except Ava didn't understand restraint.
The moment she tasted the frosting, something switched in her system. She was nearly two years old, and her energy levels were already high on normal days.
But with sugar in her system, she turned into a whole new version of herself.
Damon sat on the couch with a bottle of water in hand, watching her sprint across the living room with mismatched socks, yelling random words to nobody. "CAKE! FAST! JUMP JUMP JUMP!"
She jumped onto a pillow, then ran to the next, slipped, face-planted, giggled, rolled, and ran again.
Svetlana stood near the kitchen, arms crossed, eyes locked on Damon.
"I told you," she said flatly.
