Coconut Torte

48

Prompt for National Coconut Torte Day – why is that even a thing?! Set after ‘Shootout.’

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“Bleurgh!”

Starsky grimaced, dropped his spoon back onto the plate and pushed the dessert across the table. Hutch raised an eyebrow.

“Something wrong with your lemon meringue?”

“Exactly.”

“Huh?”

“It looks like lemon meringue but it doesn’t taste like it! Ewww.”

Starsky took a long sip of coffee.

“What does it taste of?” Hutch wanted to know.

“Coconut! You know how I feel about coconut!”

Hutch did indeed after many conversations when they were bored out of their skulls on a stakeout. The waitress came over to refill their coffee cups.

“Something wrong with the coconut torte, honey?”

“Er no, I mean yes, I thought it was lemon meringue.”

“Oh. And you don’t like coconut?”

Hutch forestalled a lecture on the evils of coconut by jumping in with, “I’m afraid it makes him sick.”

“Oh goodness, we don’t want that. I could swap it for some apple pie, honey? Fresh out of the oven.”

“Oh yes, please. Thanks, darling,” Starsky said, warming to the waitress.

“Make that two, please, ma’am,” Hutch said, with a bright smile.

“Well, ain’t you two sweet,” the waitress said, as she whisked the offending dessert away and then headed over to the counter.

They both watched her go and then looked at each other.

“Ma’am?” Starsky snorted. “You won’t get far calling her ma’am.”

“Well, you just won’t get anywhere!” Hutch retorted.

“Wanna bet?”

“I would,” Hutch decided he couldn’t be bothered to outwit his partner today, “but she’s wearing a wedding ring, dummy!”

“Oh.”

The fact Starsky hadn’t noticed spoke to how tired he was. It was his first day back on the job after the shooting at the cafe. Hutch had insisted they stop for lunch so that was why they were here. They’d both eaten heartily: Hutch insisting on a proper meal so that Starsky could rest at the same time. He’d forgone dessert, not fancying the sugary ones on offer in the display cabinet.

The waitress came back with the apple pies and ice-cream.

“Enjoy!”

“Thanks darling,” Starsky said, his mouth watering as he picked up his spoon and started to dig in.

Hutch smiled his thanks then started eating too, just more slowly. It was good pie and he was going to enjoy every mouthful. He was also going to enjoy every second of his partner’s company; grateful to still have him by his side.