Releasing her hand, I rattle the Tupperware. “We stopped by to drop off some cookies I made for Parker. Thought they might cheer him up.”
She claps her hands together, shaking her head, and smiles warmly at me. “Oh, how sweet of you. Parker couldn’t stop talking about the girl who was staying at Landon’s house, and I can see why.”
“Grandma!” groans Parker, appearing in the hall behind her. He hobbles over, a crutch propped under his non-prosthetic arm.
“Hey, Parker,” I say brightly. “How are you feeling?”
He shrugs. “I’m okay.”
“Violet made youGet Well Sooncookies,” says Theresa. “Isn’t that nice?”
He looks at me, eyes widening. “Seriously?” I nod, passing him the Tupperware, and watch him pop off the lid. His cheeks turn an immediate shade of pink. “Thanks,” he mumbles. “These look amazing.”
“Just because you’re injured doesn’t mean you stopped being my guinea pig,” I tell him. “But don’t worry. These cookies are one hundred percent completely not healthy in any way.” I glance at Theresa. “Sorry.”
She waves me off. “What good is dessert if it’s not bad for you?”
“My thoughts exactly,” I say, looking at Landon with raised eyebrows. He appears to be trying hard not to roll his eyes.
“So, how’s the party planning?” Landon asks.
I glance between the three of them in confusion. “Party?”
Theresa nods. “We’re celebrating Parker’s birthday at the beach next Saturday evening. You two should come.”
Parker’s blush deepens, and he shoots his grandma the kind of look every kid’s given their parent at one point or another. “Grandma, I’m sure they have plans.”
I’m already shaking my head at his ridiculous statement. “Nope. No plans here. Totally free Saturday night, though maybe I shouldn’t advertise that.”
“I’ll be there, Parker,” says Landon, and I nearly fall over. I glance up at him, surprised to see a hint of a smile gracing his normally sullen face, and I stare too long before looking quickly away, hoping no one noticed. Theresa catches my eye, though, and gives me a secret smile that makes my face warm, so I guess I wasn’t as discreet as I thought.
“Really?” Parker asks. “Are you sure?”
“Of course. I wouldn’t miss it.”
“That would be wonderful, Landon,” Theresa says. “We’ll have volleyball, pizza, a bonfire, cake...”
My ears perk up, my curiosity piquing, and I ask, “Who’s making the cake?”
Theresa shrugs. “I figured we’d pick one up from the grocery store. It’s going to be quite a few people.”
Excitement overtakes me, a warm, buzzing sort of thrill, and the words spill from my mouth before I can stop them. “Can I make it?”
Theresa’s brows pull together in confusion. “You want to…make the cake?”
“Violetreallylikes to bake,” Parker explains, holding up the container of cookies, and I nod with a little too much fervor. Not only would Iloveto bake this cake, but it would be a welcome distraction from the way I’ve been feeling these past few days, which is…off.
“Oh!” Theresa’s eyes light up, and she smiles at me. “That’s wonderful. Only if it’s not too much trouble. Like I said, it’s going to be about forty people, many of them teenagers who will devour anything remotely unhealthy.”
“Are you sure that’s okay?” asks Parker, his eyes shifting nervously between Landon and me. He’s probably recalling the many times Landon had a problem with me baking for him.
I grin and tuck my hands behind my back to keep from clapping them together like an over-excited child. “One hundred thousand percent okay. It would be anhonor.”
Parker grins back at me. “Okay. Cool. Thanks.”
“What’s your favorite flavor?” I ask. “White chocolate raspberry? German chocolate? Cookies and cream? Ooh, how about strawberry cake and frosting with a lemon curd filling? Or pink lemonade?”
Parker blinks at me. “How about, like, chocolate?”
