27
Silvie
“I’m just saying,”Birdie says calmly from the stool on the kitchen island as she sips her coffee, “that the instructions of three fifty are not a suggestion.”
I just almost set Cal’s kitchen on fire because I wanted to bake him a treat. This feels important to note because the smoke alarm is screaming, reminding me that I’m horrible in the kitchen and I should never be trusted in here ever again.
“I didn’t think it was a suggestion. I just forgot to set the timer, then got on a work call.” I cough as I use a tea towel to try to shoo the smoke out the window. It’s useless and not helping.
This is how I know I’m madly in love with Cal. I’m a woman who runs a billion-dollar company and can negotiate deals seasoned financial professionals wouldn’t fathom taking on. But put me in a kitchen and try to follow a simple recipe to bake brownies, and suddenly I’m close to arson.
Birdie’s eyes slide to mine over her cup. “Mmhmm.”
“What?” I ask
“It sounds like my baby is in love.” She smirks.
Even though this budding love between Cal and I feels like our little secret, I know my cheesy, lovestruck grin gives me away.
Luckily, the smoke alarm finally shuts up, interrupting her teasing. Whatever is left of the charred brownies is a stark reminder of my nonexistent kitchen skills.
“I was just trying to bake something,” I add.
“Sugar, I raised you. You have never baked anything in all of your life.”
Wilby knocks and opens the front door, poking his head in, looking concerned. “What in the fresh hell is this?”
“I’m baking,” I tell him.
He takes one look at the smoke, the oven, and me. “Who let you bake?” he asks slowly, looking confused.
“I can bake,” I snap. “Why is this so hard for everyone to understand? Can’t a wife bake something for her husband?”
He narrows his eyes. “Who are you and what have you done with my best friend?”
“Stop.” I groan.
“No,” he says. “This is freaking me out.”
Birdie snorts, enjoying this.
Wilby steps closer, turning on the ceiling fan in Cal’s living room. “Have you been kidnapped?”
“Wilby,” I clip.
“Blink twice if you’re okay.”
I blink twice.
He gasps. “Oh my God. You should never be left alone in the kitchen. Everyone knows this.”
“I can try new things,” I insist.
Wilby puts his hand over his heart and slides onto the stool next to Birdie. “This is worse than I thought.”
I roll my eyes. “When did you get in anyway? I thought I was picking you up at the airport.”
Wilby shrugged. “Birdie got me. We had plans.”
