“Okay, Maddy. You’re going to study today. All day. Focus on homework. You are a perfectly calm and stable person in times of crisis—”
I stop dead on the last step.
Noah is sitting at the kitchen counter. Eating some oatmeal with his headphones on. Moving his head to the music while writing in his notebook. Normal. Completely normal.
Except I kissed his best friend last night. And might I add—RIGHT. IN. THE. EXACT. SPOT. NOAH’S. SITTING. And he has zero idea. Well… he thinks we’ve kissed before, but that was not true. Until now.
I walk into the kitchen and Noah looks up, smiles warmly and takes off his headphones. “Morning, Mads.”
I point at him like an unhinged game show host. “Morning… big brother bro.”
His eyebrows jump. “Big brother… bro?”
Big brother bro?Really? Just act normal, idiot.
“That’s just a new nickname I came up with,” I say, voice cracking like a preteen boy.
He laughs. “Okay…”
I grab a bowl before I can embarrass myself further and he goes back to writing.
I pour cereal. Open the fridge to grab the milk. And as I’m twisting the cap open, Dad walks into the kitchen.
“Morning, sweetheart,” he says, kissing the top of my head before heading to the coffee machine.
“Morning,” I mumble and I start pouring the milk.
Noah swivels slightly in his chair. “Hey, Dad—did you hear that drip coming from upstairs last night?”
My hand freezes mid-pour.
Oh my God—the sink.
Dad sighs lightly as he pulls the coffee cup from under the machine. “Yeah, I heard it. I might have to open the panel later and check the pipe.”
I lower the milk carton again, letting it pour into my bowl while Noah leans back in his chair. “Yeah, I could help you look at it later.”
Should I tell them it’s already fixed?
The words sit right there in my throat, but the second I imagine saying them—Oh yeah, I actually broke the sink because I tried cooking for a change, but don’t worry, Ryan already fixed it—my entire body locks up. There is absolutely no way I could say that normally.
“Maddy!”
Both Dad and Noah shout my name at the exact same time. I jolt so hard I nearly launch the milk across the room. I blink down at my bowl just as milk spills over the rim, slowly spreading across the counter before dripping over the edge.
“Oh,” I say weakly. “Well. That’s… unfortunate.”
Noah stares at me. “Were you planning on making cereal soup?”
Dad raises an eyebrow over the rim of his coffee mug. “Are you okay?”
I force a laugh that sounds suspiciously like someone stepping on a balloon. “Yeah! You know me. Always… clumsy.”
I grab a cloth and start wiping the counter, which somehow makes everything worse. They exchange a small, confused glance before continuing, slower this time.
“So yeah,” Dad says carefully, taking another sip of his coffee, “I’m not exactly the handiest guy with plumbing, but I guess I’ll have to figure it out.”
I grab a glass of water and take a long sip.
