Page 54 of Come Back to Me

“You’re blushing!” He points at my face, moving his finger in a small, circular motion.

I playfully swat at him. “Seriously, what are we making?”

“Do you trust me?”

“Yes,” I say. “I trust you.”

now

GRAYSON

I love that Violet has no idea what we’re making.

The only time she’s ever seen me cook is when Noah’s mom, Laura, would host Hanukkah dinner.

This is the first time we’re cooking together. Just the two of us.

I loved cooking with Laura. She taught me a lot about it, and she’s the reason I fell in love with it. I loved how I was able to take a bunch of ingredients and make something amazing out of them.

As I got older, I’d experiment on my own with food.

When Noah and I moved into the apartment, he put me in charge of cooking because he knows I’m better at it than he is. Although, I have to say he’s gotten better, and it’s all because of Dani.

Honestly, I’m really happy Noah has Dani because he needs someone in his life who anchors him and takes care of him. He deserves to be happy, especially after the nightmare he went through this past summer.

“What do you need me to do first?” Violet asks, pullingme out of my daze.

“There’s a pan underneath there.” I point to the cabinet next to the stove on the bottom.

She walks over to the cabinet, opening the door. “How many pans do you have in here?”

“Too many.”

“Is there a specific pan you want me to get?”

“The one on the top is fine.”

“I’m just asking because I know how you are.” She grabs the pan and places it on the stove.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Well, I don’t know if you’re still like this, but you had certain ways of doing things. And if anybody messed with Grayson Becker’s system, they knew to run because they would never hear the end of it.” She stares at me, waiting for an answer that doesn’t come. “Am I right, or am I wrong?”

I sigh, rolling my eyes. “You’re right.”

“I knew it!” She raises her voice.

“Is itsobad to want things done a certain way?”

“No, but it is when it has to be donethe Grayson way.”

“Are you kidding me? You have a name for it?”

“I just made that up right now.”

“Ah, I see.” I smile, studying her from head to toe.

I can’t get over how beautiful she looks in my T-shirt.