Page 76 of Promise Me Never

“Have they softened on the Charlie issue yet?”

“No, but luckily I got that random scholarship, so I don’t need their money.”

“What was that for again?”

“I think it’s a memorial scholarship that was newly formed for business students. Apparently one of my professors submitted my name for it.”

“Oh, that’s nice. You’ll have to send them a thank you card.”

“That’s the craziest part, it’s all anonymous, so I’ll never know who did it.”

“Do you have any requirements to keep it?”

“Keep my GPA above a three point five.”

She chuckles at that. “That shouldn’t be hard for you. Have you ever even gotten a B?”

“On a history test my sophomore year of high school.” I can still remember the look on my parents’ faces. They were so disappointed.

She grabs her chest in mock horror. “How did you ever survive that atrocity?”

I laugh and shake my head at her. “You would have thought the world had ended by the way Mom and Dad reacted.”

“I can imagine.” She dumps flour into the bowl. “Your father was the absolute worst anytime he got less than perfect grades. I hate that they pushed that pressure onto you.”

“It’s not that bad.” A shrug lifts my shoulders as I think about it. “I’m lucky enough to be naturally intelligent. I don’t have to work hard at school.”

That’s not me being arrogant, it’s just the truth. I don’t even have to try with science and math classes. Sometimes I think that’s why I chose a different path. I wanted to challenge myself as much as I wanted to break free from the expectations from my parents.

“Stir in the chocolate chips.” She pushes the bowl my way.

“You know what I don’t understand?”

“What?” she asks as scoops a small bit of cookie dough and pops it into her mouth.

“I make my cookies exactly like this, and they’re always flat. How do you do this and keep them thick and chewy?”

She winks and starts scooping the dough into perfect little balls. “Magic.”

I honestly think it might be magic when ten minutes later I pull the first cookie sheet to find picture perfect cookies. I swipe one as she transfers the cookies to the warming rack, the melty chocolate gets all over my fingers as I bounce the hot cookie from one hand to another.

“I don’t know if you knew this, but Luke said these cookies would be on the menu for his last ever meal.” I take a bite and immediately fan my mouth.

She chuckles and hands me a glass of ice water. “How did that conversation even come up?”

“Just talking while we swept the barn one night.” I almost feel bad for how easily the lie falls from my lips.

“You two have gotten close, haven’t you?” Her tone is nonchalant, but I can’t see her expression as she slides another cookie sheet into the oven.

“I guess. He’s kind of grumpy though.” That’s obviously not a lie.

“He’s been less grumpy this summer.” She turns and looks directly at me. “We’ve been trying to figure out why.”

“We?”

“Your grandfather and I.”

“I don’t think I know him well enough to suggest a possibility.”

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