Page 20 of Unwrapped

I lean closer, letting the warmth of her words sink in. “Ivy Calloway, lover of dragons and sword fights. I never would have guessed.”

She shrugs, but I can tell she’s hiding a smile. “Well, I never would’ve guessed that Asher Mercer, star quarterback and prom king, would be interested in our little bakery. Yet here we are.”

I laugh, shaking my head. “Touché. But in my defense, it’s not every day that I meet someone who can turn baking into a science.”

She lights up at that, like I’ve just said the magic words. “Baking is science,” she insists, and I love how her eyes brighten when she talks about it. “It’s chemistry, thermodynamics, molecular gastronomy…”

I raise an eyebrow, feeling genuinely entertained. “Molecular gastronomy, huh? That sounds pretty intense for cookies.”

She waves me off, but her smile is infectious. “Hey, don’t knock it. If you get the wrong ratio of flour to liquid, you’ll endup with a cookie that’s either too dry or one that spreads out into a sad, shapeless puddle. It’s all about finding the right balance. You know, kind of like life.”

Something about that sticks with me, and I lean in even closer, feeling like we’re sharing a secret. “So what’s the secret to finding that balance, then? In baking—or in life?”

Her eyes flicker with something—maybe confidence, maybe a challenge. “That’s the thing. There is no perfect balance. It’s all a little trial and error. You add a little too much sugar, maybe a little more flour, see what happens. If you’re lucky, you end up with something delicious. If you’re not, well… you try again. And sometimes, you might discover something completely new that you never even considered in the first place.”

“I think I like that philosophy, Ivy. I’ll have to keep it in mind the next time I screw up a batch of pancakes. Maybe I’ll accidentally make crepes for the first time and end up loving them.”

She raises an eyebrow, her smile turning more teasing. “You cook?”

I put my hands up in defense. “Okay, maybe ‘cook’ is a strong word. Let’s just say I’m capable of feeding myself without burning down my apartment.”

She laughs, and it’s the kind of laugh that makes me want to hear it again and again. “I’d like to see that. Maybe you could come by the bakery sometime. I’ll give you some pointers before you accidentally poison yourself or burn down the building.”

The idea of spending more time with her sends a thrill through me. I grin, leaning back a little but keeping my eyes locked on hers. “Deal. I’ll bring the wine.”

For a moment, it’s just the two of us. Everything else fades—the music, the crowd, all of it. Her expression softens, and there’s a warmth in her eyes that makes my heart pick up speed. I can’t help but think that I missed out on something back inhigh school. “You know, Ivy,” I say quietly, “I know I said it earlier, but I missed out on something back in high school. Not getting to know you.”

She looks up at me, and there’s something honest in her gaze. “You never really looked, Asher. And I guess I never gave you an opportunity.”

I take a step closer, feeling a pull I can’t explain. “Well, I’m looking now.”

The air between us feels charged, like everything could change in the next second. For a moment, I think maybe I’ll reach out, maybe close that last bit of space between us. But before I can, someone bumps into me from behind, and the moment shatters. I catch myself against the wall, laughing as a tipsy partygoer stumbles past.

I glance back at Ivy, feeling the moment slip away. “Looks like the universe isn’t ready for us to test that theory yet.”

She smiles, but I can see the disappointment, just a flicker before she hides it. “Maybe it’s a sign,” she says, her voice light but her eyes saying something else, “or maybe I’m just too much of a control in this experiment.”

I grin, trying to lighten the mood. “Well, I guess that means I’ll just have to keep looking for an opportunity.”

Her cheeks flush a little, but she doesn’t look away, and there’s a spark in her eyes that tells me she’s just as caught up in this as I am. Before I can say anything else, Tessa appears at her side, holding two champagne flutes and looking like she knows exactly what she’s interrupting.

“Here you go, Ivy,” Tessa says, thrusting a glass into Ivy’s hand. “Thought you could use a drink.”

She’s all smiles, her eyes flicking between the two of us, and it’s obvious she’s enjoying herself. “Am I interrupting something?”

I glance at Ivy, waiting for her to say something, but she just shoots Tessa a look that’s half-annoyed, half-amused. I can’t help but laugh, shaking my head. “Not at all. Ivy and I were just… catching up.”

Tessa grins, looking far too pleased with herself. “Oh, I’m sure you were. Well, don’t let me keep you.”

She disappears into the crowd, leaving me and Ivy alone again. I watch her go, then turn back to Ivy, who’s staring down at her glass like it’s the most interesting thing in the world. “Your friend is… quite the character,” I say, raising my glass in a mock toast.

She lifts her own glass, a small smile on her lips. “You have no idea.”

“And what about you? I’m afraid I don’t know as much as I’d like.”

We clink glasses, and I take a sip, but I don’t take my eyes off her. She meets my gaze over the rim of her glass, and for a moment, it feels like we’re in our own little world again, everything else fading into the background.

“You know, Ivy, I think I’d like to change that. Maybe get to know more about what’s behind that scientific mind of yours.”

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