Page 98 of Butterfly Effect

Me

See you soon

Freckles

In hell.

Me

This sounds like a date

Me

I accept

My giant smile won’t subside as I dial up my favorite insider. The line rings twice.

“Hey, Wade!”

She’s more chipper than usual. I’m not complaining. This bodes well for me.

“Hey, Indi. I have a favor to ask.”

“What’s up?”

“Um,” I scratch a spot along my hairline under my ear. “So, I’m making dinner for Gabe tonight.”

“Aww. That’s really sweet.”

“Yeah, well…” My laughs stutter out. “I was wondering if you’d help me make her favorite Indian food.”

And also, I’m hoping you tell me what that is.

“Oh, boy. You’re asking the wrong person.”

Shit.

“Radek says you’ve gotten better at cooking.”

“That’s true, but…”

“Please?”

She hums. “You’re making shahi paneer?”

Score!

“Uh, yes.”

“Okay, bud. I have a secret for you.”

“Yeah?”

“That’s not her favorite.”

“It’s not?”

“No. It’s mine. When we roomed together at university, I’d order takeout from this restaurant called the Taj. She’d always let me order shahi paneer for us to share because she knew that at home, my younger sisters got to choose.”

---