Page 16 of Dark Love

“Chocolate chip,” I mumble.

“Dahlia Prudence Fleur, you’re making cookies for a man, and you didn’t tell your mother.”

“Mom, it’s not like that.”

“Are you or are you not making thank you cookies for a man?”

“I am.”

“Are you putting nuts in them?”

There might be a selection of nuts sitting on my counter.

My silence is all the answer Mom needs. “Has he asked you out?”

“No!”

“Not yet. After those cookies, he will.”

“Mom, I’m not making him cookies to get him to ask me out.”

“It worked for your father.”

“ICK! I don’t want to know what worked when you two were dating.” I gag a little in my mouth.

“Short skirts and cookies.”

“Mom!”

“Why did I listen to your father when he suggested naming you after your great-aunt Prudence? You need to live a little.”

I laugh at the running joke in the family. “All of this is living a little. Mom, I moved to Urbium, got a job, and am trying to make friends.”

“You’re making a man thank you cookies, and I don’t know a thing about him.”

“It’s nothing. Less than nothing.” The next step is to cream together the sugar, eggs, butter, and vanilla.

“Really?”

“Really, Mom. I’d tell you if there was someone special in my life.”

“Then you should make a batch of brownies too. Bring them to work and see if you can make some more friends there.”

“Mom.”

“Just make the brownies.”

“Fine, I’ll make some brownies.”

“But not the brownie cheesecake. That would be too much. You want to get to know a man before he proposes. And your father needs to meet him.”

Our family is so nutty. “I won’t make brownie cheesecake.” This is going to require more supplies. I need to run to the market.

***

“Mom said we need to get lemons, capers, and broccoli for dinner.” Two teenagers walk into the shop right in front of me. It’s impossible not to recognize my neighbors.

“Hello, Hope and Fire.”

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