Page 46 of You Cake My Breath Away

I laugh out loud, allowing a wide smile to take over my face. Jessie and I loved playing pranks on the goody-two shoes teacher’s pet. Unfortunately, our prank backfired when he and Tilly swapped containers because she wanted the yellow one.

Me:You can’t deny the prank was funny, even if it backfired.

Tilly:BACKFIRED?!?! It took three days to get it completely out of my hair!

Me:I told you to stick with the blue container I gave you.

Tilly sends me a gif of a little girl giving a massive side eye to the camera.

Me:But you looked adorable in your shower cap when you came to the study session.

Shit.I can’t believe I just told her she looked adorable. Could I make it any more awkward?

Tension inches up my spine as I try to decide whether to take it back or to pretend like it never happened. Three dots appear, and it feels like the countdown at New Year’s where I’m simultaneously thankful the year is over and terrified at what’s about to happen in the next. My phone dings.

Tilly:Umm…thanks.

Fuck.

How the hell do I fix this?

Another ding.

Tilly:I think I’m owed some retribution for the hardship of having to wash my hair three times in a row.

Me:I’ll wash your hair.

What the hell, Archer? That is not what you were supposed to say.I smack my forehead, cursing myself for making things uncomfortable again. How can we ever get closer if I can’t even talk to her like a normal human being?

A vibrating on the table breaks my pity party, and my heart rate takes off like it’s at the races when Tilly’s name flashes on the screen. With sweaty palms, I pick up the phone and debate on letting it go to voicemail. Is she calling to yell at me? To tell me I’ve crossed a line and she doesn’t want to work with me anymore?

I muster up the courage and press answer.

“Hello?”

“You know, in some cultures offering to wash someone’s hair is a declaration of marriage,” Tilly says.

I swear my gulp is audible. Flooded with images of Tilly standing across the aisle from me, beautiful in a lace dress and long veil, I forget to speak.

“I’m kidding, Arch.” She laughs, and it’s like walking into a warm room after being outside in the freezing cold. I haven’t heard that beautiful noise in far too long.

Pots and pans clank around in the background as I try to formulate a coherent sentence.

“What are you doing?” I ask, scoffing at the unoriginal statement.

“Getting my baking materials ready for tomorrow.”

I walk over to the couch and get comfortable. “What are you making?”

“I’m not really sure yet, but I was thinking about doing a cake or some cookies…maybe I’ll try out a new recipe for a cheesecake or…” My eyes drift shut listening to the smooth timbre of her voice. I can tell she’s excited by her nervous but cute rambling, and the fact that she called me makes my heart stutter like a kick drum. “What do you think about that?” she asks.

I was so entranced by the sound of her voice that I forgot to listen to the actual words she said. “Uh, yeah. That sounds great.”

She laughs. “You weren’t listening.”

“Yes, I was,” I reply, lying down on the couch to get more comfortable.

“Oh yeah? Then what did I ask?”

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