Page 10 of It's in the Contract
I manage a weak smile. “They have to cool, so hang on. Alexa, set a timer for eight minutes.”
The AI complies.
Suzy follows me across the dining room to the living room couches, gray and white with red accent throw pillows. Big baywindows look out over a wide expanse of green lawn. I stare out the windows at the drizzling rain.
“Girl, are you okay? Today was horrible.” Suzy plops on the couch and grips a pillow to her stomach.
I sit down beside her and tuck my legs up underneath me. Suzy’s kindness makes tears sting my eyes again. “It was . . . so awful. Everyone stared and whispered about me for the rest of the day. And how could Noah do that?” I also grab a pillow and clutch it to my chest.
Suzy throws her pillow aside and wraps her arms around me. My fat pillow sits awkwardly between us. “Noah is a total jerkwad. The jerkiest of jerkwads. I never want to see him again.”
I finally let the tears fall and let my best friend hold me. “The hardest part is that I do want to see him again. I really, really liked him, Suze.”
Suzy pulls away, and her black eyes bore into mine. “I know you did. But you are strong. You are going to get through this, okay? You will find someone else who makes you just as happy. Happier.”
I nod, even though I don’t believe her. I stare at my feet. “And my new boots got barf all over them.”
“Oh, girl. C’mere.” Suzy pulls me in for another hug, and I toss aside my pillow so she can hug me for real. I cry on her shoulder, finally releasing all the tension of the day.
The timer rings, and I pull away to wipe my eyes. I cross the dining room to the kitchen, and Suzy follows. I grab a thin spatula from a drawer and use it to move the cookies from the tray to a wire cooling rack. Suzy moves to grab one.
“Wait.” I sniffle and pull out from the spice cabinet my jar of flaky sea salt. I sprinkle a pinch on top of each cookie. Perfect.
I nod, and Suzy picks up a cookie, takes a bite, and closes her eyes. Her favorite Korean swear word escapes her mouth.
I sit next to Suzy and take a bite of cookie, letting the salty-sweet caramel notes and dark chocolate wash away all my worries just for a moment. “Mmmm.”
“OhmygoshIlovethesesomuch,” Suzy says. She grabs another cookie.
“People are never going to let me forget about today,” I say. “I don’t even want to go to school tomorrow.”
Suzy’s eyes soften with pity. A blob of chocolate graces the corner of her upper lip. “They’ll find something else to talk about, especially with Homecoming coming up. Pretty soon all the gossip will be about who’s running, who’s going to win the crown, la la la.”
“I hope you’re right.”
I hear a thud and turn to see Butter hopping down the stairs. She waddles to the kitchen, tongue lolling, huge eyes begging.
“Hi, sweet girl.” I eat my last bite of cookie before getting down to rub her soft head. “Did you have a good sleep?”
Suzy polishes off her second cookie and takes another. “I still can’t believe that Noah broke up with you for Brielle.”
The hurt punches me in the stomach again. “I know.” Butter licks my cheek, probably smelling cookie dough. “I’ll give you a treat later, okay?” I whisper.
“Why does it smell like dessert?” My mom’s voice. I stand.
Mom walks into the kitchen, wearing black workout leggings that show off her toned legs—her quads are practically a shelf—and a bright orange top that says, “Be stronger than your excuses.” Her mouth is a thin line.
“Hey, Suzy.” Mom gives Suzy a side hug. “How are you?”
“Great, Mrs. Carter.” Suzy polishes off her third cookie.
Mom turns to me, and her frown deepens. “Callie, did you bake these?”
I pause. “Yes.”
Mom frowns.
“You NEED to try them, Mrs. C,” Suzy says. “Callie has a gift. I’ve never tasted cookies as good as hers.”
