Page 124 of Knot Baked Out For This
"I'm surrounded by chaos agents."
"You love it," Reverie says confidently.
I do. God help me, I actually do.
The morning continues with what can only be described as aggressive normalcy if normal included three women trying to explain TikTok to me while Luca pretends to work on spreadsheets but is obviously just watching me with that soft expression that makes my chest tight.
"So you just... film yourself?" I ask, frosting another cake while Reverie demonstrates something called a "transition."
"But with purpose," Mila explains. "Like, watch." She props up her phone and starts narrating. "POV: You work at the bakery that's going viral because your boss has three Alpha boyfriends and makes cookies that could end wars."
"That's not a POV, that's just facts," Rosemarie points out.
"The facts ARE the POV."
"That doesn't make sense."
"Your face doesn't make sense."
"Children," I interrupt, but I'm laughing. "Is this what work is like in normal places?"
"No," Luca says from his corner. "Normal places are boring. This is chaos."
"Good chaos though," Reverie adds, typing furiously. "Marketable chaos. We could make a fortune if you'd just let me?—"
"No filming the Alphas," I say firmly.
"But they're so photogenic!" She gestures at Luca. "Look at him! He's sitting there all broody and attractive with his spreadsheets! The internet would eat that up!"
"The internet can starve."
"Mean!" Reverie pouts. "What if we just film your hands? People love watching decorating videos."
"Maybe—"
The kitchen door bursts open and Levi tumbles through, covered in what appears to be hay and... is that paint?
"Don't ask," he says immediately.
"I have to ask," I say. "You're green."
"Am not."
"Your face is literally green."
He checks his reflection in the coffee machine. "Huh. So it is."
"Explanation. Now."
"Theo bet me I couldn't paint the entire fence before lunch."
"It's 9 AM."
"I'm very fast."
"You're very green."
"That too."
