Aubrey rolls her eyes. “Lily couldn’t find the right shoes for her dress. Then we fought about needing to wear shorts underneath her dress because she’s at summer camp.”
I laugh at my niece’s antics. “So she’s not wearing shorts?”
“No!” Aubrey throws her hands in the air. “That girl tests me on a daily basis. But I love her.”
She grabs a scone and sinks onto the stool next to me, resting her head on my shoulder.
“Okay, everyone is here. Tell us what we’re celebrating.” Violet pulls out her notebook.
“I can’t tell you. Just that it’s for Wyatt, and we need his favorite cake.”
All eyes settle on me.
“What? I dragged myself out of bed, and I’m here, in my pajamas, and I don’t even get to know what we’re celebrating?” Willow’s mouth hangs open.
“Sorry. Wyatt can tell you all tonight.” I look at Violet. “Ooh! Can we make him a cake with a blueberry and something else flavor?”
“Yes!” She reaches behind her, grabbing a binder. As she flips, I see hundreds of handwritten recipes. “I have a blueberry chiffon cake, and we can do a subtle lemon cream in the middle of the layers with a cream cheese frosting on the outside.”
Before I can even agree, she’s in the cabinets and refrigerator pulling things out.
“I think he’ll love that.” I smile. “Now onto Rebels.”
“We can get Rome to block off a section. Then everyone can just order what they want. I don’t know that Clarke could get all the ingredients to make one large portion of something,” Emma answers, typing out on her phone, presumably to Roman.
“That’s perfect. He’s going to be shy about telling you guys, but he really needs the win in his corner with this. Trust me.”
“Wyatt? Shy?” Aubrey laughs.
“I know what he puts out to the world, but he’s not the guy he portrays. I promise you, he feels more than he lets on, and he doesn’t want to disappoint any of you.”
I stand up for him. Not that they’re mean to him about anything, but I don’t think he gets enough credit for everything he does.
Anna squeezes me around my shoulders. “I knew you saw my boy,” she whispers into my ear.
“Every part of him,” I whisper back.
The rest of the morning is a flurry of planning, baking, and gossiping about the town and the book we’re reading.
“I can’t believe they haven’t caught the guy after two years!” Willow exclaims.
“Ace is totally going to catch the guy. He’s down bad for Dahlia.” I nod, popping a carrot in my mouth from the snack board we made for lunch.
“Ugh. Ace is on fire,” Emma adds. “I don’t know what N. Thompson did inFractured Pieces,but I need more, and I need River yesterday.”
“I don’t know. I think I like Papa Jack.” Anna laughs.
“Um, yeah! He’s a total silver fox like Pops Keaton.” I nudge her shoulder.
“That. Is. My. Father. Can we please stop admiring him?” Emma cringes.
“Yeah, yeah. I’ve got to get home to shower and get ready for tonight anyway. After I call my babysitter.”
Rolling my eyes, I pull out my new burner phone and text Ripp.
Me:Ready to go home.
Ripp Burner:Still sitting outside.
