Page 108 of The Plus One Pact

"To go part time," I say. My business plan is reasonable. It assumes we won’t be in the black for a few years. But I’m ready to cut back on luxuries to make it work. Take on half the client load so I have more time for building something new.

If Mom does offer my inheritance now—

That’s start up cash and a few years to pay the bills. But I can’t count on that. She very well may stick with her edict to wait to deliver it as a wedding present.

He digs into the cake and takes a bite. He studies it slowly, noting the flavors, not at all pleased.

I try it too. There's nothing terrible about the cake, but it's not what I remember from our childhood.

It's not fantastic.

It's not even great.

"It's not good enough for her." He looks at the box with uncertainty.

"It's inspired by the cake Mom made, right?" I ask.

He nods.

"So why don't we replicate it?" I say. "You and me and one of her recipes."

"I don't have any."

"I do."

He raises a brow. Mom is secretive about her recipes. She doesn't give them to anyone. If she gave them to me, she might actually, you know, like me more.

But that isn't it. "I copied them after Dad died. Just in case she was too stubborn to leave them to either of us."

He chuckles. "She'll kill you if she finds out."

"I trust you not to rat."

"Have I ever?" he asks.

And I have to give him that. As difficult as he's been my entire life, he's never once told our parents one of our secrets.

We dump the cake and the coffee, climb into the car, head to the store, then to my apartment.

I start to set up in the kitchen.

He uses the bathroom.

And then he's straight to the point. Of course.

"Why don't I see any of Ivy's stuff here?" he asks.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Romeo

"What do you mean?" I play through our meeting here last weekend. Ivy must have left something.

A pair of underwear.

A box of tea.

Some sign she once visited this place.