AllFreeNovel
Share Us
When I open them again, Gwyneth is jumping to the music, screaming with the singer about silence. The same silence she’s massacring right now.
She turns in my direction at that exact moment and freezes, her eyes going wide, with her spatula mic still at her mouth.
“Nate.” My name comes out as a flustered sound in the middle of the loud music before she clears her throat and shouts, “Alexa, stop.”
The music comes to a halt and she grimaces. “Was I too loud?”
“You think?”
“Sorry. I thought you had noise-canceling headphones or something since you’ve never complained about the music before.”
That’s because I come out to watch. But I don’t say that, continuing to observe her instead. She has flour on her cheeks, which have turned red from all the singing and dancing. A cap covers her auburn strands, but a few stubborn ones are peeking through and she blows on them whenever they get into her eyes.
“I’m baking,” she announces, motioning at the bowls, the flour, the butter, and the mess on the counter.
“I can see that. Cupcakes, I assume?”
“Yup. I have to make more than usual since Daniel steals them. Oh, and I’m making all the flavors, because apparently, not everyone likes vanilla.”
I smile at how she pouts. She really sounds offended. Extremely so. I hope Christoph doesn’t like fucking vanilla either.
“That’s blasphemy, I presume?”
“It is!” She mixes what’s in the bowl with gentle, graceful movements. “What’s there to hate about vanilla? It’s peaceful and delicious and smells good.”
“It’s also boring.”
Her head shoots up and her chin trembles the slightest bit. When she speaks, her voice sounds clogged like when someone is about to cry. “You think vanilla is boring?”
“Sometimes.”
“But why? There are a lot of things you can add vanilla to, like shampoos and shower gels and essential oils and…and…all the cakes and milkshakes and ice cream.”
“That does sound like a lot.”
“And there are many others, like vanilla sauce, cream, yogurt, and smoothies. Oh, and did you know it’s used in many alcoholic beverages, too? Because it smooths the harsh edges of alcohol.”
“And that’s important?”
“Of course! There needs to be a balance, and vanilla is perfect for that.”
“I see.”
“Does that mean you changed your mind?”
“It takes more than that to change my mind.”
“Then I’ll keep on trying to convince you. One day, you’ll fall in love with vanilla and you won’t be able to go back.”
“You think?”
She gives a curt nod. “I’m sure.”
“That’s good and all, but where’s dinner?”
“Huh?”
“Don’t tell me you forgot.”
