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“No. Just wait,” Lila says. “Meredith—what was your last name again?”
“Porter, Ma’am.”
“Don’t call me ma’am. I’m not there yet. And if I google you, will I find anything that might disturb me?”
Google me? “Ah, if you google me, you won’t find much.” I shrug.
“Are you a decent human being, Meredith Porter?”
“Mom—“ Nikki groans.
“Nicole Marie, let me finish.”
“Decent? Yeah. I can’t bake or ride a bike. I don’t have a lot of life experience. But I want to be a good person.”
“Fine. She can come by to bake. But I’m sending Ben Ben over to keep an eye on the two of you, Nikki.”
“Ben Ben?Mother—”
“No Ben Ben, no Meredith.”
Another eye roll from my thirteen-year-old friend. “Whatever.”
“Great.” Lila smiles. “Meredith, lovely to meet you. My break is officially over and I must get back to the grind. If you’re still at the house at seven, I’ll chat with you then.”
It turns out Ben Ben is the ten-year-old kid who lives across the street. He’s had a crush on Nikki since she was seven and he was four.
It also turns out that the big and little T’s in measurements are not interchangeable. A teaspoon and a tablespoon are two very different things.
Who knew?
Nikki, that’s who.
We bake, with Nikki watching my every move, and that seems to be my one and only mistake. I’ve been adding two tablespoons of salt, rather than two teaspoons.
I meet Lila, and when Nikki’s told it’s time for homework, I learn from her mom that she’s struggled with friends since elementary school. Her mom doesn’t have a reason why. Just that it’s always been a heartbreak for her.
I know it’s unconventional to have a twenty-three-year-old friend when you’re only thirteen, but I think Nikki, Lila, and I all find that we’re thankful for each other by the time the night comes to an end.
I stay until ten, then Uber home with two dozen perfected chocolate chip cookies.
I am now a master baker. That award is mine.
And Levi Bailey is going to give it to me.
13
Meredith
Iwake early. Sure, Levi hasn’t texted again, but today is the day. I am baking my best batch of cookies and I am learning to ride a bike!Today!
And yes—the waves in Levi’s hair, the stubble on his cheek, and that breezy summer’s day aftershave all give me goosebumps. But that’s not why I’m up early. That’s not why I’m adding extra mascara to my lashes and rouge to my cheeks. Nope. I have a bike lesson today. It’s going to be a good one. I can feel it in my toes. And I want to look as good as I feel.
Uncle Bob says toes are legit. When we go into a new life experience, our toes know it. He’s always writing about characters' toes. I’ve read everything that man has written—six New York Times Bestsellers, six National Bestsellers. And many more that are just shy of those lists. The man can write.
He stays home all day, every day, and writes about life and experience like he’s done everything. He’s lived every life possible. He’s tasted life a hundred times, through a hundred different pairs of eyes. He understands people. And life. And toes.
He might be my opposite in every way.
