Page 49 of Begin Again

I cross my arms, leaning against the counter. “Are we talking about actual baking moves, or are you just hoping I’ll be impressed by the way you hold that whisk?”

He twirls it between his fingers like a baton. “A little bit of both.”

Pretending to consider his words I lean against the counter trying not to look as excited as I feel about having him in my space. “Mm. Show me a proper wrist flick, and maybe I’ll be impressed.”

His eyebrows lift, and he flicks his wrist, sending the whisk flying out of his hand. It clatters to the floor, spinning in a sad little circle.

There’s a beat of silence.

Then I grin. Wide.

Theo’s cheeks redden as he runs a hand through his hair, looking comically sheepish. “You’re gonna hold that against me forever, aren’t you?”

I bend down to pick up the whisk, wiping it off with a paper towel before placing it back in his hand. “Oh, absolutely.”

Before he can respond, Celeste clears her throat.

“Oh wow, look at the time,” she says in a voice that is way too dramatic to be real.

I turn, suspicious. “Celeste—”

She gasps, spinning toward Orion—who has been standing in the doorway for god knows how long. He glares at us as he silently watches the disaster unfold. “Orion, we should go.”

He blinks. “Go where?”

She flounders for a second before snapping her fingers. “The… the thing. We have that thing to do.”

Orion frowns. “What thing?”

She elbows him. Hard.

“The very important thing,” she grits out between her teeth.

Orion looks at her. Then at me. Then at Theo.

Theo, bless him, just grins, like he’s in on some joke no one told me about.

Orion sighs through his nose and rubs a hand down his face. “Right. The very important thing.” His tone is so dry I could set it on fire.

Celeste spins back to me, her face way too innocent. “We’ll be gone for a few hours. Don’t wait up.”

I gape at her. “Celeste—”

But before I can call her out on her ridiculous excuse, she’s already dragging Orion toward the door, practically shoving him out like a mob boss disposing of a body.

The door shuts behind them, leaving me alone with Theo.

Turning back to him I notice he’s watching me with that infuriating smirk, leaning against the counter like he has all the time in the world.

“Subtle,” he says, nodding toward the door.

I rub my temples. “She’s not exactly known for her tact.”

He chuckles, rolling up his sleeves—his sleeves, which now expose forearms that should be illegal. “Guess that means it’s just you and me.”

Oh. Wow.

I let my gaze drift over him, slow and deliberate. Then, I grin.