Page 109 of Cryptic Curse

The explanation seems to satisfy the student.She nods.

“Now to toss the salad,” Chef says.“Tossing a salad isn’t stirring.You’re not folding cake batter.You’re lifting.Turning.”

I wouldn’t mind having Hawk tossmysalad.

Whoa—where didthatthought come from?I shake it from my head.The last thing I need is to be aroused in class.Especially with Jordan stealing glances at me whenever he thinks I’m not looking.

Chef slides his salad utensils under the greens and gently scoops upward, letting the leaves fall back into the bowl like they’re being caught midair.

“You want to coat everything without crushing it.”He grins.“It should feel like you’re waking it up, not wrestling it.”He drizzles the dressing last, slowly in a thin stream.“This part’s about restraint.You can always add more.You can’t take it back.”

He tosses again.“Make sure every leaf gets a kiss of vinaigrette, not a bath.See this shine?”He holds up a leaf between his fingers.“That’s what you want.Glossy, not soggy.Give it a try.”

“Ladies first,” Jordan says to me.

I nod and slide the utensils under the leaves as I saw Chef do.

“Nice,” Chef says, watching me.“That’s how you toss a salad.With respect.With care.Like it matters.Because it does.”

I hand the utensils to Jordan for his turn as Chef walks among the class, offering guidance.Once he’s visited each station, he returns to the front of the room.

“Now it’s time to taste our creation,” Chef says.

But I’m not hungry.

Too much going through my mind.

“You okay?”Jordan asks.

I swallow, take a deep breath.“I’m fine.I think I’m going to go home.”

Jordan raises an eyebrow.“You don’t want to stay and eat what we’ve made?”

I shake my head.“This is my last class of the day.I just need some air is all.I’ll see you next week.”

I get to my car and drive home to Vinnie’s house.When I pull into the driveway and exit the Mustang, my heart is beating fast.

I’m having a hard time catching my breath.

I feel like I’m hyperventilating, and I don’t know why.The day went fine, but then I remember…

Yesterday, when I got home from school, what awaited me.

I draw a breath, leave my car, and walk, shoulders back and head upright, to my private entrance in the back.

And my stomach falls.

On my stoop is a heart-shaped package.

I gulp.

Not again.

I slowly bend over and pick the box up, open it.

It’s chocolates.I love chocolate, but I have no idea where this box came from.

Hawk maybe?