❤ 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐏𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 ❤ (ɢʜᴏꜱᴛꜰᴀᴄᴇ x ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ)

ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟝: 𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐱

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Y/N = your name
L/N = your last name
N/N = nickname

General notes: link 2 the cookie recipe (:

https://www.lifeasastrawberry.com/salted-dark-chocolate-olive-oil-cookies/

word count: 1031

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"This is not what I call fun." I whine to Stu. He looks over at me, grinning stupidly.

"It is fun, dummy. You just need to get into it." Stu shrugs away my complaints. He reaches for the flour jar in the top cabinet. "Plus, these cookies'll be worthwhile. It's a family recipe." He winks at me.

"Well, where is this sainted family recipe, then? A paper copy would be nice." I say, hopping onto the counter and swaying my legs back and forth.

"It's all in here." He says, tapping the side of his head with his forefinger. All the while that stupidly cute grin plastered on his face as if it's scribbled on in permanent marker.

"Do you remember the exact measurements? The baking time?" I protest. "The prep time? I have places to be, you know." 

"Just enjoy the moment." He looks at me. "Trust me, babes, you're gonna really enjoy this." I scoff, rolling my eyes skeptically. I like baking just as much as the next girl but seriously?

I watch him grab ingredients of varied degrees of usefulness from the counter. He rifles through drawer after drawer, cabinet after cabinet and so on and so forth.

"Be a doll and pre-heat the oven for me." He says, going through the pantry. 

"What temperature?" I ask, jumping off the counter.

"190ºC."

"Roger that." I turn the little nobs and get back up on the counter.

After messing up all the cabinets he can, Stu places all the ingredients on the kitchen island. He turns his head to face me. I can feel myself start to blush again as he moves closer.

"Are you gonna help me make them or what?" He says. His hands now either side of me, leaning his weight forward onto the counter.

"Fine, but I get first dibs on the cookies." I reply. His grin widens.

"Okay, we need three quarters of a cup of olive oil." He passes me the bottle of oil. "It's virgin, just like you, N/N." He laughs.

"Shut up, at least I'm not a total manwhore like you." I take the bottle.

"What can I say ladies love me." He smiles.

"Do the ladies also love olive oil in their cookies?" I say snarkily.

"Trust me on this one. The olive oil really makes it." He promises.

"You're the boss." I roll my eyes and carefully measure three quarters of a cup of olive oil over a large mixing oil. "What next?"

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾༓･*˚⁺‧͙˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

We've finished the cookie dough and I've moulded each one into a little heart. They're baking in the oven when Stu comes over to me, a smirk on his face.

"I told you it'd be fun." He says, his hands now either side of me, effectively pinning me to the counter.

"I'm sorry I wasn't exactly expecting to bake cookies with you when you asked to hang out."

"Then what were you expecting, Y/N?" He asks. His intense gaze very nearly shatters me like a rock thrown against a glass window. Him and Billy have a lot in common.

"I-I don't know. Not that, at least." I shrug nervously. It's hard to tell if he's being friendly or trying to interogate me. I can barely even see straight.

His body is almost flush with mine at this point. One hand rested comfortably on my waist and the other under my jaw. 

 It's just so hard to concentrate when he's so close to me. I feel my heart flutter as I look into his eyes. My mind flashes to Tatum for a split second, this is her boyfriend after all.

I'm not about to play homewrecker. I go to pull his hands off of me when he moves closer to me. Closer than before. His thumb strokes my cheek gently. I can see the reflection of my red face in his eyes.

"Stu-" I start but he cuts me off. He leans in slowly and our lips connect into a deep kiss. I almost gasp but I stop myself, kissing him back. I relish the kiss with every fibre of my being.

This is what I wanted after all. Him. Only him. Maybe Billy too. But this isn't the right way to go about it. I pull away slowly.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me." I apologise, wanting nothing more to rest my head in my hands in sheer shame.

"No, it's all good." He says. "Hey man, I'm the one who should be apologising."

"It's okay, I enjoyed it." I blush.

"Is that what you were expecting when I asked you to hang out?" He smiles.

"No, but it was a welcome surprise."  

"Well, get ready for an even better one because these cookies are just about done." He says, leaning over the oven to check the time. Stu takes out the baking tray and places it on the stove top.

Without thinking, I go to place the cookies onto a wire rack. To no one's surprise they're piping hot. I jerk my hand back and gasp. Stu laughs at me.

"Careful, it's hot." He chuckles.

"Yeah, it is." I say, looking at him. 

"Here." He grabs my hand and kisses it softly. "Now it's better." His fingers interlock with mine and he squeezes my hand. My face rests into a smile.

I want to enjoy the moment but my conscience scolds me. His sweet brown eyes meeting mine. I melt at his touch like ice-cream on a hot summer's day. 

A part of me wants to ask about Tatum. To provoke an answer from him. Is this a one time thing? Will he run back to Tatum tomorrow. If I confront him on this in front of her what will he do? Deny it? Call me crazy? Call me C*rson? 

Whatever it is I want none of it. If Stu wants to kiss me, he can kiss me all he likes. 

"Oh shit, babes. Is that the time?" He says looking up at the clock.

"Uh, yeah." 

"I gotta run," He lets go of my hand."but more thing."

"Yeah?" I ask, he gives me a quick peck on the cheek.

"Could I borrow your phone?"