Hutch

17

Daisy

"What are you doing?" Jenny plops down on one of the barstools at the kitchen island. I've got my laptop open to several different recipe websites.

"Trying to make a carb friendly pizza crust. I've tested three so far and they're awful."

"You going on a diet?"

I shake my head. "Nope. Hutch was telling me he had to nix pizza and it's his favorite. I volunteered to try and find a crust recipe without all the carbs."

"You volunteered?"

"Don't start. I love pizza and the thought of anyone having to cut it from their diet is too horrific to contemplate. No one deserves to be punished like that."

"Uh huh."

I glare at her and finish rolling out the newest attempt at a crust. Instead of cauliflower, I'm using cottage cheese. It's definitely different, but I added a few spices that I'm hoping will give it a decent flavor.

"You keep telling yourself that, girlfriend."

"So how many have you tried?" She jumps up and grabs a bottle of water out of the fridge, getting me one as well.

"Thanks." I take the water and set it to the side before adding the garlic oil to the top of the crust. It'll give the crust flavor. Anything to hide that it's not a grain based crust. "The rejects are over there." I nod toward the counter behind me. "Feel free to taste them."

Instead of taking her seat, she goes over to the rejects and tears a piece from each of them before coming back to the island.

"What are these?"

"Different bases like cauliflower and almond flour. Neither of them have the consistency I like."

"They taste...different?"

I laugh at her expression. "They'd taste more like pizza dough with the actual ingredients on them."

"If you say so."

"What smells good?" One of the many athletes who visit the house sniffs as he comes through the door. I don't recognize him at all.

"Who are you?" Jenny asks.

"I'm Will."

"That still doesn't tell me who you are."

"Sorry." He flashes her a smile that doesn't change the frown on her face. "Mitch told me to meet him here."

Hailey's boyfriend. Which means Will is probably on the football team alongside Mitchell. Just the thought of football players makes me nervous. I barely told the girls the edges of the truth. If they knew the whole truth...I shake my head. It was bad enough when it happened. I don't want anyone treating me glass again.

"Well, I guess have a seat or something," Jenny says, her demeanor changing instantly to a friendlier one.

Sometimes I think she trusts too easily. Just throw a name around that she knows and its fine for a stranger to come in. As much as I want to run to my room and lock the door, I'm not leaving her alone with this guy. We're the only two people home right now that I know of.

"Are you on the team?" she asks.

"QB2."

"Mitchell's backup."

"That'd be me. If he gets picked up by the NFL, I'll be QB1"

I didn't know he had plans on professional football, but then again, I don't really talk to any of the guys.