Worst Cupid Ever

Have Some Cake

From her spot by the window, Ada watched Genevieve pace the length of her bedroom. She was in a sort of staring contest with her phone. She'd type, scowl, backspace, think for a while then repeat. It's been about fifteen minutes now.

"Want me to help?" Ada asked at last.

"Huh?" Genevieve looked up and blinked at Ada.

"Want me to help with whatever has you so upset?"

Ada had left the Rifter Division after she received the summon request. Five hours had already passed since then, and despite knowing what she must do with Genevieve, it was hard.

"How could she do that, though?" Genevieve's attention returned to her phone. Her eyes were still red-rimmed. "I can't believe I was actually considering—" She dumped the phone on her bed and sat with a huff. "I'm no longer with Dominic and Dimes, and I would rather hug a cactus than work in her code camp. This wasn't the plan." Genevieve cupped her forehead. "I have to start—

"Let's bake a cake to make you feel better?" Ada said with what she hoped was a genuine smile.

This has to be done. I've already wasted five hours.

Genevieve frowned. "A cake? That's so random."

Ada hopped off the window and stood with her hands akimbo. "It will be delicious," She said with her nose in the air. "And I guarantee it would help you get your mind off... things."

This was standard procedure—absolutely no need to feel guilty. But Ada still felt bad. She wanted Genevieve never to forget her, but if she risked not making her forget, that would add another offence to her already long list. Maybe Ada wasn't meant to be a cupid, cause even this was hard for her.

"Hmmm." Genevieve touched her chin in a contemplative manner. "Is it a special recipe? Some super cupid cake or something?"

Ada rocked on her heels and nodded. "Yup."

Genevieve beamed and stood up. "Sure. Let's do that then."

***

"I tried it once, you know?" Genevieve said as she swiped a towel over the work surface. She cleaned as she cooked which was a world away from the chaotic wannabe chef her cousin was when in the kitchen. They had returned from the mall about an hour ago and it seemed like Genevieve's mood had improved. Ada couldn't say the same for herself. As the time of the trial drew nearer, so did her anxiety.

Ada looked at Genevieve. "Tried what?"

"Taking a photo of us," Genevieve said as she poured the cake batter into a round baking pan. "Was at the Maldives then."

"Let me guess, I didn't appear in the shot."

"Yup," Genevieve said as she smoothened the surface with a spatula.

Ada massaged the back of her neck. "Sorry."

"No need to apologise for something that is beyond your control," Genevieve said as she checked the oven temp before sliding the cake into the oven. She should have let the oven heat a little bit more. Not that it mattered though—the cake would taste divine all the same.

Ada tapped her logger screen. Six hours to go. "I can get a shot of both of us with this though." She waved her logger.

"Really?" Genevieve walked around the kitchen island and peered at the logger. "Looks like the face of a smartwatch. Why is it pink?"

"That's the colour of my house," Ada said as she tapped on the camera icon. "Smile or something." Ada lifted the logger to capture both of them.

Genevieve grinned and cocked her head to the side. After Ada took the photo, it popped up as a hologram.