The Lines We've Crossed

TWELVE

After a day spent nursing a hangover and wrestling with "hangxiety," I was ready to get back to normalcy—or as close as one could get when your parents were back in town, and Ward Cameron and my dad had just sealed a new business deal. To celebrate, my mother decided to host a dinner party at our house. This was typical of her; no matter how exhausted she was, she never missed an opportunity to play hostess, especially when there was something to celebrate.

The house was buzzing with activity as preparations for the dinner got underway. My mom was in full hostess mode, coordinating with the staff, while Rose Cameron, ever the picture of elegance, sipped on a glass of wine and chatted with my mom about the evening's guest list. As for the men, Dad and Ward were in the study, likely discussing business while pretending to relax, and Tyler and Rafe had mysteriously vanished into Tyler's room, probably doing whatever it was boys did behind closed doors.

Sarah, Wheezie, and I decided to take charge of the dessert situation. With the kitchen left to us girls, we headed out to the store to gather ingredients. Wheezie was determined to make a dirt cake, so we picked up Cool Whip, chocolate pudding mix, and Oreos. Sarah, always the creative one, suggested making chocolate flowers to top the cake. I loved the idea, so we bought everything we needed for that, plus a big package of cookies as a backup, just in case the dirt cake went awry.

The trip to the store was a fun distraction from the upcoming dinner, and we returned home with our arms full of bags. Sarah and Wheezie, already dressed for the evening, threw on aprons to protect their outfits while I, in my casual baking attire, didn't bother changing yet. I figured there was no point in ruining a nice outfit before the guests even arrived.

We got to work in the kitchen, and soon the space was filled with the sounds of mixing, laughter, and the smell of chocolate. Wheezie was focused on crushing Oreos, Sarah was meticulously shaping her chocolate flowers, and I was in charge of last-minute brownie-making. At my mom's request, I was making the gooey brownies that always left our guests swooning.

Just as I was elbow-deep in brownie batter, Tyler and Rafe wandered into the kitchen. Tyler's eyes lit up as soon as he saw what I was making.

"Ooh!! Heather's making her brownies!!!" Tyler exclaimed, his voice full of exaggerated enthusiasm. It was clear he was more interested in sneaking a taste than in actually helping.

I turned around to face them, wiping my hands on a towel. Rafe was hiding a chuckle, but his eyes were on me, taking in my flour-dusted shirt and messy bun.

"How long have you been cooking?" Rafe asked, stepping closer to me.

I glanced at the clock. "Since 1. Why?"

Rafe stepped even closer, tugging playfully at my shirt, making me look down to realize just how much of a mess I was wearing. "You're wearing what you're baking," he teased, his voice low enough that it sent a small shiver down my spine.

I rolled my eyes, feigning annoyance, but I couldn't help the small smile that tugged at my lips. "Thanks for the observation, Captain Obvious."

He chuckled, and as I picked up the filled brownie pan, he moved to open the oven for me. I slid the pan inside and gave him a quick smile. "Thanks," I said, meeting his eyes for a brief moment before turning away.

The kitchen was suddenly too warm, and not just because of the baking. I needed to get out of here, away from the knowing looks Sarah and Wheezie were undoubtedly exchanging behind my back.

"I need to shower," I announced to the room, making a beeline for the door.

Tyler, ever the annoying older brother, called after me, "Yeah, go shower, Stinky!"

I shot him a glare over my shoulder, but it was half-hearted at best. The truth was, I probably did need that shower, not just to wash off the flour and batter, but to cool down after Rafe's teasing. The way he looked at me sometimes... it was like he saw more than just the mess I presented on the outside. It was confusing and thrilling all at once.

As I walked out of the kitchen, I caught a glimpse of Rafe watching me go, a small smile playing on his lips. Sarah's voice floated to my ears as I left, her tone light but with an edge of curiosity. "What was that about?"

"Nothing," Rafe replied, but there was something in his voice that made me think it wasn't nothing at all.

I hurried to my room, my mind racing with thoughts of the evening ahead. There was something about tonight—maybe it was the combination of our parents being home, the business deal that had just been sealed, or the way Rafe had looked at me in the kitchen—that made me feel like something was about to change. Whether it was for better or worse, I had no idea. But one thing was certain: I needed to get my head in the game before the guests arrived.

As I turned on the shower, I let the water wash away the remnants of the afternoon, hoping it would also clear my mind of the confusing emotions that Rafe always seemed to stir up. Tonight was supposed to be about family, about celebrating our parents' success. But somehow, I had a feeling it might end up being about more than just that.