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𝗧he house smelled like sugar and cinnamon and just a little bit of burning.
abby stood in front of the oven with a wooden spoon in one hand and batter on her cheek, staring at frankie like she'd committed a federal crime.
"you doubled the baking soda?"
frankie blinked. "i thought it said tablespoons."
lucas laughed from the counter, where he was in charge of cracking eggs and only cracking eggs because he'd already broken one on the floor and nearly dropped another into the sink.
"frankie, breathe," he said, pulling her toward him by the back of her hoodie. "your kitchen, your rules. abby's just here to cause chaos."
abby grinned proudly. "correct."
"and you?" frankie asked, turning to lucas with narrowed eyes.
"i'm just the hot guy who gets flour in his hair and kisses the baker at the end."
frankie flushed, half laughing. "gross."
"romantic," abby corrected. "you two are lucky you're cute. otherwise, i'd be charging for this mess."
the kitchen was a disaster in the best way open bags of flour, half-used sticks of butter, measuring spoons scattered like confetti. the playlist playing from abby's phone was some soft mix of 90s r&b and throwback taylor swift, and the sunlight coming through the windows made everything feel golden.
frankie stirred another bowl of batter, this time carefully. "you think elle and ethan are still at the bookstore?"
"he said he had a surprise," abby said, licking icing off her finger. "he's such a middle school boyfriend it hurts. in the best way."
frankie smiled. "he makes her happy."
"he makes her giggle," lucas added. "like... elbow grab, eyes closed, head tilt giggle."
"you mean like the way you giggled when i gave you that hoodie you pretend isn't mine?" frankie shot back.
lucas gasped. "i don't giggle."
"you totally giggled." "it was a manly chuckle."
abby cackled and nearly dropped a tray of cookie dough.
