Best Kept Promise (Best Kept #2)

Chapter 34: It's Still Pineapple

Song: Proof by Paramore

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-Maggie-

"Am I doing this right?" I ask Lucy. "I don't think it's supposed to look like spoiled milk."

Lucy leans over the bowl and shakes her head. "Cheesecake batter is not supposed to look like that."

I sigh and rub my forehead. "What the hell did I do wrong?"

Lucy looks at me and back at the bowl before taking it away. "We'll start over, okay? It's no big deal."

I brace my hands on the counter and look at the recipe. Everything was going so well. When I first started, I made the crust, which is chopped up cinnamon toast crunch. Lucy and I went a little crazy in the store trying to think of the best cheesecake. I want to bring something to Tyler's house, but it's not working out too well.

Lucy comes back with the clean bowl and sits it on the counter. "We have enough for one more try," she tells me.

"Do we have enough time for this? I mean, doesn't that thing need to bake for awhile, plus cool for a few hours?"

Lucy starts grabbing the ingredients as listed on the recipe. "It's barely ten in the morning," she says. "You have plenty of time. What time is dinner?"

"Seven," I breathe. "But what if this doesn't turn out? Then what the hell am I supposed to do?" I start helping her open packs of cream cheese and putting them into the bowl.

"It's going to turn out," she replies and gives me a reassuring smile. "Everything is going to turn out and this cheesecake is going to be the best cheesecake anyone has ever had. Don't stress too much, Maggie."

I take a deep breath and blow it back out.

The apartment door opens and closes. I'm assuming it's Bea, but when I see really faded blue hair and black roots, I know it's Tyler. His smile slowly fades and a curious look crosses his face. "What are you guys doing?"

"Baking a cheesecake," Lucy answers.

"She's baking a cheesecake and I'm having a nervous breakdown," I say quickly.

It gets too quiet.

Tyler and Lucy exchange a look before Tyler walks around the bar and into the kitchen. Lucy picks up the bowl and takes it to the other side of the kitchen. Tyler steps up to me, settling his hands on my waist and pulling me closer. "What are you worried about?" He asks in a low voice.

Lucy says she needs to use the mixer, so Tyler drags me out of the kitchen and into the living room, close to the balcony doors. "I look gross," I tell him. "Why are you here?" I'm still wearing just a t-shirt and pajama shorts. I haven't even showered this morning.

"You don't look gross," he says. "You never look gross."

"I do right now," I protest. "Was there something you needed?"

"You," he says smoothly.

I cross my arms and stare at him dully. "I'm being serious."

"So am I," he replies. "Now what's wrong? Is it tonight?"

When I start to shake my head, I stop. "I don't know why I'm nervous," I admit. "Am I supposed to be? I'm meeting your parent's. The more I think about it, the more I think I'm going to throw up."