Linger

S E V E N T Y - S E V E N

Maddie: I'm so sorry! I hate saying this but I can't make it to the dance tonight :( I'm so sorry but you guys are going to do amazing! I know you will :) 

Kelsey: noooo!!! :( what happened?? 

I bit my lip as I tapped my fingers against my phone. My eyes darted around the living room as Daniel could be heard shuffling around in the kitchen. 

I returned back to my phone. 

Maddie: family emergency...good luck tonight!! <3

I quickly stuffed my phone in my pocket before she could reply and followed the commotion to the kitchen. 

"Is this supposed to say confetti?" Daniel held out a box to me.

I took it, reading the label. "It's Funfetti," I told him with a giggle, eyeing the delicious looking cake on the front. 

"It's what?"

"Funfetti. The cake is colorful like confetti so it's called Funfetti." I handed the box back to him. 

He glanced at the box, raising an eyebrow. "Hm. Looks very . . . fun."  He ripped open the box. 

I let out a laugh. "You did not just say that." 

A small smile spread on his lips as he looked over his shoulder at me.

My heart fluttered at the sight. After seeing the exhaustion weighing heavily in his eyes all day, it was nice to see a hint of happiness on his face, even if it was a small smile. 

"What does it taste like?" He pulled the bag of cake mix out of the box. 

"Fun," I told him with a playful smile. 

His smile grew as his gaze met mine. 

I laughed again. "What are you making?"

"We are making cupcakes." He placed the bag down before reading the directions on the back. 

I gasped in excitement. "Seriously?"

"Mhm." He nodded, keeping his eyes on the box. 

"Wait." I paused. "Did I miss something? Is today your birthday?"

"No, it's not." He chuckled as he headed toward the cupboards. "Just thought it'd be a nice treat to have." 

I watched in awe as he searched the cupboards. Here he was making Funfetti cupcakes just because . . . I was falling even more for him. He couldn't be real. 

He turned to me. "What?"

"You're perfect," I said faintly. 

He laughed, shaking his head as he turned back to the cupboards. "Far from it, love." 

"You're pretty close."

He laughed again, the sound bringing the sweetest melody to my ears, making my heart soar. 

"Madison?" 

"Huh?" I snapped myself out of my daydream.

"Can you mix this please?" 

I looked up to see him sliding a bowl across the counter toward me, along with a spatula.

"I don't know if Jade has an electric mixer. I can't find one. So, just mix it as best as you can and I'll finish it up if it needs more mixing."

I nodded, picking up the spatula. 

"Thank you for being here." He stepped up to me, cracking an egg into the bowl as I mixed. "I don't know if I told you that already."