Captivated

Baking

So, I published this last night but I don't think it worked, so I'm gonna try again, haha. This is honestly just pure fluff, so enjoy! Comment and vote x
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January 19, 2025

Patrick

Harper: hey hon, do you want to come over for some dessert in an hour or so? The girls and I have been doing some baking today, so there's going to be lots of cupcakes, cookies, and a cheesecake, all of which need to be devoured by somebody that isn't me... and Kath doesn't want them either. I figured you could assist, and they've been wanting to meet you for the past few days.

I smile to myself as I read the message off of my screen. I'm so happy that Harper made up with her flat mates. Mentally checking to be sure that I have nothing going on tonight, I reply to her.

Patrick: I'd love that, sweetie. I'll see you soon.

After that, I tuck my phone away, and after a few more minutes, I take the tube to Harper's apartment. Arriving just about an hour after she sent the first message, on the dot, I knock on the door, and instantly hear footsteps scrambling. "Hey," she smiles, instantly reaching for my hand.

"Hi baby," I tell her, pulling her body in towards mine and bending down ever so slightly so that our foreheads touch. "How are you?" I whisper, brushing a strand of hair out of her face.

"Lots better now," she replies cheekily. "Come on in. The girls want to meet you."

Harper leads me into her flat, where I've been many times, but only when the other two were out.

"Nessa, Kath," she says, causing the two girls to look up from the cupcakes that they're icing, "this is Patrick."

"Hey," they both smile at me, simultaneously.

I give a little wave.

"We have heard a lot about you," Nessa says. "Well, within the past few days, that is..."

"All good things, I hope,"

"Absolutely," Katherine tells me. That news comes as a relief, if I'm being honest.

"So, like I said," Harper states, "we did some baking, and we need somebody with a large stomach and ridiculously high metabolism to help us out with all of this."

"Oh, you called the right person," I tell her, giving a cheeky little smirk, to which she rolls her eyes and playfully hits my chest.

"I know. Now, I hate to inform you that these aren't cinnamon roll cookies..."

"Dang it," I joke. "I suppose I'm going to have to leave, then."

"Shut up," she teases me.

"Kiss me, then, and I'll stay."

"Don't have to ask me twice," she says, moving in towards my lips.

"I'm sorry, what's this about cinnamon roll cookies?" Katherine asks.

"He has these cookies that he's absolutely obsessed with, and I made him some once, then he told me he was going to propose solely because I made him these cookies."

Nessa lets out a snort of laughter. "Wow. That's... dedication. They must be really good cookies."

"Oh, they are," I assure them. "Especially when Taylor and Harper make them. If other people made them, they'd still be good, but it's extra special when they're coming from my favourite girls."

"Oh please," she rolls her eyes. "You know that Taylor and I aren't professional bakers, right?"

"You could be. If you two started a bakery together, I think even I'd manage to get fat."

"Wow. Too bad both of us are maybe, just a little bit busy. You know, with her off writing songs to win Grammys with, and me on the West End, literally doing eight shows a week."

"Oh, those are only minor issues," I tease. "Both of you are free most mornings and afternoons. You don't have to keep the bakery open at night."

"Oh, shut up," she laughs, pecking a kiss on my cheek. "You need a shave."

"I know," I tell her.

"Alright, we get it, you two are an adorably perfect couple," Nessa speaks up. "Let's eat cookies now."

"Sounds good to me. Where should I start?"

"Start with that cheesecake," Harper tells me. "Cookies can be frozen, and cupcakes I'm not sure about, but at least those won't take up room in the fridge."

"Cool," I state. I open up the fridge and pull out the chocolate cheesecake, which appears to have about two slices taken out of it. "Alright, which one of you ladies didn't eat a slice? Harper, was it you?"

"We all ate a slice, but Kath and I just had little ones."

"Alright, I can't force you to eat another piece, Katherine, but Harper, you're helping me with this," I state.

"No thanks," she shrugs. "I have to fit into that corset tomorrow."

"Harper Kennedy, get your butt over here and eat another piece of cheesecake."

She rolls her eyes. "Fine, but I'm cutting it."

"No, I'm cutting it. You need to enjoy your life a bit more."

"Listen, I have the biggest sweet tooth ever. I'm the first one to admit it, and you know that," she laughs, "but there are other things that are important to me, too... like fitting into my costume."

"Eat," I state, placing a piece of cheesecake in front of her.

I watch her roll her eyes before finally obliging and sticking her fork into the piece of cake. Smiling at my little victory, I cut myself a large piece of the cheesecake and dig in. "Oh my goodness," I remark, "this is really good. You two should join Taylor and Harper with the bakery."

Harper sets her fork down. "I swear to god Patrick, if you bring up that ridiculous bakery one more time, I won't finish this piece of cheesecake."

"Sorry sweetie," I reply, biting my lip to keep my laughter contained. She gives me a wink before digging back into the cake.

As the night draws to a close, I've consumed two pieces of cheesecake, a cupcake, and three cookies. "That was good, and I don't think I'm ever going to be able to eat again."

The three girls giggle. "Want to hit the gym tomorrow, hon?" Harper asks.

"I think that might be a good idea," I reply with a little giggle. "Can we swim laps, though? Instead of like... running?"

"If we go early in the morning," she raises her eyebrows. "My hair is too thick otherwise. It won't dry by showtime."

"We can go early, then," I tell her. "I'll see you at 8:00 tomorrow?"

"Be there or be square," she tells me. "Literally. We've gotta burn off these calories."

I laugh as the two of us share a tender kiss goodnight. "It was nice to meet you two," I tell Nessa and Katherine. "Bye girls."

"Bye," they all say, then I walk out of the apartment.

I couldn't be happier. Now that everything is worked out for her, Harper is doing better than she ever was.