Sweet Pleasures ✔︎

[16] 𝑰𝒔𝒂𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒆

Status : Unedited

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Jupiter put chicken pot pie in the microwave and returned to the kitchen table, which was covered with a pile of textbooks and papers. She sat down and opened her confectionery science book, but instead of focusing on studying the effects of heat on the flavor and textures of various foods, her mind drifted to Josh.

Her body warmed up at the mere thought of him, everything inside her feeling light and airy. The rational part of her warned she was treading in dangerous waters with these fluffy, romantic feelings, but it felt so good to let her darker emotions of the past year - discouragement, frustration, despair - float away on a cloud of pleasure.

A knock sounded at the door, breaking into her reverie. Hoping it was a surprise visit form CEO King, who would certainly help her study the effects of heat, Jupiter hurried to peer through the security-installed peephole in the door.

A slender woman with long, straight brown hair stood on the landing.

Jupiter's heart slammed against her ribs. She pulled the chain off the door lock and yanked it open.

"Belle," she breathed.

Her sister smiled. "Hey, Jupie."

A familiar rush of both pleasure and resentment flooded through Jupiter as Isabelle stepped forward to embrace her. She hadn't seen her sister since her mother's funeral, and the faint smell of sandal wood drifting from Isabelle brought back a sharp reminder of their mother. A lump of emotion rose to her throat.

"Good to see you, sis." Isabelle detached herself, her gaze going over Jupiter. "You look great."

"So do you." Jupiter blinked back the sudden tears stinging her eyes and stepped aside. "Come in. Do you have a suitcase?"

"Just this." Isabelle indicated the canvas backback she was carrying as she entered and flopped down on the sofa. "Nice place. Looks the same."

"It is."

Had Isabelle expected anything different? She knew Jupiter was one who craved familiarity, whereas Isabelle needed constant change.

She closed the door, unable to stop looking at her sister. Dressed in a cotton skirt and tank top that displayed the tattoo on her shoulder, Isabelle looked both young and somehow jaded. With her bow-shaped lips and aquamarine eyes, she had always been beautiful but her seemlingly endless traveling had given her a sharp, restless energy.

"I can't believe you're here," Jupiter said. "I had no idea you were even coming into town."

"I was in LA for about a week. Thought I'd stop in and see if I could stay with you for a while."

"Of course." She went into the kitchen. "Are you hungry? I've got pot pie if you want."

"Sure." Isabelle picked up the Art of French pastry book on the coffee table and leafed through it. "You've been okay?"

"More or less."

Jupiter pulled the pot pie out of the oven and put another one in, punching the timer buttons. As the microwave whirred into action again, she set the cooked pie on a plate with a fork. She pushed her textbook and papers to the side, creating a space at the kitchen table as Isabelle came to sit down.

"With school and the bakery, I haven't had the chance to keep up with your blog as much as I'd like." Jupiter set the plate in front of her sister. "Last I read you were in Brazil."

"For Dia Dos Namorados." Isabelle picked up her fork. "It's like Valentines day, with gifts and date nights. Celebrated because of St Anthony, who blessed couples with prosperous marriages."