Page 17 of Becoming Cinderella

Anyone can see he is lying, but he clearly doesn’t want to talk about it. I bite my bottom lip, debating if I should push the matter.

Before I can decide to ask he excuses himself to the back room, answering his phone as he closes the door. He reappears a few minutes later, and the little gray storm cloud I can sense hanging over him keeps me from pressing the matter.

“Do you want to know what Hogwarts house you’re in based on the pizza you build?” I ask, trying to lighten the mood as I bring up an online quiz.

He stares at his homework for a moment, debating if he wants to take the quiz before he finally lets out a small sigh and pushes his math book away from him.

“Okay, yeah. I could use the break.”

After work I pull up to my house to see Liam’s car parked out front. He climbs out of his car when he sees me pull up, stopping to grab something out of his back seat.

“What are you doing here?” I walk over to his car to greet him when I see what he pulled out is a bright yellow mixing bowl. I push myself on my toes to get a better look in the bowl, which he lowers when he notices I’m on my tiptoes. Inside are measuring cups, mixing spoons, and ingredients to make chocolate chip cookies.

Liam hands me his phone in response to my question, a tweet from Jared already pulled up.

@JAREDGREEN45: lil bro says he needs 5 dozen cookies by weds. sure kid, i’m not busy or anything #bro4sale

“What? You want me to make cookies?” I hand him back his phone as he hands me the bowl. This must have been why Jared was so stressed at work.

“No, Carter.” He looks at me like it should be obvious, but I thought him having me make cookies was obvious. “I don’t want you to make cookies. I mean I do, but not alone. You’re going to invite Jared over and make them together.”

“I am?” I haven’t seen this in any rom-com before.

“Yes, really. You know quality time is one of the five love languages, right? I don’t count you two working together as quality time though since you don’t have each other’s undivided attention like you will here. It will give you an excuse to be close, and besides, you’ll be helping him out. Which I’m sure he will be really appreciative of.”

“All this will come from cookies?”

He tilts his head up towards the sky for a moment, before back to me. “Carter, can you please trust me?”

“You’re right, sorry, I do.” He is the rom-com expert after all.

“Call him right now and invite him over.” He takes the bowl back so I can message Jared.

“Call him? Now?”

“Yes, now. And don’t text, this needs to be a phone call. Haven’t you heard you shouldn’t ask someone on a date over a text message?”

“This is a date?” The thought makes me instantly clam up with nerves.

He looks at me like I’ve possibly lost it. Like I hit my head at work and am currently suffering from a concussion.

“Yes, it’s a date. Isn’t that what you wanted? To date this guy? You can’t go from nothing to boyfriend and girlfriend. You have to start somewhere.”

I pull out my phone and open my contact list, my thumb slightly shaking over his name.

Liam presses my thumb down over the name, forcing the phone to start ringing. I look up at him with wide eyes, like I didn’t realize selecting his name would result in him being called. Wow, I am so out of my element here. Why does the word date add so much pressure to this situation?

“Confidence.” Liam whispers as I hold my phone up to my ear. “Have confidence.”

Right, just like the lesson I gave him. Fake it till I make it.

“Hey, Carter.” Jared answers after a couple of rings.

“Oh, hey.”

I close my eyes and shake my head. Oh, hey? That makes it sound like I wasn’t expecting him to be on the other line. Like this is my first time using a telephone.

“I know we just left work, but I saw your tweet about the cookies,” I glance up at Liam who nods at me to continue. “And well, I was wondering if you wanted help?” I squint at Liam as I wait for his response.

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