Page 18 of Becoming Cinderella

“You want to help me bake cookies for my brothers bake sale?”

“Yes? You can come over here if you want?” Why am I making everything sound like I am unsure? I clearly need a separate lesson on asking a guy out. “It’s just, there’s less people around my house and-”

“Right now?”

“Yeah, if you’re not busy?” I haven’t even asked my parents if it is okay, but I would deal with that consequence later if it isn’t. There’s no backing out now.

“I’m sorry Carter, I can’t.”

I feel myself deflate at this as I stare at Liam’s black Vans.

“But if you’re available tomorrow…” He trails off and just like one of those air dancer inflatables you find outside used car lots, I perk right back up.

“Yes! Yeah, absolutely.”

Liam quietly laughs next to me at my reaction.

I reach over and softly push against him to make him stop.

“Okay, cool, let’s plan for that. I work tomorrow, so can I come over after?”

I can feel the grin that splits across my face as I give Liam a thumbs up. “That’s perfect. I’ll see you tomorrow.” I tell him before ending the call. I squeal and jump towards Liam, shaking his arms in excitement. “He’s coming over tomorrow!”

Liam chuckles, watching me bounce around in my excitement before handing me the bowl again. “I can’t wait to hear how it goes.” He glances at the watch on his wrist. “I have to get back up on set. I have a run through with Olivia soon,” he explains as he heads towards his car. “Not that you’ll need it, but good luck.”

I had appreciated the confidence Liam had in me, but the next evening as I pace around my kitchen and watch the clock on the oven slowly count down to when Jared will be here, I need all the luck. I feel so nervous for him to come that I think I’m going to puke. You would think after five years of liking Jared and being around him, my body would be able to react in a healthier way.

Fortunately, last night after coming inside from my conversation with Liam, my parents didn’t have a problem with Jared coming over tonight to bake cookies. They would be around, and promised to stay out of our way. Which I hope they meant, because I really don’t want my parents to keep interrupting us, especially after Liam said this was a date. Nobody wants their parents crashing their dates.

The time hits 6:15, then 6:30, then 6:45 and eventually 7:00 without a word from Jared. I feel like an idiot. Has he stood me up? No, Jared wouldn’t do that. Maybe he just forgot? I chew on my thumbnail, staring at my phone trying to decide if I should call him to see if he is still coming or just take it as the loss it is. I feel like I could cry. I’ve been so excited for this and gotten my hopes up, only for him to not show.

I know he isn’t a cruel person, but in my despair my mind goes to the thought of him at one of his friends houses laughing at me right now. Why are our minds our own worst enemies?

Before I can spiral into any further ideas of him laughing at me behind my back, my doorbell rings. I practically run to answer it, only slowing down at the door to take a deep, steadying, breath before opening it.

Jared holds up a plastic bag of cookie ingredients and I probably should have told him I already had the ingredients taken care of. I take the bag from him still and step aside so he can come in.

Except he doesn’t come in, he stays in the doorway.

“The kitchen is this way,” I point down the hallway. “You’re going to have to come in to get anything made.”

I’m relieved that the nerves I’d felt leading up to this went away. I usually psych myself out some, but once I’m with Jared things feel normal. They feel right.

He gives me a breezy chuckle. “Yeah, I know. But listen, I actually have to bail.”

I look at the bag of cookie ingredients he just gave me confused. “You do?”

“Yeah. So Matt, you know Matt, right? Matt’s cousin plays soccer at the Y and they have a game tonight that he gave Matt tickets for.”

“Oh.” It’s easy to piece together the point is that Matt is taking Jared to the game.

Jared teeters on his heels for a moment. “Listen, I hate to ask this, but do you think you could make the cookies still? I’ll pay you for your time. I don’t know, like twenty bucks?” He puts his hands in a prayer position. “I know it’s a lot to ask, but please Carter?”

I try to conceal the surprise on my face. He wants to pay me to bake cookies for his brother? He can’t be serious.

Except one glance into his eyes tell me he is absolutely serious. And since his eyes can make me agree to anything, I find myself telling him I’ll do it.

He throws a fist in the air victoriously. “You’re the best. Seriously, I will owe you for the rest of my life.”

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