After (After 1)

Determined to be independent, I turn my phone off. If I leave it on, I will go crazy checking it every few minutes. Figuring that I really should just leave it here, I put it in the top drawer of my dresser before I go out to wait for Landon to pick me up.

Minutes later he pulls up and honks lightly. I jump off the curb in surprise and we both laugh as I climb into the car.

“My mother is going insane in the kitchen right now, so be prepared for a very detailed baking lesson,” he says.

“Really? I love the details!”

“I know you do—we’re alike that way,” he says and turns on the radio.

I hear the familiar sound of one of my favorite songs. “Can I turn this up?” I ask and he nods.

“You like the Fray?” he asks in a surprised tone.

“Yes! They’re my favorite band—I love them. Do you like them?”

“Yes! Who doesn’t?” He laughs. I almost tell him Hardin doesn’t, but then decide against it.

When we arrive at the house, Ken greets us at the door with a friendly smile. I hope he wasn’t expecting Hardin to be with me, but seeing no disappointment on his face, I smile back.

“Karen is in the kitchen; enter at your own risk,” he says mischievously.

He wasn’t joking. Karen has the entire large island covered in pans, mixing bowls, and a lot of other things I don’t recognize.

“Tessa! I’m just getting everything ready!” She’s beaming as she makes a hand gesture to highlight all the strange equipment.

“Is there anything I can help you with?”

“No, not at the moment. I am almost finished. . . . There, I’m done.”

“I hope it wasn’t too late notice for me to come by,” I say.

“Oh no, dear, you are always welcome here,” she assures me and I can tell she means it.

She hands me an apron to wear and I tie my hair up into a bun. Landon sits on the bench and talks to us for a few minutes while Karen shows me all the ingredients used to make cupcakes from scratch. I pour them into the mixer and turn it on low speed.

“I already feel like a professional baker.” I laugh and Landon leans across, wiping his hand across my cheek.

“Sorry, you have some flour on your face.” His cheeks flush and I smile.

I start pouring my cupcake batter into the baking pan. When we put them in the oven and start talking about school and home, Landon leaves the “girl talk” and goes to the other room to finish watching a football game he’s recorded.

We get lost in conversation while our creations bake and cool, and when she says it’s time to ice the cupcakes, I look at them and am really pleased with the way mine turned out. Karen shows me how to use the piping bag to make an L on the top of one of them, and I set it aside for Landon. Karen expertly pipes flowers and green blades of grass onto her cupcakes while I do the best I can with mine.

“I think it’s cookies next time.” She smiles and places the cupcakes in a serving case.

“Sounds good to me,” I tell her and take a bite of one of my cupcakes.

As Karen adjusts the case of sweets, she asks, “And where’s Hardin tonight?”

I chew my cake slowly, trying to discern a motive behind her asking. “He’s at his house,” I answer simply. She frowns slightly but doesn’t push it.

Landon wanders back into the kitchen and Karen leaves the room to take a few cupcakes to Ken.

“Is this cupcake for me?” Landon asks and holds up the cupcake with the squiggly L written in icing.

“Yeah, I have to work on my piping skills.”

He takes a big bite. “The important part is it tastes good,” he says with a full mouth. I giggle and he wipes his mouth.

I eat another cupcake and Landon talks about the game, which I don’t really care about, but he’s nice, so I pretend to listen. My mind travels to Hardin again and I stare out the window.

“Are you okay?” Landon pulls me out of my thoughts.

“Yeah, I’m sorry. I was paying attention . . . at first.” I smile apologetically.

“It’s all right. Is it Hardin?”

“Yeah . . . how’d you know?” I ask.

“Where is he?”

“The frat house. There’s some party tonight . . .” I start, and then decide to confide in him. “And he didn’t tell me about it. He had his friends meet him and he just said, ‘See you around, Tessa.’ I feel like an idiot even repeating this, I know how stupid I sound, but it’s driving me crazy. That girl Molly, he used to mess around with her all the time and she’s with him now, and he didn’t tell them we are . . . whatever we are.” I let out a heavy sigh.

“Aren’t you two supposed to be dating?” Landon asks.

“Yeah . . . well, I thought so but I don’t know now.”

“Why don’t you try to talk to him? Or go to the party?”

I just look at him. “I can’t just go to the party.”

“Why not? You’ve been to their parties before, and you and Hardin are sort of dating, or whatever this is, and your roommate will be there. I would go if I was you.”

“Really? Steph did invite me . . . I don’t know.”

I want to go just to see if Hardin is with Molly but I feel stupid just showing up there.

“I think you should.”

“Will you come with me?” I ask.

“Oh no, no. Sorry, Tessa. We are friends but no-ho-ho.”

I knew he wouldn’t but it was worth asking. “I think I will go. At least to talk to him.”