Page 46 of Forever Found
“He is. Now, what shall we do? How are your baking skills?” he asked.
“Pretty nonexistent. I lived alone. There’s never any use in baking for one person.”
“I suppose not,” he shrugged. “I suppose it was a wise decision to buy the box cake mix then,” he added as he opened the cabinet beside him and pulled out a box of mix with a decadent looking chocolate cake on the front.
“Chocolate!” I cried happily. “You know me so well. Let’s do this!” I grabbed the box from his hand and read the instructions, calling out to Eli everything we would need, eager to make and eat the perfect looking creation on the image. All of my anxiety and darkness receded from my mind as a child like excitement filled me inside. I’d never baked as a kid, so maybe that was why, but truly I didn’t care why. It just felt good to feel happiness again.
***
“Eli, quick!” I cried happily. “It’s sliding right off the side.”
“What can I do?” Eli laughed while also looking alarmed that he may not be able to save the cake we had now been working on for two hours.
The baking had gone alright. Sure, the mixer Eli found in one of the cabinets had sent up a cloud of chocolate powder into the air every time we turned it on, and we’d used so many bowls and utensils the kitchen resembled a chocolate covered warzone, but the cake had come out of the oven looking like a cake, even though it was kind of wonky and slightly too brown on top. Now we were trying to make it look pretty with the pre made tubof chocolate frosting and colorful sprinkles Eli had also ordered with our groceries.
“Catch it and slide it back on top!” I told him, but I was laughing so hard the words barely came out between my gasps to breathe. The whole thing was not turning out like anything I’d seen on cooking shows on television, but Eli and I were having a ton of fun making a huge mess.
“I’m pretty sure you can’t frost a cake until it cools down. That’s why it’s all just melting and sliding off,” Asher told us from where he sat across the counter with his laptop open. He was smiling widely as he watched Eli and I cause chaos.
“And you tell us this now?” I turned a glare on him, but it was useless. I was smiling too much to maintain it.
“Just throw on some sprinkles and we’ll get it into the refrigerator as fast as we can,” Eli suggested as he grabbed the sprinkles and flipped off the top. He tipped a ton of them into my hand and we both started throwing them at our melting cake frantically. I was laughing so much my eyes were filled with tears and I couldn’t even tell if I was hitting the cake at all.
“We don’t actually have to eat that, do we?” Asher chuckled.
“What’s not to like? Chocolate and sprinkles? I’ll take a slice right now.” I looked up at the sound of that deep, joyful voice and gasped when I found Jordan stood behind Asher, smiling directly at me.
“Jordan!” I cried happily. “How did you get in?” The cabin was very secure and Asher had been almost obsessive about making sure everything was locked up repeatedly, so we were safe.
“I gave him the access code so he could come right on in,” Ash explained.
“Do I get a hug?” Jordan asked, his eyes remaining locked on mine as he opened his arms in invitation.
“I’m covered in chocolate,” I pointed out as I held up my hands which were literally brown with chocolate and now covered in sprinkles too. My clothes were a mess of the chocolate powder from the cake mix and smeared with frosting and I was sure there was some in both my hair and on my face.
“Even better,” he said with a grin. “Get over here, princess. Please. I’ve missed you so much.”
I nodded and started moving faster and faster until I was finally wrapped up tightly in his arms, burying my face into his soft sweater and breathing in his spicy cologne that felt so familiar and smelled amazing. I wrapped my arms around him but tried to keep my filthy hands held up so I didn’t completely ruin the sweater he wore.
“I missed you too,” I told him tearfully. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Me too. Thank you for forgiving me…for letting me be here.”
“There was nothing to forgive, dummy!” I scolded playfully as I pulled back and swiped at my tears with my forearm. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I did, and I’m so fucking sorry for it. I promise I will never let you down like that again, Addy. I love you.”
“I love you too, Jordan,” I returned emotionally as I pushed my body against his again and reached up on my tiptoes to kiss him. It was just a chaste peck, conscious of the fact my brothers were in the room, and also because I couldn’t hold on to him the way I wanted to in the state I was, but it was enough for that moment. It was what I had needed for days now.
“Why don’t you show Jordan to one of the guest rooms and get cleaned up, shortcake. Ash and I can take care of the kitchen,” Eli spoke up as I pulled away from Jordan, reluctantly.
“I should help clean up. It’s a disaster in here,” I sniffled as I looked around at the carnage we’d created.
“Go and get cleaned up, babe. I’ll help in here, then I’ll grab the bags from my car. I brought you all clothes and anything else I could think of.” Jordan offered as he leaned in to kiss me once more, then tapped my ass to get me moving.
“Please tell me you picked up my laptop? I bought a new one, but it’s a piece of crap,” Asher groaned.
“I did. I also grabbed any art supplies I could fit in for you, bro,” Jordan replied as he nodded to Eli.