“Sorry,” I said, brushing them away. “I... I haven’t had one of these since the last time she made them for me. I would’ve been... eleven? Twelve, maybe?”
The inner corners of her brows curved upward.
“Try one; they’re perfect. They taste just like how she used to make them,” I said, nodding to the basket.
She blinked and looked down to the basket. “Really? You like it?”
“I love it,” I corrected, smiling as she took one of the pastries and bit into it.
She moaned at the taste. “Oh my god, these are delicious!”
I huffed a laugh.
“They’re almost like a cherry, but... Wait, no, it’s sweeter, like a... blueberry? No, that’s not right.” The way her brows scrunched together left me unable to fight the laughter.
“Thank you,” I said before taking another bite.
She smiled. “Well, that’s not your only gift.”
I cocked an eyebrow at her. “Does that mean I get to unwrap you again tonight?”
She elbowed me and I huffed a laugh. “You’ll have to wait and see.”
20
CASSIE
“Please behave yourself,” I begged Barrett as I headed for the door.
“You say that as if I cause trouble,” Barrett said before a smug grin crept across his face.
“You say that as if you don’t.” I opened the door to greet Mom and Dad.
“Hey, sweetheart!” Mom said, her hazel eyes lighting up. God, I’d missed those eyes, missed seeing them every day. She threw her arms out and wrapped me in a tight hug.
I squeezed her just as tightly. “Hey, Mom.”
Mom released me just in time for Dad to pull me into a big hug, lifting me up until my feet were dangling and laughter burst from my lips.
“It’s been too long,” he said into my ear.
I pulled back and arched a brow at him. “You say that like it’s been months.”
“It feels like it,” he said before setting me back on my feet.
Mom glanced at Barrett as she started removing her gloves. “Hey, Barrett.”
“Hey, Mrs. Hites. Mr. Hites,” he said, giving a light nod of his head.
“Behaving yourself I hope,” Mom teased.
“You know I’m not,” he said, donning a smug grin.
She huffed a laugh and turned to me. “Where’s Damien?”
“He’s in the kitchen, helpingMiteraset things up for dinner.”
Her smile widened into a grin. “Oh,Mitera’shere? I was hoping I’d get to see her again. She was so sweet. I’m glad we were able to meet her on your birthday.”
