Page 271 of A Taste of Vanilla

Good chaos. Mine.

Lisa tests the first batch of map cookie dough. The flavor is right, but it doesn’t hold its shape enough. When the cookies finally come out right, Dev adds royal icing. His tiny blue rivers are a little too dramatic.

“Rivers flood,” he insists.

“Not all of them.”

Marley films behind-the-scenes clips.

For the first time in days, laughter comes easily.

When the post goes live, the likes start rolling in. Mrs. Alvarez is the first to comment.

Sweetness with teeth. Finally, a menu for women who survived men with opinions.

The Vipers player who named Sweet Heat reposts it with:

Need the game-night box ASAP. Oliver, don’t be weird about it.

“I’m going to be harassed,” Oliver mutters.

More comments. Regulars tagging friends. People asking about my map cookies and others asking what the hell a map cookie is.

Someone writes, “This is the Bitter Bloom I love.”

Someone else writes, “Barrett who?”

I look around at everything. The drinks lining the counter. The baked goods. The people I love.

I don’t need Bitter Bloom to be more restrained. I need it to look like mine.

I pick up my chalk.

FULL BLOOM—FRIDAY

COME FOR THE PASTRIES, STAY FOR THE CHAOS.

SWEETNESS IS NOT A WEAKNESS,

IT’S HOW WE SURVIVE.

My phone buzzes in my pocket and I take it out.

Warren.

One text.

WARREN

The relaunchpost is excellent. No notes.

Something blooms within me.

Marley reads it over my shoulder and snorts. “Of course his sexting is project feedback.”

I choke a laugh.

twenty-six