Page 272 of A Taste of Vanilla

. . .

Structure, but Make It Horny

WARREN

Halston textsme early the next morning. I’m already awake, making coffee in the shitty hotel kitchen, my lack of sleep settling into my shoulders.

My phone sits face-up on the kitchen table.

HALSTON

Can you come by Bitter Bloom this morning?

I read the message three times.

For the relaunch. Systems only. No surprise fixing, please.

My heart squeezes.

And no cute smiling. I still want to be mad at you.

That makes me smile.

Of course. What time would you likeme there?

Nine.

The morning is gray and damp. Bitter Bloom glows pink and blue under the clouds, bright in a way that should be impossible before nine in the morning.

The chalkboard outside reads:

FULL BLOOM—FRIDAY

COME FOR THE PASTRIES, STAY FOR THE CHAOS.

SWEETNESS IS NOT A WEAKNESS,

IT’S HOW WE SURVIVE.

It’s too many words for a chalkboard.

Which means it’s perfect.

The relaunch post was completely Halston. Full color, full volume.

The exact thing Barrett had tried to make sound unserious. The thing Grant failed to understand. The exact thing I almost damaged by becoming another person who tried to manage her life before asking what she wanted.

I get out of the car with only a notebook and a pen.

Inside, I find everyone flying around. Marley is at the counter with her laptop open while Lisa arranges trays. Dev is holding a cookie shaped like an irregular country as Oliver stands in the doorway, arms crossed, already looking offended by something.

Halston is at the prep table with a piping bag in one hand and a blue ribbon in her hair.

She looks over her shoulder, her gaze catching mine.

I lift my hand.

She tips her chin.