Page 51 of Offside Rules

"That sounds good."

"It is. If I get it. There’s a lot to work out." I reach for the notebook and check the date. "It’s two days after my kitchen should be done. I need to talk to Dan about that. I’ll need help on the day too, but Ellie can probably recommend someone. I’m thinking mini cupcakes and cake pops so I can offer more than one thing without getting into plated desserts."

He looks at the notes, then at me. "You sound like you’ve worked some of it out already."

"I’ve been thinking while I bake."

"Does that usually work?"

"Better than when you’re talking to me."

He smiles, resting his good arm against the counter.

"It’s for the Second Shift Foundation," I tell him. "They helped Beau after the injury."

He nods.

"Someone organizing it has had my cupcakes at Ellie’s." I run my finger down the quantities. "It’s strange. They helped my family when we didn’t know what to do next. Now they’re asking me to do something I can actually do."

He looks down at the notebook, then back at me. I leave my finger beside the date and wait for his answer.

"You make good cupcakes, Baylor."

"You keep telling me that."

"You keep looking surprised." He taps the corner of the empty box. "I ate both. I’m very committed to the opinion."

I laugh, then turn the notebook back toward myself. "I’m going to try a few things before the tasting. I’ll have to use both ovens some evenings."

"Use them."

"And possibly more fridge space."

"We can move things."

"I’m not asking you to live entirely out of takeout containers."

"That’s mostly what’s in there already." He straightens and picks up his bag. "Tell me which nights you need the whole kitchen. I’ll take dinner into the living room."

I watch him turn toward the hallway, then stop him before he goes.

"Wolf."

He looks back.

"I’m not thanking you for the ceiling."

"I wasn’t expecting you to."

"I mean, this doesn’t make that good." I gesture at the kitchen, frustrated with myself for not finding the right words. "But having somewhere to keep working matters. I couldn’t say yes to a tasting if I was still trying to find an oven."

He nods once. "Then I’m glad you have one."

"Two."

"Two," he agrees, and leaves me to my boxes.

I stand there for a moment, looking at the notes. I’ve told Ellie. I’ve told Wolf. I want to tell Beau too, but I’m not quite ready for him to ask why Ziegler heard about it first.