I opened the door to my mom's house, letting Daisy go ahead of me, and August was sitting on the couch watching Spongebob Squarepants on Nickelodeon. Daisy wandered over to the couch, jumping up and laying her head across August's lap. He instantly started scratching her head.
"Hey, Auggie," I said, and he raised his hand and shook it to wave at me without taking his eyes off the screen, "Not even a real wave. Wow." I rolled my eyes and walked into the kitchen to find mom pulling my favorite cookies out of the oven. I jumped up on the island as she set the cookies down.
"Mahina, there is literally a chair right behind your legs."
"I'll wash the counter; don't worry."
"Is it already six?"
"Nah, it's only five-thirty. I just wanted to talk before we went to the bakery."
"You're going to the bakery again, mom?!" August yelled from the other room. I heard Daisy's tags jingle as she jumped off the couch and came into the kitchen.
"I'm taking your sister to meet Terre!"
"So that's his name?" I raised my eyebrows at her.
"I may or may not have gone there and asked."
"Mom, how many times have you been to this bakery this week?"
"At least ten!" August called from the living room.
"Mother!"
"That bus is really heavy, August!" My mom rolled her eyes. I plucked a cookie off the pan and gave a tiny piece to Daisy, keeping the rest for myself. Mom playfully whacked my leg with her oven mitt. I finally registered what my mom had on her face and apron.
"So, since we're going to meet this Terre person, you, my dear mother, should probably go wash up since there's flour in your hair and your entire torso."
"Fine, but don't take any more cookies! Those are for my book club tomorrow." Mom left the kitchen and headed upstairs to get cleaned up. I got off the counter and went into the living room, flopping on the couch next to August. He had changed the channel from Spongebob Squarepants to one of the movie channels.
"You seem jumbled. You never make up your mind that quickly. What's wrong?" August stated without taking his eyes off the screen.
"What do you mean?" I asked as I stroked Daisy's head after she lied next to me on the couch.
"You told mom you 'weren't in the best place' to meet Bakery Boy then an hour later you call her back and say you'll meet him. What's the deal?" He turned to look at me. I'm surprised his neck didn't break.
"Kennedy ran into me at the dog park."
"And?"
I sighed, "He said that he was "sorry" and that it was an "accident" and that he "didn't mean to." I added air quotes to emphasize. "Oh, I wanted to just punch him right in the face. I left before I could because I knew that if I did, then he would go talk about it to the press and stuff which would not be good for me since I'm starting to get some recognition for my music."
"Mahina, calm down. You're running on, and your face is turning red." I took a deep breath.
"As I was walking home, I told myself that the only way I could stop him from hurting me again was to find someone else to hurt me."
"Not hurt you. To take the knife out of your back and put a band-aid over the stitches." August took my hand in his and leaned his head on my shoulder, "You'll find your superhero, he might be late because he was washing his cape or he was saving someone else's day."
"How are you so good at making me feel better? You're like my GLB but straight."
"What is GLB?"
"Gay little brother."
He shot up off my shoulder and glared at me, "Hey! I'm not gay!"
I laughed, "I said 'but you're straight.'"
"Uh-huh, sure."
"Mina! Are you ready?" my mom called to me as she came down the stairs.
"Yep, you mind if I leave Daisy here?"
"Not at all."
"Alrighty, let's go."
***
"Well, the shop looks cute from the outside," I said as Mom parked in front of the door.
"It's even cuter inside."
Don't say it, don't say it, don't say it!
"But that's because Terre is in there."
Dang it, she said it.
I rolled my eyes and got out of the car. We walked in the store, and a little bell jingled above us.
"Hello! Welcome to the Feu Family Bakery. Can I help you find something?" My eyes snapped to look at who was talking and saw an older woman who seemed to be about in her fifties but looked really good for fifty. Her hair was long brown waves with blonde highlights. Her eyes were bright dazzling green with a youngness in them. She was just tall enough to reach the top shelf.
"Hello, Marguerite!"
"Ruby! My wonderful friend! I'm so glad to see you!" Marguerite walked around the counter to hug my mom.
"Marguerite, this is my daughter Mahina." Mom gestured to me once they released each other.
"Oh, you are so much more beautiful in person. Your mom has told me so much about you. Would you like something to drink?"
"No, thank you. I'm okay." I smiled at looked at my mom silently asking her why she told a stranger so much about her daughter.
"Marguerite comes to my book club on Tuesday nights. She normally goes by Daisy there though." I gave mom a look like what the frick as she continued talking to Daisy. I slipped away from the conversation and sat down at a nearby booth, pulling out my phone to check my Twitter. "So is Terre in right now or has he gone home for the day?"
"Of course he's still here! The boy rarely leaves!" Daisy laughed and called for Terre.
I sent out a tweet and laughed at my stupidity; Eggs are just chicken seeds. Change my mind.
My mom called me over to the conversation, and I got up. I immediately made eye contact with an extremely attractive tall guy who could definitely reach the top shelf. His eyes were just like his mother's, but his eyes were blue. His hair was pushed up with gel and was probably fluffy and moveable. It was also the same color as his mother's but without the blond highlights.
"Hi, you must be Mahina?" He said with a playful tone, "Your mom has said a lot about you."
I turned to Mom once again giving her one of my classic what the frick looks. She plainly smiled not taking the hint that I was mildly upset with how much she talks about me. I turned back to Terre with a half-hearted smile, "You must be Terre." I stuck out my hand, and he shook it with a strong grip.
"Nice to officially meet you. Your mom is one of our usuals here. She's a delightful lady," He smiled.
"Yes, delightful indeed," I sarcastically stated as I cocked my head to look at her. She was still wearing that stupid oblivious smile.
"Do you like pretzels, Mahina?" Marguerite asked.
"I love pretzels."
"Would you like to make one? I'm sure Terre would love to show you how we make them." Terre had a mini flash of panic cross his face.
"You make them in-store?" I asked astonished. I had never been to a bakery where they make them in-store; they usually order them from somewhere else.
"Of course! Why wouldn't we?" She laughed.
"Hey, uh, mom, are you sure that's such a great idea?" Terre said with a pleading tone, "Mahina is wearing a beautiful shirt and I'd hate for it to get stained or something..."
"Oh, nonsense! Give her an apron and have at it!"
"Are you sure we have any dough to make pretzels?"
"Terre, for Christ's sake, just let the girl make a pretzel!" Marguerite laughed.
Terre sighed, "Yes, mother." He sarcastically laughed. He stuck his hand out to me, "Come on Mahina, I'll show you how to make a pretzel." He smiled, and my heart rate went to the moon as I grabbed his hand and followed him to the back.