e's

rganized my kitchen cabinets for the third time, trying to drown out her voic

ath, slamming a cabinet harder than necessary. "Well,

gripped the counter, forcing myself to breathe the way my the

me jump, scattering my c

e. Because of course it was

smell seeping under my door was making my stomach growl traitorously. Som

, his voice warm with amusement. "I ca

busy," I called back, cringin

frito - a sauce that's basically happi

- made something flutter in my chest. I

e chirped, followed by

ed hair and more vintage jewelry than a thrift store. Behi

issed. "You

o my apartment like she owned it. "And this is definitely an emergency. You two need to sort out

heart racing. "Get

anic on my face. "Hey, it's okay. I'm Ruby Chen - food blogger, profess

had lost all its pl

watching me with those warm brown eyes, and there

ut a glass container filled with what looked like a vibrant red

n principle. But another part - the part that remembered how food could bring peop

he container. His were warm, sl

you," I

hallway. "Are you killing Zane? Because

view, followed by a quieter girl about the same

, "what did we say a

and I was telling her about Thursday, and-" He stopped, finally noti

her arms through Tommy and Maria's. "Come on, ki

d on eggs," he said softly. "Or just with bread. Or..." He ran a h

ed - a real smile, not the confident gri

uce inside looked like sunset in a jar, flecks of herbs ca

n, Dad telling stories while he chopped vegetable

r. It hit my counter with a crack, red sauce spl

auce. Breathe. In for

breaking glass, Mom's scream, the pantry's dark embrace as I huddle

apologies. Music started up again, softe

had two options: call Sarah and admit she

ll and I could file an official complaint. Get the

in my mind. Maria's shy smile.

y from my cabinet, marking

my editor: "Where's my draft? Also, just heard about a fascinating case. Local chef runni

l, then at the thin barrier between my sanctuary and

would be to ca

what is a supper club?" and trying