carter-goodieâ:
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Carterâs eyebrow lifted at the suggestion that heâd need a hospital after taking a bite of a cookie? He really wanted to believe that this starry eyed girl had somehow conjured up something poisonous and was planning on taking out the entirety of a college level PTA. But logic was telling him she was more likely just paranoid about the germs scattered across the bathroom floor. Which was fair. They were in Dayton. But thatâs what janitors were for wasnât it? Either way it didnât stop him from reaching out and plucking one of the cookies up off the floor. Eyeing her like he was daring her to stop him. âSay shit and I promise not to eat it.â He offered as he held the cookie out of arms reach and took another long drag from his cigarette. Partially in response to her calling him bold, and partially to be a smart ass. âYou really seem to know just about everything going on in their lives. Why take such an interest?â He asked a little more casually as he listened to her go on about the possibility of them killing her before her next birthday and the fact that sheâd nearly burned down her apartment. It was a lot in such a short period of time but heâd be lying if he said he didnât find it just the tiniest bit endearing. âAre you nervous?âÂ
The cookie was hoisted into the air and a duel had begun. Nova was not one for yelling, nor would she yell at strangers, but a yelp did escape her. A tiny thing, almost like the beginning of a sentence, a word, but it caught in her throat. Nova blinked rapidly at his words and her eyes narrowed for a moment. Oh, so it had come to an ultimatum. Novas knees bent slightly, her hands came to rest on the freshly smoothed and moisturized skin there, and took a deep breath. She went to say the word but just a pop of her lips happened. After two more failed attempts, Nova covered her eyes as if she were a character right out of a cartoon. âFine.â She sighed, letting her hands fall to her sides. âI suppose Iâm not the only one dying today. Do you think theyâll bury us near each other? Death by poop cookie. Death by ferocious mothers. Itâs a great pair, wouldnât you say?â Nova knew her skin was burning hot but she ignored it, pretending she wasnât the sort to blush in seconds flat. âNervous? Why would I be nervous?â She rocked a little on the balls of her feet before the gravity of the situation hit her. They were just cookies but the people she had made them for were important. A big deal. She fell backwards very slightly to rest herself against the wall and looked up at the discolored ceiling. Water stains had begun to pool in varying patches creating almost a type of artwork. âThe PTA basically helps fund my shop at this point. All the orders they call in and birthday cakes their kids ask for. Without their business, well, Iâd start struggling for sure. Not to mention I donât like people disliking my services. Disliking me is one thing. It stings but Iâm not a baby. Disliking and speaking ill of my brand and work... thats just different.â She looked down at him, âWhy are you in here?â













