The Half-Class by Kayvion Lewis
Chapter Fifteen
“Did you say two or three?” Cass held up a pair of eggs.
I laid down my little knife next to the sliced strawberries and peered into Cass’s bowl. “Um, just do two, for now, then add another if it looks dry.”
He frowned. “Right.”
I continued avoiding my work on the filling to watch his attempt to break eggs. He lifted the shell to the edge of the wooden bowl and barely tapped it to the side. It didn’t crack at all.
I giggled as Cass shook his head. “Don’t laugh. I told you I’m new at this.”
“At baking? I could tell. Haven’t you ever cracked an egg before?”
“I’m sure I have at some point.”
“Was it imaginary?”
“Maybe.” He brought the shell back to the edge of the bowl again, and this time split it right over the edge. Yolk dripped onto the counter.
“That was better,” I said. “But luckily, we have more.” I swiped a rag from the other end of the counter and tossed it to him.
He fumbled as he caught it. “Cleaning is also not something I often do.”
“Then I suppose you’ll have to practice at both.” I jumped up onto the counter and brought my bowl of strawberry filling into my lap. Cass’s eyes swept down from me right as I glanced over to him. He wiped his yolky mess like he’d never used a rag before.
I tried not to watch him too ardently. Our kiss only hours ago was cozy and warm and close, but something about this moment felt even more intimate. No pressure, no anxiety. Just being together. It was nice. Well, as nice as my assignment could be.
“Doesn’t anyone miss you?” I grabbed a spoon and stirred. “I mean, disappearing in the middle of the night is one thing, but it’s the middle of the day now. Isn’t anyone wondering where you are?”
He kept his chin lowered. “You’ve never slipped away during the day?”
“More of a night person. And my aunt is pretty nonchalant about Kat and me going places.”
Cass sat the rag aside a lifted a new egg to the bowl. “My father’s a busy man. Sometimes I go days without seeing him. I’m sure he doesn’t notice.”
My heart hurt for him. I no longer had my parents but when they were alive, I was their sun, moon, stars, and sky—their universe. Perhaps it was different because I was younger, but I imagined that they never would have stopped doting on me. Even now that I was with Auntie Jen, I knew she would be here for me if I truly needed her. At least I saw her. I’d never been truly alone, but the look on Cass’s face told me that he had been. Maybe for years.
“And there's no one else?” I asked. “No cousins, uncles, or attendants who’ll come looking for you?”
“Back home when I have responsibilities to attend to, but there’s a lot less to do here. Besides Donnie and Jasper, no one’s going to come looking for me.”
“So, you’re on a retreat of sorts?”
“I suppose.”
Cass tapped his second eggs against the corner of the bowl. This time, the shell split evenly. He tilted most of the yolk into the bowl then beamed up at me like that was the most impressive thing he’d ever done.
“Keep it up, and you’ll have enough skills to open your own bakery by the end of the day,” I said.
“The day? I expect to open one by the end of the hour.” We snickered.
Faint footsteps walked down the hall.
“Jen, where the hell—" Albo froze in the doorway.
We matched stares. What was he doing here in the middle of the day? He was probably wondering the same about me.
“You’re up early,” he said, not acknowledging Cass at all.
“So are you.” If he had even slept at all. The bags under his dark eyes made me think otherwise. “Auntie’s asleep.”
He nodded and walked away, seemingly towards our apartment.
“Who was that?” Cass asked.
I kept my eyes on the doorway Albo had just been in. A dozen questions seemed to swirl in the space where he’d been. “Just our cook.”