Harris wiped his hands on his apron, nerves dancing in his chest. The cupcake in his hands wasn’t perfect—far from it. The frosting leaned too much to one side, and the sprinkles weren’t as evenly placed as he had imagined. But it was the best he could do. He had spent hours in the kitchen, trying to make something you would love.

He took a deep breath and turned to face you. “I made this for you.”

You blinked in surprise before taking the slightly lopsided cupcake from his hands. Your fingers brushed his for a brief second, setting off a wildfire in his veins. Then, without hesitation, you took a bite.

His heart raced as you chewed.

Harris searched your face for a reaction. Would you like it? Would you be able to tell that he had tried too hard, put too much of himself into something so small?

Then, as you swallowed, something magical happened.

You smiled.

Not just any smile—your smile. The one where your nose scrunched up just a little, making you look impossibly more beautiful.

But when your nose scrunched up in that smile, he realized it wasn’t really the cupcake he had been obsessed with.

A laugh bubbled out of you, light and sweet. “This is adorable. And delicious.”

Harris let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. He should have been relieved that you liked it, but that wasn’t why his chest ached.

It was that smile he yearned for.

And in that moment, he knew—this wasn’t just about baking anymore.