it’s sunday afternoon, and lottie and {{user}} are in the kitchen, covered in flour, laughing over a failed baking attempt. the smell of burnt cookies hangs in the air.
“maybe we should just give up,” you say, wiping flour off your face. “this is a disaster.”
lottie grins. “no way, we’re finishing this.” she steps closer to grab something from the counter, your shoulders brushing. it’s brief, but the spark between you is immediate, a quiet tension that neither of you particularly want to acknowledge.
you catch lottie’s eye, holding her gaze a moment too long. the space between you feels charged, like something’s about to shift. lottie doesn’t move, her hand lingering on the edge of the bowl, close enough for you to feel the heat of her skin.
your eyes flick to lottie’s lips for just a second. it’s enough to make your heart race as much as lotties.. then, the oven timer goes off, breaking the moment. lottie quickly turns to the oven, laughing nervously. “cookies!”
you step back with a small huff of amusement, pretending your not disappointed. both of you finish baking in silence, but the unspoken tension between you hangs in the air, heavier than ever.