I crack open an egg the way Tyson taught me into the large bowl in front of me. I toss the eggshells away and wash my hands. Then I mix together the eggs with the other ingredients in the bowl and soon have a perfect pancake batter.

I don’t think about my actions as I make breakfast. My mind hasn’t moved away from the kiss last night. I don’t yet know how to feel about it.

On the one hand, it upsets me. Crystal’s girlfriend just broke up with her. Kissing me was likely an accident, and I’ve been one-too-many people’s rebound flings to like the situation.

But though the kiss tasted of fruity wine going sour, it was one of the best I’ve ever had. Crystal’s lips were soft but firm, and I instantly wanted another. Hell, once my surprise melted away, I considered propositioning Crystal for more than a simple make-out session. But I can’t go after someone in distress, especially not when they’re drunk, too.

So, where does that leave me? Do I bring it up to Crystal, to Adam? If I do, what will I want their response to be? Am I better off keeping my mouth shut? Can I pretend like nothing happened?

The questions weigh heavily on me, and I wish I had someone to talk to. Since moving to Derbinwood, I haven’t spoken much to my friends back home. My days are so busy with work and improving my baking skill, I barely find time to sleep. Yes, I’ve made new friends in Tyson and Molly, but I don’t feel comfortable telling them about my dilemma with my bosses. Aunt Veronica won’t be any help, either.

I ladle the pancake batter onto the preheated griddle and sigh. “What do I do?”

“You’re cooking?” Crystal’s voice calls from the kitchen doorway. “For me? Even though I acted like an ass?”

My heart picks up pace at the sight of Crystal. She’s showered and now wears a blue summer dress I’ve seen before, but I never noticed how well it fits Crystal until now. She hasn’t put on makeup yet, and she looks like she didn’t have a comfortable night, but that doesn’t diminish her God-given beauty.

“Uh, yeah. I hope you like pancakes.”

Crystal gets herself and me a glass of orange juice. “I’d take almost anything. I didn’t eat much yesterday.”

I flip the two cooked pancakes onto a waiting plate and go to butter them, but Crystal beats me to it. “Can’t say I blame you,” I say as I put more batter on the griddle. “I’m surprised you have much of an appetite today.”

Crystal shrugs. “I’ll get sick if I don’t have food. What good will being more miserable do me?”

“True.” I turn the pancakes and decide to change topics. “Have you heard from Adam?”

“Yep. He called me just a little while ago to say he reached Oklahoma City fine.”

“What about his Mom?”

“She was still in surgery when we talked, so I don’t know. The doctor didn’t really tell him much.”

I gesture for the plate of finished pancakes and add the new ones to the stack. I start more. “What exactly happened? He mentioned an accident but didn’t elaborate.”

“A truck ran a red light and struck her.”

“Oh, shit!”

Crystal retrieves the maple syrup and guava jelly from the refrigerator. “Yeah, Janice’s car is wrecked.”

“Did anyone else get hurt?”

Crystal shakes her head. “No, just Janice and the truck’s driver.”

I place the third batch of pancakes onto the others and turn off the griddle. More batter remains, but I know Crystal, on a good day, will only eat three pancakes, and I don’t feel too hungry. I don’t think I’ll down one, but I need food as severely as Crystal does.

Crystal separates the buttered pancakes into two stacks and puts one on a new plate which she gives to me. I drip a little maple syrup on them, though I want more. Usually, I drench my pancakes in syrup, but I don’t want Crystal to think I’m a pig.

“There isn’t a syrup shortage,” Crystal says as she smears guava jelly onto her pancakes. “Use more.”

I pour a bit more on my stack, and Crystal frowns. After Crystal finishes with the jelly, she covers her pancakes in at least a cup of syrup. She winks at me before passing me silverware.

We dig into our breakfast, and conversation wanes. Occasionally, one of us will make a comment, about the food or the sight outside the window, but nothing that leads to a full-blown discussion. To me, it seems we both make it a point to avoid anything serious.

As the meal continues, I examine my feelings for Crystal. I never considered her a romantic prospect before last night, so what does that mean? Can one kiss change my previous idea of Crystal? Do I deep down crave physical attention that much, no matter from whom? Is that what my reaction was?

“You know, I really have to thank you,” Crystal says, and cuts her remaining pancake into three smaller pieces.

I find it difficult to look Crystal in the eye, but I manage. “For?”

“It was lovely of you to come over last night and be with me.”

“Well, Adam did promise a hefty bonus.”

Crystal offers a half-smile. “You definitely earned it.” She grabs my hand and my stomach knots. “What you did means the world to me.”

“Oh, I, uh, don’t—It was no problem, really.”

Crystal squeezes my fingers. “Is there any way I can repay you?”

Another kiss would be nice.

The thought drifts into my mind so fast I almost utter it out of sheer shock. At the last moment, I catch it, and instead say, “No, I don’t need anything.”

“How about a couple of days off? Paid, of course.”

“But what about—” I think over my next statement with care. “Uh, won’t it be...lonely while Adam’s out of town?”

Crystal removes her hand. “I think...some quiet time is what I need. I seem okay right now, but you saw me last night. There’s much more of that to come until I feel better. You don’t need to be subjected to that rollercoaster. It’s never pretty.” Her gaze drifts away from me. “Plus, I have a habit of saying or doing stupid things while in that state.”

So, Crystal does remember the kiss, and she considers it stupid. My sinuses burn, and it takes all my self-control to not cry.

Why wouldn’t Crystal think the kiss was a foolish error, though? She doesn’t want me, and even if she does, she wouldn’t consider it just after Jenna left. Crystal isn’t the type of person to hurry from one person to the next.

Where was my common sense the past few hours? What possessed me to fixate on that kiss for so long? Why did I act worse than a teenager with my first crush?

I pick up my empty plate and glass, glad for the distraction. “Um, do you want me to do the dishes?”

“Only if you want to.”

I place the dishes in the sink and turn to almost face Crystal. “I’m not sure—I think my aunt would like me to...get home.”

Crystal nods. “Then don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of everything.”

I march toward the front door. “Thanks. I, uh, hope you...feel better.”

Crystal grunts a nonsensical reply.

It amazes me that I manage to avoid sobbing until after I pull away from the Kings’ house.