✽ Mandy ✽
The smell of almonds and sugar hit me the second I walked into the pastry lab. It should have felt comforting, but lately even familiar things made my nerves jump. I forced myself to focus on what mattered: class, technique, and keeping my thoughts from drifting to everything else. Chef Rinaldi clapped his hands.
“Macarons,” he announced. “Three flavors. Three fillings. And three chances to prove you can follow instructions,” a few people laughed nervously while others remained silent. I pulled my apron on, washed my hands, and found my station. Nico was already there with flour dust on his cheek and a grin that made him look guilty. Lila stood beside him with her notebook open, handwriting neat and sharp. She wore her hair in a low braid and looked like she never made mistake
