CHAPTER 17
KENDRA’s POV -->
The smell of sugar and butter filled the kitchen, warm and comforting. I wiped a streak of flour from my cheek with the back of my hand and pulled the oven door open. A rush of heat kissed my face, as I slid the tray of cookies out carefully, setting it on the counter. Golden, just the way I liked them.
“Perfect,” I murmured, half to myself.
I hummed a little tune as I reached for the spatula, tapping the edge of the tray to loosen them. Baking always calmed me. The world outside could be sharp, messy, unpredictable, but here, here I could measure things exactly, follow steps, make something sweet.
The kitchen window was cracked just enough to let in the night air. A chill slipped in, brushing against the back of my neck, but I didn’t think much of it. I
