Chapter 152: Next Weekend?

NORA’S POV

Knox and I walked down the wooden staircase hand in hand. The aroma of toasted everything bagels, melting cream cheese, and rich hazelnut coffee drifted up to meet us, making my stomach rumble loudly.

Knox chuckled, squeezing my hand as we turned the corner into the bright, open kitchen.

Bear was leaning against the granite island, holding a mug that looked like a soup bowl in his giant paw. Jake was standing by the stove, leaning over a wide brown cardboard box stamped with the bright red Goldie’s Bagels logo.

Both of them looked up as our bare feet crossed the tile.

Bear’s eyes landed on me, taking in the rolled-up joggers and the massive #19 drowning my body.

A massive, shit-eating grin spread across Bear’s bearded face. Jake caught sight of the hoodie too, a low chuckle escaping him as he shook his head with genuine amusement.

There wasn’t a trace of locker-room vulgarity in the room. Instead, the warmth was immediate and brotherly, wrapping around me like a shield.

"Well, look who finally decided to join the living," Bear said, pulling out the stool right next to him. "Sit down, Bookworm. You look like you need the carbs a hell of a lot more than Sheridan does."

"Watch your mouth, Barrett," Knox warned playfully, pulling out the chair for me before taking the stool beside mine.

Jake slid a toasted everything bagel piled high with scallion cream cheese onto a paper plate and pushed it right in front of me, followed by a steaming ceramic mug of hazelnut coffee.

"Welcome to breakfast, Nora," Jake said, raising his coffee mug in a casual toast. "Glad to see you survived the night. Honestly, after everything Sheridan’s put you through this semester, you officially outrank him in this house."

"Don’t give her ideas," Knox grumbled, though his arm draped naturally over the back of my chair, his fingers lightly brushing the nape of my neck beneath the heavy hood. "She already bosses me around enough."

"Only when you need it," I shot back, taking a grateful sip of the sweet, nutty coffee.

The heat of the mug warmed my palms, and taking a bite of the warm, chewy bagel felt like pure heaven.

For ten minutes, the kitchen was filled with normal, effortless banter. Bear complained about the defensive conditioning drills Coach Brennan had scheduled for the afternoon, while Jake debated whether to get another dozen bagels for the weekend road trip to Dartmouth.

Sitting there wrapped in Knox’s clothes, laughing as Bear tried to eat an entire bacon-egg-and-cheese bagel in two bites, I felt a deep wave of gratitude wash over me.

This was real. Drew Miller’s entitled pity and Garrison Sheridan’s corporate hostility had never felt like this. This was a home.

BZZZZT.

My phone buzzed against the marble island, vibrating next to my coffee mug.

The screen lit up with a notification from my email app:

Tri-County Artisan Baking Showcase Committee: Round 1 Technical Scoring & Quarter-Final Invitation (Entry #14).

My breath caught in my throat. I froze with half my bagel raised to my lips.

Knox felt the shift immediately. His hand stilled against the back of my neck, his gray eyes darting down to the glowing screen.

"Is that it?" Knox asked softly.

Jake paused with his coffee halfway to his mouth, and Bear stopped chewing, both of them suddenly laser-focused on my phone.

"It’s the showcase committee," I whispered, my fingers trembling slightly as I set the bagel down and tapped the notification.

The official email loaded with the gold seal of the Tri-County Culinary Guild at the top.

I scrolled past the formal opening paragraph to the scoring breakdown:

Entry #14: Sugar & Spice Bakery (Oakhaven, MA)

Technical Showcase Item: Spiced Frangipane Brioche Crown

Lamination & Crumb Structure: 38/40

Visual Portfolio & Scoring: 39/40

Regional Heritage Specification: 19/20

Total Round 1 Score: 96/100 (Rank: 2 of 30)

A sharp gasp tore from my throat. "Ninety-six..."

"Ninety-six?" Bear’s eyes went wide as saucers. "Holy shit, Bookworm! That’s almost a perfect card!"

"Keep reading," Knox urged, his voice tight with anticipation as he leaned over my shoulder, his chin resting against my temple.

My eyes flew to the bold text beneath the score:

Congratulations. Sugar & Spice Bakery has officially qualified for Round 2: The Live Quarter-Final Technical Showcase.

Due to commercial facility logistics and regional scheduling, Round 2 will take place next weekend at the Emerald Pines Mountain Resort & Conference Center.

Competitors will be required to execute their signature laminated brioche live in a timed 4-hour exhibition before our culinary guild judging panel. Please confirm travel and prep logistics by Friday.

"Next weekend..." I breathed, the reality hitting me like a wall. "Next weekend in the mountains."

"Emerald Pines?" Jake whistled low. "That’s up in the mountain pass past Sunapee. It’s gorgeous up there, especially once the first snow hits."

"We’re going," Knox said immediately.

I turned my head to look at him and saw the conviction in his eyes.

"Knox, it’s a live four-hour bake," I said, a flutter of nervous excitement and panic rising in my chest. "I have to transport ingredients up the mountain, pack, scale the flour ratios... and my mom. Sugar & Spice is her life. The commercial license is in her name... she has to be there."

"Of course she’s coming," Knox said without a second’s hesitation, his hand sliding down to squeeze my shoulder with total certainty. "We’ll bring her with us. I’ll book her a suite at the resort."

"And tell Mrs. Bennett I’m driving down to Oakhaven to pick her up personally," Bear added, slamming a giant palm onto the island with a grin that could split wood. "She gets shotgun with the heated seats, and my covered truck bed will haul all that needs to be moved up that mountain pass."

"The whole crew is riding up next weekend," Knox murmured, his thumb brushing tenderly against the nape of my neck. "You survived the compliance board, you made the best pastry in the state, and now we’re going to that resort to win."

I looked around the kitchen... at Bear’s grinning face, Jake’s reassuring nod, and Knox looking at me like I held the entire world in my hands.

The fear melted away, replaced by a surge of pure, unstoppable fire. We had ten days of classes, hockey practices, and test bakes ahead of us, but for the first time, I wasn’t carrying the weight alone.

"First things first," Knox said, nodding toward my phone with a soft, encouraging smile. "Make the call, Bennett."

A slow, brilliant smile spread across my face as I tapped her contact.

"Mom," I whispered as the line began to ring. "We’re going to the mountains."