In the afternoon, stretch your fingers to very top shelf in his pantry, look for plastic knives, find box of cocoa powder instead. Shove in his face excitedly, preheat oven before he can react. Raid kitchen for butter, sugar, flower, eggs. Forget about plastic knives completely.

Inform him, "Brownies, bitch," when he asks. Smile into your shoulder when he turns on music he knows you like. Get him to dance for a bit. Love sound of bare feet squeaking against linoleum. Love way he grabs your waist, whirling you around, more.

Manage not to mention this aloud.

Refuse recipe. Refuse measuring tools. Dump sizable amount of sugar into bowl. Melt stick or two of butter. Mix. Pour some water in. Mix. Ignore his doubtful questions. Make brownies the way you want to because it's always been how you do it. Crack eggs. Add vanilla extract. Mix.

Pause when favorite song ever comes on. Dance. Tap wooden spoon on his nose on final note. Laugh at smudge of batter you've left. Try not to shiver when he comes close. Blink when he wipes smudge from his nose to yours. Turn into kiss. Wonder if the two of you are becoming sappy. Decide it's okay at moment.

Trust him enough to add flour, cocoa, and baking powder himself. Lick spoon while he's trying to find salt. Sneak another lick because you can't help it. Try and look ashamed when he catches you. Know he knows you aren't really ashamed. Forget looking ashamed. Take another lick defiantly. Nod in approval as he takes finger-lick of his own. Smile at how being rebel makes him happy.

Pour mixture into pan. Slide into hot oven. Don't worry if it'll taste right. Refuse to sit in his lap. Pull him into your lap instead. See his grip on kitchen counter. Realize he's holding back weight so he won't crush your legs. Resent protection. Argue. Win.

Realize second too late that puberty and muscles have added many pounds. Wince as your legs cry out. Watch him pull back immediately. Glare at his sheepish expression. Forget everything when he kisses you.

Kiss for twenty minutes, until rosy-cheeked. Curse timer when it beeps. Pull brownies out of oven. Slice two pieces out. Munch. Spit out. Agree on level of disgustingness. Dump into trash can.

With him, contentedly waste one more day. Regret nothing.