Recipe for Disaster Read online

  Recipe for Disaster

  Allie York

  Contents

  Playlist

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Also by Allie York

  Copyright © 2019 by Allie York

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  To all the firsts. First love, first kisses, and first losses.

  Playlist

  ‘Cake by the Ocean’ by DNCE

  ‘Water under the Bridge’ by Adele

  ‘One Dance’ by Drake

  ‘Cheap Thrills’ by Sia

  ‘Treat You Better’ by Shawn Mendes

  ‘NO’ by Meghan Trainor

  ‘PILLOWTALK’ by Zayn Malik

  ‘That’s What I Like’ by Bruno Mars

  ‘Sit Still, Look Pretty’ by Daya

  ‘Million Reasons’ by Lady Gaga

  Prologue

  Three months ago:

  Standing in my best friend's kitchen like I have millions of times before should be comforting, familiar, but it’s not. Right now, all I can feel is regret. I should be happy for her, she is my friend after all, but all I’m managing is bitterness. I’m a horrible friend. Hali’s bouncing on the balls of her feet, clutching the envelope to her chest like it contains the answers to the universe, and in a way, it does. Her universe anyway. I didn’t bother with any of it, but right now, I’m regretting that decision a lot. The excitement on her face is enough to make anyone jealous. I know I would have been accepted, but it didn’t seem right to waste money when I have no idea what I’m doing. Graduation is in three days and now Hali got the big envelope to the University of Tennessee Knoxville, we both know what it means.

  “Oh. Em. Gee. Aimee!” My bestie’s voice is doing that high-pitched thing that everyone finds super annoying.

  “Are you going to open it or just squeeze it until the envelope reads the letter to you?” I’m trying to be excited, trying really, really hard, but I’m just jealous. For the first time ever, Hali and I will be separated. She’ll move into the dorms, and I’ll still be at home. Not only am I jealous, I’m furious with myself for my self-imposed failure.

  “Okay, I’ll open it,” Hali loosens her hold on the white manila envelope, “I can’t believe you didn’t even apply. You’d have gotten in.” I shrug and point at the envelope. Hali opens it, carefully sliding the stack of papers out onto her pink desk. She delicately picks up the first sheet and runs her red nail over the words, mouthing them as she reads. Then she squeals.

  “I told you the big envelope was good!” I catch her in a hug and she immediately pulls her phone out to update every social media status available, and to text her boyfriend, Seth. He’s already at UT but might as well live at Hali’s house as much as he’s over there. They’re like soulmates or something.

  “Celebratory cupcakes?” Hali waves the paper around, singing the words, “You know Mom and Dad will act like jerks about it, but you’re happy for me, right, Ames?” Hali’s parents both graduated from Harvard with degrees in psychology, so when Hali announced she was staying local and going to UT to pursue a degree in education, it didn’t go over very well. Maybe she’s afraid to leave home, maybe she wants to stay with Seth, I have no idea.

  “I’m so happy for you, Hali. Your parents will come around. If you left, they’d miss you so much,” I doubt it’s actually true, but it makes her feel better and keeps her happy to think her parents will warm up to her not going to an Ivy League school.

  Hali pulls out six different sprinkles and turns on her music, “Okay, so, tell me how things are with Alex,” Right, Alex. The guy I dumped last night, “You guys done it yet?”

  “That would be a big no, and I may have told him we need to take a break last night,” I brace for the fall out, “I know he’s Seth’s best friend, but I just don’t like him like you do Seth. I’ve tried for years, he’s going off to college too, and I can’t hold him back from dating who he wants.”

  Hali listens to my rushed explanation, “He wanted to do it and you didn’t.”

  “Pretty much,” I admit, “You mad?”

  “No, how can I be mad? I mean, you know you can’t be a virgin forever, right?” I roll my eyes, “I’m serious, but you shouldn’t sleep with someone you don’t love.” My best friend gives me a condescending pat on the back, and I roll my eyes. She and Seth have it so easy. They met in eighth grade and fell madly in love instantly. Aimee isn’t lucky in love, or in life usually. Aimee also talks in third person inside her head.

  “Thanks. On to a different topic,” Hali hands me a Cherry Coke, “Summer plans, we need to nail those down. Other than working at the studio, I’m free.” I nearly laugh and Hali does, really loud.

  “You’re always free, but yeah, we can plan some stuff.” Hali turns away, grabbing the organic milk from the fridge.

  “Some stuff?” She says it like she already planned things without me, “What do you mean some stuff? We have camping and hiking to do.” It’s our summer ritual. Back when we were kids, we camped as families, but as of last year, it escalated to me and Hali go camping alone.

  “Remember Amber?” Hali hands me the eggs, also organic, and I nod, “Okay, she’s in this sorority and suggested I join. So, I’m going to do some stuff with those girls this summer, like charity things. If they get to know me, I’m more likely to get in during rush.”

  “That sounds fun,” I keep the chipper tone in my voice, trying not to sound as bummed as I feel, “Sisterhood and bonding.” I can’t fight the bitter tone anymore. I can practically feel the gap between Hali and I getting wider by the second. I’m a horrible friend.

  “Don’t say it like that, Ames,” Hali’s shoulders drop, and the oven light ticks off, telling us it’s preheated, “Maybe you should find a way to meet people. A few more friends wouldn’t kill you. Neither would a boyfriend.”

  I hand her the pan, “I don’t need friends, I have you, and I just got rid of a boyfriend.” I roll my eyes like it’s no big deal, but I feel like Hali’s breaking up with me, like she’s telling me to move on with my life in the nicest way possible. Aimee does not handle change well, at all. Each new school year is already overwhelming enough, leaving public school all together is begging for a panic attack, and anything without Hali feels unbearable. She’s always been my rock.

  “A real boyfriend, you and Alex were a relationship of convenience, the natural flow of things, but I’m still surprised you didn’t get a piece of that. Convenient or not, he’s hot. And you have to make friends besides me eventually,” And another low blow from Hali, “Don’t take this wrong, you know I love you, but if you never get out, how are you going to experience anything?” I open my mouth to defend my life to my best friend, but she jumps in again, “Don’t even tell me you get out. If it were up to you, you’d stay in your room and write fanfics and watch Star Wars. I’m just saying this time is for exploration, and I’m going to explore. You should too.”

  And Aimee is down for the count, KO’d, she may never come back from that beating ladies and gentlemen, “Maybe you have a point.” I skip the Adele
song on her phone and turn up Taylor Swift. Adele is too depressing for the talk my BFF and I just had. She could have called me a clingy loser and gotten the same result. We keep making our cupcakes and eat them like the conversation didn’t even happen.

  “Wanna go shopping? I need dorm supplies,” Hali already has the keys in her hand. Do I want to help her decorate her dorm? Not really, especially since I’m suddenly not as awesome as she is.

  “Yeah!” I put on a smile and finish loading her dishwasher.

  “You don’t want to go change?” Hali makes a face that says it’s not really a question and I glance at my clothes. I guess “It’s a trap” on a t-shirt and jeans is too offensive for public viewing with my college bound friend.

  “I’ll meet you at the car in ten,” I grab my jacket and head across the driveway to my house to put on something more acceptable for shopping. Finding a shirt that doesn’t have writing or a character on it will prove difficult, but since Hali is suddenly concerned about my wardrobe and social status, I can at least try. Truthfully, I’ve been expecting this. As senior year went on, I could feel Hali pulling away, putting a wall up between us, but I hoped summer would bring my bestie back.

  “You look so cute!” I sit in the passenger seat and fix the collar on the plain black shirt, “You’re not mad about what I said, are you?”

  I shake my head, “No, of course not. If you can’t be honest with me, who will?” Hali smiles and starts her car. She’s changed the subject to her potential roommate and how bad it will suck to share a bathroom before we get to the end of the block. I lean my head against the cool glass and agree every few seconds, so she thinks I’m listening. So, summer isn’t going to be what I expected, change can be a good thing, right?

  One month into summer break:

  * * *

  “No camping this weekend either, huh?” Mom motions for me to sit on the top of her suitcase and fights with the zipper once I do. All I can do is shake my head, “I’m so sorry, Aimee.” Her hand softly skims my face.

  “I’ll be okay. I’m sure she and I can manage some time together outside of Seth and a sorority. Once she gets settled in.” I trail after Mom to the bathroom where she starts packing up travel size shampoos and lotions, “When does your flight leave?”

  “Seven,” She makes a face, telling me she is not thrilled about the early wake up, “Are you sure you’ll be okay without me? Two weeks is a long time.”

  “I’m seventeen, Dad and Ben are here, and I am totally capable of self-care.” Her eyes well up with tears. The day after graduation is kind of a crappy time for her to announce she’s going to Italy, but it was a chance we couldn’t let her pass up. Her women’s business owners club decided to take the trip, and Mom has never been out of the country, or really anywhere since having us. Really, since her and Dad got married, she’s gone with the flow. It’s her time. The summer of Lauren.

  “I know how self-sufficient you are, but that doesn’t mean I won’t worry,” Mom compares two bottles of face moisturizer then tosses both into the bag, “It’s my right as a mom to worry and pry.” Mom never pries. Ever.

  “I will not be the one to take away your right as a mother to worry, I swear,” She kisses my head, “Can we paint something tonight?”

  When I say ‘we’ I actually mean Mom paints and I sit with her, “You know it’s my favorite thing to do. Now I have a high school graduate to sit with.” I get another kiss and Mom leaves me in the bathroom to float off into her room and put the baggy in her carry on.

  Her dark blonde hair streaked with some white is braided over her shoulder and a pink scarf is tied around her head. She always looks like a hippy but is so beautiful. I’m lucky to look like her. Everyone tells me, and I believe it. I’m a little curvier than she is, and about two inches taller, but people ask if we’re sisters all the time. It’s so embarrassing. She giggles and pretends to be shocked when people confuse us for anything other than mother and daughter.

  “Need any more help?” I tap the necklaces hanging from her tree of life, so they sway and send little prisms of light dancing on the ceiling.

  “No, I have it done. Are you cooking dinner?” Mom asks like she doesn’t know the answer. I always cook. Every single night since I was ten, I have been in charge of dinner and it’s an honor I’m proud to have. Before I made my first meal for my family, Dad cooked with me sitting on the counter. It was never gourmet, but it was food and we all ate together most nights.

  “After dinner, I need a new painting,” I start toward the hall, “Something needs to remind me of you after you’re gone for fifteen whole days,” I wink at her, but she looks hurt for a second, “I’m kidding, Mom. Do not feel guilty for this. Go have an adventure.”

  “With Hali being such a bad friend, me leaving, and you dumping Alex…” She trails off, “I know you’ll be fine, Ames.” Mom goes back to rummaging through her scarf drawer and I watch for a second. Whatever she paints will be something weird and abstract, it’s her specialty, but it will be stunning just like everything else the locally famous artist Lauren Nash creates. She catches me staring and blows me a kiss. I blow one back and walk down the hall to the kitchen to start the baked fish and risotto for dinner.

  Chapter 1

  My shoes hit the pavement and I can feel every pebble through the worn soles. The scene in front of me is not how I thought my summer would turn out. I thought I would be shopping with Mom, sitting in the bay window of her studio, and going hiking with Hali. Instead I’m looking up at my new home. A condo forty minutes west of Nashville and four hours from home. It’s dark, and I’m tired, but I won’t sleep. I can’t. We have a U-haul to unload and a new life to start. Ben slamming the door has me jerking from my pity party to glare at him over the top of the car. My brother gives it back. It’s not his fault, not at all, but I’m still pissed and he’s the closest target. Two weeks ago, life was so normal. Kinda. Mom was upstairs painting, Ben and Dad were in the office going over the newest contract with some company, and Hali and I were baking in the kitchen for everyone at her dorm. Jump ahead two weeks and my life has all been jerked out from under me, and I’m falling down the rabbit hole with Dad and Ben.

  I reach back in the car and grab my duffle bag. It has the essentials. Clothes for now, another pair of shoes, a couple of books, and my laptop. I snag my Cherry Coke from the cup holder, throw the bag over my shoulder and give Ben one more glance. He looks tired, and he should, Dad drove the U-haul and Ben drove the car four hours across the state. Once Dad pulled out of his solitude, he gave us a moving crew and twenty-four hours to pack up and ship out. I didn’t really have a choice. I didn’t enroll in college like a good girl and had no other place to go. Ben is twenty-three and pretty self-sufficient, but he and Dad are two peas in a pod. My other pea, the woman formerly known as my mother, jumped ship.

  The U-Haul rattles up just as we get the last bag from the back of the car, and Dad hops out, smiling up at our new home. His expression is the opposite of my reaction, but Dad is perpetually optimistic. It’s terminal. His suitcase rode shotgun, so we can unload the big stuff later. For now, I plan on putting sheets on my twin bed and watching The Force Awakens until I pass out. My body is tired, but my brain is going at warp speed. The condo has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a combined living room and dining room. My mother decides parenting isn’t their thing and the three of us suffer. The kitchen is the worst part. It’s tiny. I’m talking microscopic and has no counter space. My expensive bakeware is already inside, sitting in boxes on the floor, and looking as sad as I feel. I can finish my pity party tomorrow, for now, I’m ready to crash hard and pretend I’m not going to wake up in a tiny condo that feels like a prison cell and not a home.

  “Morning, Sunshine!” Dad’s voice comes from the other side of the door and I crack an eye open. The bare yellow walls and off-white door stare back and I roll away, covering back up with my sheet. I didn’t bother getting my quilt out to sleep under, “You d
ecent in there?” I groan and pull the pillow over my head. The door clicks and I groan louder. No. Just no, “Sunshine?” Dad’s called me that since the day I was born. I’m the genetic outcast with strawberry blonde hair, so Dad coined my nickname. I always wondered if I was switched at birth or some mailman’s kid, but now it doesn’t really matter.

  The bed dips and I give up hiding from the day ahead, “Yes, paternal unit.”

  “I know how much you like to bake, so I thought I would proposition you,” Dad runs his hands into his graying brown hair, giving me his best pleading smile. I narrow my tired eyes, “There’s a fundraiser for the children’s hospital coming up. I may have volunteered Nash Signs to do the signs. Plates are one-fifty each, so I got us three, but we need something for the silent auction. I thought maybe it would be nice for you to bake something.” His smile turns dazzling and he swings the car keys in my face.

  “I don’t actually have a choice, do I?” I throw my sheet back and move to get out of bed. Dad jingles the keys.

  “You still have those pajamas?” I shoot Dad another glare over my shoulder and drop on the floor to pull clean clothes out of my bag, “Never mind.” My Star Wars pajamas are a wardrobe staple and Dad knows it.

  “What do you need for this fundraiser?” I set some clothes out and hop back onto the bed next to Dad. He and I were never close. I was never a daddy’s girl, but since ‘the incident’ my father and I have gotten closer. We didn’t have a choice but to come together.