Run: 2026-02-16-01KHM5WHRYJCEK007VDH1Z7ZNR

The warm scent of cinnamon and yeast curled through the bakery, wrapping around the two figures at the counter like an embrace. "Tell me you didn’t actually lick the frosting off three cupcakes before deciding which one to buy." "Desperate times call for desperate measures. Besides, you left me unsupervised for ten minutes." "That’s because I was *helping Mrs. Jenkins carry her scones to the car*. Not committing frosting felonies." "In my defense, they all looked the same. How was I supposed to know pistachio and matcha weren’t secretly the same color under the sprinkles?" "By *reading the labels* like a civilized person." A flour-dusted tray clattered in the kitchen. "You two arguing over crimes against pastries again?" called a voice from the back. "We’re establishing legal precedent." "Uh-huh. Well, unless you plan on paying for those desecrated cupcakes, get out of my shop before I tell the entire book club." "…How much do three cupcakes cost?" "Plus a tax for wasting my patience?" "Not to mention the sprinkles you flicked everywhere." "Fair. Just add it to my tab." "You don’t *have* a tab." "I do now."