Kneading Love

Chapter 1 - Prologue

Lily Thompson stood near the punch bowl, her fingers nervously twisting the fabric of her dress. The gymnasium was transformed into a fairy tale, twinkling lights and streamers hanging from the ceiling, casting a warm glow over the crowd of dancing teenagers. It was Rosewood High’s spring dance, the event everyone had been buzzing about for weeks. Yet, while her classmates twirled and laughed on the dance floor, Lily found herself lingering in the background, her heart pounding for a different reason.

Across the room, Jake Miller stood surrounded by a group of friends, his easy smile lighting up his face. He was the kind of boy who made hearts flutter—tall, with tousled brown hair and a rugged handsomeness that made him stand out even in the dimly lit gym. Tonight, he looked effortlessly cool in his black button-down shirt and jeans, his casual style only adding to his charm.

Lily’s breath hitched as she watched him. She’d had a crush on Jake for as long as she could remember, ever since they were paired together for a science project in sophomore year. But she had always kept her feelings to herself, convinced that a boy like Jake could never be interested in someone like her. She was the quiet girl who spent her lunch breaks in the library, her nose buried in a book, while Jake was always surrounded by friends, his laughter echoing down the hallways.

And then there was her size. Lily had always been on the heavier side, her curves making her feel out of place among the slim, athletic girls who seemed to effortlessly catch Jake’s attention. She tugged self-consciously at her dress, a simple navy-blue number that her mother had assured her was flattering. But no matter how hard she tried; she couldn’t shake the feeling that she didn’t belong.

As the music shifted to a slow, romantic tune, couples began to pair off, swaying gently to the rhythm. Lily’s heart ached with longing as she watched Jake glance around the room, his eyes scanning the crowd. For a brief, fleeting moment, she allowed herself to imagine what it would be like if he crossed the room and asked her to dance, his hand warm and steady in hers. But the fantasy quickly dissolved as he turned his attention back to his friends, laughing at something one of them said.

Lily sighed, lowering her gaze to the floor. It was foolish, really, this crush she harboured. Jake was out of her league, and she knew it. She was the girl who kept to herself, blending into the background. As the dance wore on, she resigned herself to watching from the side-lines, the hope of ever catching Jake’s eye slowly slipping away.

Little did she know that Jake had noticed her more than once that night. And while she believed her feelings were one-sided, there had been moments—small, almost imperceptible moments—when Jake’s gaze had lingered on her just a little too long, his smile softening when he saw her. But high school insecurities ran deep, and neither of them was brave enough to take that first step.

The night wore on, and as the final song played, Lily slipped out of the gym, her heart heavy with unspoken feelings. She would always remember that night, not for the dance she never had, but for the realization that some things were never meant to be. Or so she thought.

Years later, as she kneaded dough in the early morning hours at Emma’s Bakery “Sweet Cravings”, the scent of cinnamon and fresh bread filling the air, Lily often thought back to that night. The memory of her high school crush on Jake Miller had faded with time, becoming just another chapter in the story of her life. She had moved on, building a life for herself in Rosewood, content with her work and the small, cosy world she had created.

But fate has a funny way of stirring up the past, bringing with it the possibility of second chances. And as the sun rose over the town of Rosewood, casting a golden light through the bakery’s windows, Lily had no idea that the boy she had once pined for was about to walk back into her life, changing everything she thought she knew about love, and about herself.