After the whole new year's shock, I haven't seen Cage as much, which is understandable. We have only seen him twice in two weeks. He still calls and texts every day and keeps me updated on everything about Catch. So far it seems like he really does want to get his life together they both have even gone to their parent's house. I think if Catch just wanted money he wouldn't be trying to fix his relationship with his parents.

I hope Catch does get his life together not just for his own sake but for Cage's too. He may not have said it when we talked about him a few weeks ago but I know not having Catch in his life is difficult.

I want Cage to have his brother back in his life, a sober brother.

To get my mind off everything I decided to try and make something I haven't ever served at my bakery before. Peppermint cheesecake, I feel it will be a good wintertime dessert, and depending on how it turns out I might start selling it before spring.

I have seen recipes for it that people are using Oreos for the crust, I didn't want to do that and figured my homemade chocolate graham crackers would be perfect instead. Before I do anything I preheat the oven to three hundred fifty degrees Fahrenheit. Then I put the crackers in a food processor and blended them until it was like a fine sand, adding about two tablespoons of butter to give it the consistency of wet sand. In my standing mixer, I added an eight-ounce package of cream cheese that has been softened to room temperature, one and one-fourth cups granulated sugar, two-thirds cups of sour cream, three eggs, one teaspoon vanilla extract, one half teaspoon peppermint extract, one-fourth cup plus one tablespoon of crushed peppermints, and finally three drops of red food coloring. I set the mixer to a low speed so it doesn't make a mess, and while that is mixing I get the cracker crumbs pressed evenly into a ten-inch round springform pan, then sprinkling half a tablespoon of crushed peppermints on top of that.

I stop the mixer and remove the whisk from the mixer, leaving it in the bowl so I can scrape off the cheesecake mix. The mix is a pretty pale red color that will look amazing once the cheesecake is cooked. I scrape the sides of the bowl and the whisk, throwing the whisk in the huge kitchen sink, then I pour the cheesecake mix into the cake pan leveling it out and getting it as smooth as possible.

The cheesecake will take about forty to forty-five minutes to bake, so while it is baking I go to the front and take over the register for Hannah since her shift is almost over.

I really need to hire another person, since I fired Jay not too long ago. So glad I did he was a terrible employee, his mom even came in to ask if I would reconsider firing him. After I explained how bad of an idea that would be for my business she understood and was shocked by his behavior.

"Hey Hannah," I say when I walk out of the kitchen.

"Hi Rory, you coming to take over the register?"

"Yeah, your shift is almost over anyway. You can take off early."

"Are you sure? I can stay longer," Hannah looks at all the tables that are filled with customers.

It's sweet of her to offer to stay longer because there are quite a few customers, but I can handle it. I mean I worked two jobs and while doing that raised twin boys this is a piece of cake. I snort at the pub and send Hannah on her way.

I'm putting more pastries in the display case when the bell above the door rings.

"Welcome to Sugar Rush I'll be with you in just a moment," I put the last pastry in the case then stand up.

Pleasantly surprised when I see Cage, Catch steps out from behind Cage, and my mouth almost falls open in shock.

He is almost unrecognizable from when I saw him on new year's. His hair is much shorter, and so much healthier. The dark eye bags underneath his gray-blue eyes, which are grayer than Cage's, are significantly lighter. He still needs to gain more weight but all in all he looks healthy.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" I come around to the other side of the counter so I can hug Cage.

"Just missed you Sugar and your cupcake smashing," Cage pulls back from our hug but keeps his arm around my waist, and shoots me a grin.

I shove him away, barely even moving him an inch.

"Haha very funny. Hey, Catch how are you doing?"

'I'm doing good you?"

"I'm doing good just trying a new recipe out that unfortunately has to be refrigerated overnight," the timer on my phone that I set to let me know when the cheesecake is done cooking goes off. "Oh sorry, just a second I have to take it out of the oven."

Without waiting for either of them to respond I rush off to the kitchen, putting on the new oven mitts Knox and Kohl got me for Christmas, then I take the cheesecake out of the oven and place it on a cooling rack. I won't have to make the ganache until tomorrow, since the dessert has to be completely cooled before I can pour ganache over it.

"Sorry about that, can I get you guys anything?" I ask them when I come back.

"Did you make all of these yourself?" Catch takes in all of the pies, cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and many more desserts I have on display in the case.

"Today I did. I normally have help with the baking but Quinn one of my friends is out sick today."

"What would you recommend then Sugar?"

"Well kind of depends on what you're in the mood for," I get a takeaway box, open the display case and start pulling out different items to place in it. "So my personal favorite would be the cinnamon roll bread with cream cheese frosting right now. However, these chocolate rolled crescent rolls are super good too. If you want something more on the salty side then a snickers cupcake would be a good choice. What?"

I look up and Cage has a smile on his face.

"Nothing you're just cute is all. You got any more of those cupcakes? The one you smashed in my face?"

"She smashed a cupcake in your face?" Catch asks, looking like he's trying hard not to laugh.

"She sure did," Cage says and chuckles.

"Ugh don't remind me and yeah I still have those," I get another box that fits six cupcakes and fill it up with my salted caramel apple pie cupcakes, I close that up and put it down on the counter in front of them.

"I didn't get to actually try it last time since it fell off my face and all, the frosting was good though. How much do I owe you for all these?"

"It's on the house to make it up to you for smashing a cupcake in your face," I can tell he's about to argue and I just him a look that always works on Knox and Kohl when they want to argue with me.

"Fine," Cage simply sighs, not sounding too happy about not paying. "Knox and Kohl with your parents? Oh, speaking of parents my mom wants us all to have another dinner together. I know but she said she'll actually make an effort to get to know you this time. Just one more dinner and if she acts the same way we will never go again I promise."

I would rather get run over by a car twice than go to another dinner at his parent's house. I don't trust that she's sincere this time around, I honestly don't think that woman has a sincere bone in her body. I know this would mean a lot to Cage to try it one more time it might not be as bad with Catch there. Maybe she'll surprise me and be nice cause she's been reunited with her son? What could it hurt to try one more time? I mean worst case scenario she's treats us the same and we never have to go have dinner with Cage's family again. Plus if she really does decide to turn over a new leaf the twins will be getting another set of grandparents. I know I can't make any decisions without asking the twins first, though maybe we could go to this dinner without them? That way if it does go the same way as last time they won't be around to witness it.

"I'll go but Knox and Kohl won't. I don't want them around your mother if she's going to act the same way as last time. If and I mean if, she doesn't then we will bring the boys to dinner next time deal?"

"Deal. Thank you for doing this Rory."

Now let's just hope I don't regret doing this later.

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What do you think? Do you think it's a bad idea for Rory to go to another dinner with Cage's parents? Anyhow I hope you enjoyed this chapter and have a amazing day or night!

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Sorry to everyone for that ☝️it has just happened recently and I would like to prevent it from happening again.