I remove the baking sheets from the oven and preheat it before opening the fridge to compile everything I need to create the perfect pizza bagels. Dad always taught me the importance of mise en place, that the extra prep work is worth it.

Twenty minutes later, Henry enters scene with trays of bubble tea.

“I should have come sooner.”

Henry takes in the scene that is now Fitz’s kitchen: the empty jar of pizza sauce in the sink, the mozzarella cheese all over the counter, the vegetable scraps left on the cutting board, the three varieties of pizza bagels ready to go in the oven. His eyebrows pinch in an expression somewhere between amusement and concern.

“I’m currently at ‘rewatch the “Flu Season” episode of Parks and Rec.’ I didn’t know you’re at full Pizza Bagel Panic.”

I shrug. “I kind of got into the zone.”

“Fitzgerald’s still recording?”

I open the oven and slide the first two sheets of pizza bagels inside. “Yeah.”

Henry inhales. “Is that… pesto?”

I nod. “Chaotic, right?”

I wipe the rogue cheese into the sink with a paper towel, Henry scrapes the veggie scraps into the garbage disposal, and we settle into a steady rhythm. I’m a thousand percent more at ease with Henry by my side, and I’m pretty sure this is the definition of being a best friend—the willingness to clean up a mess you didn’t make.

After we finish up, Fitz’s kitchen populates. Arjun and Makayla arrive with cookies from Manuela’s Bakery. Arjun’s shoulder-length hair is post–cross country practice shower damp. Danica has church choir practice but arrives by our eight o’clock start time. We’re discussing the general vibe among the clubs when Fitz joins us.

It’s impressive how she even manages to be fashionably late in her own house.

“Cool jacket,” Danica says.

She smiles, and I’m positive those two words just made her entire night.

“Thanks! And sorry! I kept tripping up saying ‘rose gold goals’ and…” Fitz pauses midstep and takes in the pizza bagels I am plating on a serving platter, her eyes widening. “Is that pesto?”

“Right?” Henry says. “It’s worse than we thought.”

“I mean—” Arjun starts slowly “—pizza bagels are delicious. Objectively.”

“Not when they’re a product of stress, Arjun!” Fitz says.

Arjun’s eyes widen and his mouth snaps shut. Makayla and Danica look at each other and contemplate their life choices, presumably.

“Some people stress bake,” Henry explains. “Natalie stress pizza bagels.”

“Cupcakes are too sweet,” I shrug, passing the platter around the table.

Danica raises one eyebrow at Henry. “Like how you made two pounds of guacamole last night?”

Fitz processes this new information without missing a beat, like the phenomenal actress she is. “Natalie and Henry are kindred spirits. It takes a stress chef to know one.”