Page 55 of The Accidental Honeymoon

She blushes furiously and takes the cupcake from me. She scrapes the frosting off with her finger and holds it up. "Sugary treats are my love language," she says, then feeds it to me.

I take it into my mouth, savoring the sweetness, then lean in. She doesn't pull away. Our lips meet, soft and tentative at first. Then more urgent. We kiss, forgetting the camera. Forgetting the cupcakes. Forgetting everything.

When we finally break apart, she laughs. "How's that for a sweet ending?"

The resulting video goes viral. Not for the baking tips. But for what fans dub "The Great British Cake-Off: Disaster Edition."

It’s also our first real memory as a couple. Laughter. Frosting-covered faces. A surprising sense of closeness.

And blackmail material on each other for life.

nineteen

CALLA

Our footsteps echoagainst the stone walls as we approach the entrance to the cave. Jay’s hands are stuffed casually in his pockets. He tilts his head toward me with a lopsided grin. “I’m telling you; it’s going to be amazing. Like a nature documentary, but with more banjos.”

I raise an eyebrow. I try to imagine what a “Redneck Wildlife Safari” could possibly entail. “I’m sure it’ll be... something. Do you think we need helmets?”

He laughs, the sound bouncing off the cavern’s walls. “You’re such a pessimist. Where’s your sense of adventure?”

“Safely stored away with my common sense.” I can’t help but smile. His enthusiasm is infectious, even if I’m still wary of this quirky adventure.

We step into the dimly lit cave. I squint, trying to make out shapes in the darkness. Suddenly, a burst of colorful lights illuminates the walls. The scene that appears stops me in my tracks.

Raccoons in trucker hats andflannel shirts are posed around a miniature campsite. Their beady eyes reflect the light like tiny, sinister lasers.

“Oh my god.” My voice is barely above a whisper as a mix of surprise and amusement bubbles up. “They’re like... hillbilly animatronics.”

Jay chuckles. He nudges me forward. “See? I told you it’d be great.”

I take a tentative step closer, examining the raccoons with a growing sense of wonder. One is holding a tiny banjo. Another is digging through a cooler. It’s all so ridiculous and over-the-top that I can’t help but be charmed.

“They look so real,” I half-speak to myself. “Like they’re about to start moving or something.”

“State-of-the-art craftsmanship.” I can hear the grin in his voice. “Probably cost a fortune.”

I shudder. It’s not from the cold but from the eerily lifelike nature of the scene. “I think their eyes are following us.”

Jay leans in. His shoulder brushes mine. “Maybe they’re just curious about the newlyweds.”

A tingle runs down my spine, and I pull back and cross my arms, trying to regain my composure. “Well, they can mind their own business. We’re on the clock.”

“Relax, Calla. This is supposed to be fun.” He pauses for a beat, then his voice turns teasing. “I’m sure that fox in overalls over there is a big fan of your work.”

I glance to where he’s pointing. A fox in a Confederate cap and overalls is perched on a rock. Its glassy eyes are uncomfortably intense.

I stifle a laugh. “Yeah, he looks like my target demographic.”

Jay steps in front of me and starts walking backward. He adopts an exaggerated Southern drawl. “Y’all, this here’sthe finest weddin’ baker in the land. She’ll make yer big day as sweet as a possum pie.”

I can’t suppress my grin. “You’re ridiculous.”

He continues his mock narration, weaving a tale of raccoon romances and shotgun weddings as we make our way through the cave. I try to focus on his words, on the absurdity of the whole situation, but the lifelike animals and their frozen expressions keep pulling my attention. I’m convinced they’re more than just decorations. At any moment, one will blink or twitch.

We reach the end of the first tunnel and I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. “Okay, I’ll admit, that was kind of cute. In a terrifying, animatronic sort of way.”

Jay’s mischievous grin softens. “See? You’re having fun.”

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