Page 60 of Bake You Mine
While Teddy ate, Liam started to feel more confident. He’d worked on food trucks before when he’d first left home over a decade ago, and that time of his life had been exhausting and exhilarating all at once. It was a lot more fun when he was a teenager. Now he was pushing thirty.
While Teddy finished licking every morsel from his plate, Liam scrolled through his notifications, finding that Aubrey had taggedhim in a post.
Challenge #2 is going down in Madison Park this afternoon! Come one, come all, if you want to see me beat #hotchef for the second week in a row! I’ll also be debuting new dishes.
After winning, Aubrey had posted a lovely message, thanking Liam for challenging her. Now, the gloves were off. He pulled up a flyer Damon made for the event and reposted it on his feed. Gary had only let them advertise the challenge three times each, so he wanted to remind his followers.
It’s time for #hotchef to triumph! Come out to Madison Park this afternoon, rain or shine, to try out some old favorites and delicious new bites!
He posted the flyer and put his phone down. After ReviewGate, he hesitated to be cheeky in his posts. He didn’t want to make things worse for Aubrey.
“Guess that means I need to win this fucking thing,” he told himself as he snatched his keys, double-checked on Teddy to be sure he was settled, and headed down to the restaurant to start his day.
When Liam arrived at the park, Benito, one of his junior kitchen guys, was busy working to get set up for lunch service. An extensive line already wrapped out of the park’s gates and onto the street. Mary, Gary’s assistant, was set up in front of the truck with an iPad and a cash box.
“Got you this, Mary.” He tossed an Elevation T-shirt at her.
She caught it. “Will you wait here while I change?”
She ran off toward the public bathrooms. Liam observed the crowd. Judging by the alluring aromas wafting out of Aubrey’s food truck, she was already at work. If she had an annoying trait, it was that she usually proved him wrong if hethought he was on top of something—an excellent trait in a partner but awful in an opponent. Ashley stood directly opposite him. But of course, her little table had been decorated with a pink and white tablecloth and a small vase of fresh flowers.
Mary returned, and Liam ducked into the truck to help Benito finish getting ready. He looked around, proud he’d taught him well.
The first item was a new spin on his classic burger, called the over-easy. Patrons could choose from a chicken or duck egg to top their burger. Along with his signature sweet potato fries, he also offered a kimchi-like slaw. His other main was his take on a spicy chicken sandwich.
“Hello, hello!” Gary approached the truck. Aubrey was in tow, her brows creased, making her appear serious but still beautiful. “I know you’re both in the thick of it. But what would the game be without the ringmaster to announce the rules?”
“I think you’ll need that top hat if you keep this up,” Liam said.
Gary tutted. “Customers will order as usual, with their own money. This makes the choice more authentic. You’re allowed one sandwich board, advertising your wares.”
Aubrey already had a perfectly lettered sandwich board in front of her truck. Liam was pretty sure he’d forgotten to pack his.
“As soon as the challenge is over, Ashley and Mary will bring the iPads and cash boxes to the office. After we tally the amounts, the winner will be announced. It’s fairly straightforward this time. I can’t promise the last challenge will be.”
He scurried off, leaving Liam alone with Aubrey.
“You ready to see who wins?” Liam asked.
“Let’s just be diplomatic and say, may the best person win.” She arched up onto her tiptoes and thrust a hand at him.
“To the victor go the spoils. And I think we both know what that means.” He squeezed her hand.
Her cheeks exploded with color. “You jerk. I’ll talk to you after.”
He chuckled as she walked away, fully allowing himself to enjoy the view.
An hour into the challenge, Aubrey finally had a chance to look up. Her take on empanadas had been the sure winner, with the ham and brie panini still a decent seller. Garlic and rosemary mashed potatoes, handmade sea salt, and vinegar potato chips rounded out her sides. Both sold equally well.
If she won this thing, these would be the sort of items she’d offer for in-house dining. Excitement bubbled up inside her at the thought of what could be.
She’d thought she’d been doing gangbusters until she saw Liam’s line stretching out past the park’s entrance onto Rose Road.
“Fuck,” she hissed under her breath. She’d worried this challenge would be more up his alley than hers. Had she been right?
As much as she hated to admit it, Gary had been spot-on with this challenge. Leaving it up to the people to see which of them had a more viable product.
She’d done all she could do.
