Page 62 of Bake You Mine
“I’d rather just know the winner,” Aubrey said.
“Same,” Liam said.
Gary smiled and turned the piece of paper around to face them, but kept it far enough away that they couldn’t see anything. “Allow me to say that Aubrey’s empanada is my favorite dish of the afternoon. I thoroughly enjoyed everything I ate at both of your trucks.” He pushed the paper across the desk.
Aubrey leaned over and quickly scanned the figures before she leaned back in her chair, declaring, “Liam sold three hundred dollars’ worth of food; I sold two hundred and ninety.”
“Fuck, it was close,” Liam murmured.
“Liam won, so he received three points. Since the figures were so close, Aubrey has been awarded two. So, a totalswap around of the first challenge.” Gary said. “Now you’re equal at five points each. You two are going to keep it entertaining until the end, aren’t you?”
Liam hardly heard the conversation. He reached for the paper for confirmation as Aubrey’s shoulders slumped forward slightly.
“Congratulations, Liam. You earned it.” It didn’t show on her face if it pained her to admit defeat. He reached forward and squeezed her shoulder. He knew how it felt to lose.
He set the paper down and turned to her. She had her hand out, and he gave it a shake.
“Aww, the continued good sportsmanship is a lovely thing. I must run, but I want to meet you both at the vacant space tomorrow afternoon. We’ll discuss the third challenge and a few particulars about the renovation. I’ll text you later with the time.”
He stood up, and they followed, knowing they’d been dismissed.
Aubrey swiped the paper off his desk and reread it while they left Gary’s office. “Damn. It was close.”
They slipped through the office doors and toward the elevators. He jabbed the down button. “As the winner, I believe I have more immediate spoils to attend to.” The elevator arrived, and they stepped inside. He pushed the door closed button frantically. “Is tonight too soon?”
It was time to escalate things to the next level, but he also wanted to make sure she was ready.
She didn’t reply immediately, making the short elevator ride seem like it lasted days instead of seconds. She lowered her gaze to her tightly clasped hands. “Maybe this isn’t such a good idea.”
Liam’s face dropped. Why had she changed her mind now? “What do you mean?”
They stepped out into the lobby. Aubrey grinned up at him and slapped him on the arm. “I’m kidding! Oh my God, you should have seen your face. You’d have thought I’d hurt Teddy or something.”
He gave her a shove, and she giggled as she returned it. They continued walking until they were back on Sweet Briar.
“I might have to make you pay for your cruelty.” Liam reached for her hand.
“I’ll be waiting on pins and needles to find out my punishment.”
“More like a reward, huh?”
She took off toward her van with a laugh, and Liam exhaled. It had been a fantastic day so far. But the best part was still to come.
Aubrey tried to take a page from Liam’s book as she readied herself for their evening. She didn’t need to overthink so damn much. The timing of this couldn’t be better, with Daphne spending the night with Chris, leading up to the fall festival.
Aubrey’s father was also absent, working a late-night shift at the homeless veterans’ shelter. She closed her bedroom door and left a note on the counter letting him know she’d be elsewhere.
That would open her up to a million questions in the morning, but she was a grown-ass adult. She didn’t have to tell her father anything yet.
She texted Liam before she backed out of the driveway. He told her to come to his apartment since she knew the front door code.
On the drive there, she remembered Liam’s lovely post about the second challenge. It was authentically him—no hot chef bullshit. He still tagged his posts with the dumb hashtag to boost engagement.
There was only one more hoop to jump through, although part of her would be sad when it ended.
But her loss reminded her that she should be considering plan B. Even if that plan only meant they were making do until the lease ran out next year. She tried not to think much beyond that. Because otherwise, she’d find herself in an anxiety spiral.
She shook out her nerves after pulling her van into the alley parking lot behind Sweet Briar. Then she tugged down her mirror and looked at herself.
