Page 76 of Bake You Mine
“Of course, it’s okay. But areyouokay?”
“I’m fine, I promise.”
Now wasn’t the time to get into it. They had timed entry passes to the haunted house, and they needed to get a move on if they didn’t want to miss out.
Liam had expected Aubrey to be happy. After a good meal at Elevation, they were all hanging out together. To him, it seemed like the beginning of something. Her white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel unsettled him. He turned, finding Daphnewith earbuds stuck in her ears, watching a program on her tablet.
“Hey, you didn’t answer me. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” She turned toward him, her smile falsely bright. “I promise. It’s just been a long day, and my trial for the TV segment went over badly, on top of having to rescue my kid from a scene straight out of a Lifetimemovie.”
“I’m sorry. At least you have something to do a trial run for. I’m still trying to figure out what I want to do.”
“I know you; you’ll figure it out.”
Once parked in a field opposite the attraction, they headed to the ticket-holder line. No sooner had they lined up than Daphne ran ahead toward a group of kids. Aubrey flashed Liam a smile. “I have to say hi to the other moms. I’ll be right back.”
He pulled out his phone while he waited for their return. Jason Morse had left a message informing him he might have space for Liam in one of his new developments in DC and that he looked forward to seeing how the contest played out.
DC could be a compromise—close enough to keep his mother off his back and keep things going with Aubrey.
Liam blinked at the message, taking a moment to process it. What happened to just meeting to talk? Now, Jason wanted to view space together. He typed out a text to Jason saying that he’d be interested in talking once the results came out.
“Oh my God, Liam!” A hand came onto his shoulder, forcing him around. His smile dropped when he caught sight of Dani. He hit send on the text to Jason and shoved his phone in his jacket pocket.
“Are you here with the pastry chef?” She scrunched up her pert little nose, and her friends howled with laughter.
“Why do you care? I thought you didn’t know her. Or at least that’s what you implied the last time we talked.”
“Whatever. If you want me to delete those reviews, you know my number.”
God, now he could see her acts for what they were—desperation. Maybe she thought this stunt would bring them back together or something.
“Never going to happen. And, as a side note, jealousy doesn’t wear well on you.”
She rolled her eyes. “Whatever, Liam. Call me because we both know you’ll get bored with her eventually.”
Liam winced as Aubrey approached. Given her stricken expression, she’d heard Dani, who resembled an archer after hitting the bullseye.
Luckily, the line moved forward. Shortly later, their group was admitted into the path leading toward the haunted house. They were doubly lucky when Dani and her friends stayed behind.
Liam reached for Aubrey’s hand. “She’s jealous, Aubs. Pathetically so. She wanted to get a reaction from us and for me to try to get her to delete those reviews. Her jealousy is the reason they exist.”
If she replied, it was drowned out by the shrieks ahead of them as a masked man ran through the crowd with a chainsaw. Daphne squealed and reached out to grab Liam’s hand as the masked man got close to her. He knew the difference between genuine horror and delighted glee, and she was scared as hell. He bent down.
“Are you okay, Daph?”
Her pupils were dilated, and her hands shook slightly. “I’m fine. I wasn’t expecting that so soon!”
Aubrey came to Daphne’s other side. “Part of the fun is the people jumping out to scare you. We don’t have to go in the house if you don’t want?—”
“No!” Daphne roared. “Come on, before they close the door on us.”
She ran off ahead of them. Liam took Aubrey’s hand. “I’m sorry you had to hear Dani’s hateful talk.”
She sighed. “It’s okay. She’s like a troll comment come to life.”
“There haven’t been as many since ReviewGate, right?”
