Page 15 of Cupcake
“How are we all the same?”
“You don’t listen, and you won’t take no for an answer!”
“Whoa, back up the cupcake wagon. Did some guy not take no for an answer, Haylee?”
I huffed and crossed my arms over my chest. “I haven’t met one that has yet. Some have been worse than others. There were some where I wasn’t sure if I was going to get out of the situation unharmed, which is another reason why I appreciate your help tonight. I suspect Tieg Tulip wouldn’t have taken no for an answer, that is, if he could get past the size of my hips and ass, which...” I made the so-so sign in the air with my hand. “Didn’t seem likely considering he mentioned the size of them no less than two dozen times.” My shoulders deflated, and I leaned on the baker’s bench, my chin dropping to my chest. “I know you’re new to Lake Pendle, but Darla has been after me since the first day of kindergarten. Defending her to me is like claiming store-bought bread is just misunderstood.”
Brady’s laughter should have been infectious, but I was too tired to join in. I was tired of the day, but even more tired of my boring life. Life with Brady would at least be entertaining. That was as likely to happen as Darla deciding to stop bullying me.
He rested his hand on my shoulder lightly, and I didn’t move away, which took me by surprise. Maybe I was just too tired or in need of a little comfort, no matter who offered it.
“Listen, I get what you’re saying. I was just trying to make you feel better about Darla nagging on you all the time. I’m relatively new to the town in the respect that I didn’t grow up here. I didn’t know the history between you two ran that deep. Forgive me?”
“Nothing to forgive,” I said, before pushing off the bench. “I always overreact when I’m tired. Especially when it comes to Darla McFinkle.”
Brady hung his apron on the hook and slung his arm over my shoulders while we walked out the front door. “I’ll take you home, but for the record, the size of your hips and ass is size perfect. Don’t let some loser make you think otherwise. I’m warning you now, Haylee Davis, someday you will tell me why you named this place The Fluffy Cupcake.”
I locked the bakery door and tucked the key in my pocket. Walking backward toward the stairs on the side of the building, I held my hands out at my sides. “I am home, and it shouldn’t be that hard to figure out. Night, Brady.”
I climbed the stairs to my apartment, fatigue making my feet heavy with each step. Brady’s laughter carried through the quiet night air and filled my head with ideas a girl like me shouldn’t have. Size perfect hips and ass or not.
AMBER STOOD AT THEbench, snarfing down a cupcake at five a.m. Her moans filled the bakery, and the sound of lip-smacking was all you heard besides the constant whirl of the oven where more cupcakes rotated in all of their baking glory.
“Hay-Hay, these are seriously the cupcake of the century.”
Rolling out a pie crust on the bench, I bit back a laugh. “Amber, it’s just strawberry cake batter. It’s not up for a Pulitzer.”
“You’re right, they’re up for Lake Pendle Strawberry Festival Cupcake of the Year, and these are the ones. You’re going to win hands down.” She tossed the cupcake paper in the trash and brushed off her hands.
“The only time I’ve ever lost was when I didn’t enter,” I said, laughter in my voice. “I’m glad you like them. That’s three for three.”
Amber’s brow went up in curiosity. “Who else tried them besides you and me?”
“Brady,” I answered nonchalantly. “He helped me bake them last night. You should have heard him. He was as bad as you with all that moaning, oohing and ahhing.” I checked the clock. “I wonder where he is. He should be here by now.”
“He probably overslept after spending so much time last night making cupcakes with his cupcake.”
My fist came down on the wooden bench with force. “I am not his cupcake! And it wasn’t that late.”
Amber held up her finger in confusion. “Why were you baking cupcakes with Brady instead of on a date with Tieg. That was last night, right?”
The deep inhale of air through my nose told her she was about to get an earful. “Oh, it was last night. Tieg Tulip is indescribable when it comes to how truly awful he is.”
“I take it you two didn’t hit it off?” Amber asked, leaning her ribs on the baker’s bench. She was so short she needed a stool whenever she had to work on the bench with me. It aggravated her when we teased her about using the kiddie stool.
“Hit it off?” I asked, slowly setting the pie aside. “No, we didn’t hit it off. He was rude, didn’t listen, mentioned the size of my hips in a derogatory manner too many times, and insisted I carry his tulips around town as a reminder to people that he was the one who gave them to me.”
“Seriously?” Amber asked, her lip curling up.
“You know me. I don’t sugarcoat anything. I was at the park having a horrific time at a picnic with him when Brady came along. Thankfully, he noticed my discomfort and rescued me from the situation.”
“Brady rescued you from a date?” she asked in shock.
My hands went out to the side. “We were having a picnic in a public place, and Brady saw me sitting there. Tieg was none too happy about him interrupting, but I owe Brady a debt of gratitude. I can’t say for sure what this guy was going to try at the end of the date, but I do know I wouldn’t have liked it.”
“Damn, I’m sorry, Hay-Hay,” she said, taking my hand. “I knew he was a bit odd, but sometimes oddness is endearing. Obviously not in this case.”
I squeezed her hand and then released it to get back to my pies. “If I were you, I wouldn’t help Tieg find dates anymore. You’d hate to feel responsible if he did something to one of your friends.”
