Page 11 of The Cupcake Standard

“Don’t kill me.” She grimaced, ducking her head. “You know Josh has been begging me to move in with him, and he did help me move all that stuff. I just couldn’t say no.” She wouldn’t meet my eyes, staring at my pillow instead.

That’s what she’s really worried about. Yeah, the building being condemned sucked, but she was bailing on me. After everything we’ve been through together. And I had no one, no place to go. Except my parents’.

As if reading my thoughts, Derek piped up. “I have a spare bedroom. And I’d love some extra cash for odds and ends if you want to chip in on the rent.” He pushed away from the wall he’d been leaning against, laying his offer out there oh so casually. “It’d be good for ‘us’ too. Make everything seem real.”

Gina’s eyes drilled into me, and I knew, I just knew I’d been set up. They’d conspired against me, arriving together so I had no choice but to agree. And she chose to tell me now, while I was still bed-ridden so I couldn’t get mad, couldn’t chase her around the room. I whipped my head around, locking my gaze with hers. “You scheming, meddling, so-called best friend—”

She held up her hands, standing up and backing away.

Derek looked between us. “You were right about her getting mad about that, too.”

Gina smiled sadly. “Should have bet on it, huh, Ave?”

Her words hit me hard. Gina was amazing at knowing outcomes of situations, predicting what people would do. And just like that, my anger deflated, hurt and betrayal taking over. Tears pricked my eyes. My best friend was shoving me off with some guy I’d just met so she could move on with her own life. Oh good, here’s a convenient way to tie off that loose end. Perfect.

Gina and Derek exchanged looks once more, then Gina started to speak but I shook my head, not wanting to hear it.

“Could you give us a minute?” Derek’s low voice registered through my misery, and I heard the door open, then close. The mattress dipped as he settled next to me.

“Listen, Avery, I reached out to Gina last night. I still had her number from when we worked on that project together.” He sheepishly ran a hand up the back of his head. “I was just trying to help, and I wanted to make sure you had everything you needed when you got home.” He grimaced. “She questioned me—actually, interrogated is probably a better word.”

Those blue eyes met mine. “She really cares about you. She wanted to know my intentions with this whole fake dating thing, to make sure I’m not out to play you or hurt you. That this isn’t just some game to me. And I assure you, it’s not.”

He paused, as if to let that sink in. “Anyway, I happened to be there when the condemnation notice came. She mentioned this would be the perfect time for her to move in with her boyfriend, but she would never leave you high and dry like that. I told her about my spare room. She had more…questions, but I guess I passed her test, because she told Josh yes.”

I stewed despite his sweet words. My whole future had been decided without me even getting a say in it.

He shrugged. “I wanted you to hear the whole story. My offer still stands. I’m willing to give this a try if you are, plus I can just picture Yolanda’s face when I tell her.” A smirk tipped his mouth, fading when he took in my solemn expression. “But I’ll give you some space to think on it, all right?”

His footsteps faded, the door latching behind him, and I let out the breath I’d been holding. Only for the door to swing open once more.

Gina stomped back in, glaring at me.

I glared right back, more pout than anger. “You don’t want to live with me anymore. You’re just moving me in with some guy I just met so you can be with your boyfriend. Who does that?” I stared at the blanket on my lap, rough and scratchy.

With a sigh, Gina sat on the edge of my bed. “Seriously, Avery, do you know anything about me? Would I really do that to you?”

No, she wouldn’t. But I needed her explanation before I was ready to admit it.

“Derek called me last night, after I left here, explaining who he was and the deal he offered you. Which, what the hell, girl? You didn’t tell me any of this at breakfast?”

I remained silent. I’d still been thinking over my options, not ready to discuss it until I had a firm decision.

“I think he was hoping I had an answer.” She smirked. “But, like I said, he wanted to make sure you had everything you needed when you came home. I gave him a list of your favorite foods for when you're sick, and he showed up with a grocery bag full of them.” Her brown eyes stared at me. “Fake boyfriend, my ass. That boy likes you.”

My mouth twitched.

“There was a big commotion downstairs. When I went to check it out, a fire marshal was announcing that the place had been condemned.” Her face grew pinched. “It was pretty awful, seeing what some of the people came out of there with, girl. We were living on the higher end of things.”

I pictured our ratty couch and wobbly table, our bare fridge and thin blankets. I couldn’t imagine.

“Anyway, Josh was on his way over, and you know he’s been begging me to move in with him…” Her eyes flashed the way they did when she went into planning mode. “When Derek offered his place, I grilled him.”

I could just imagine it. I’d seen her interrogations, people reduced to tears when she was done.

She shrugged. “I mean, he’d already gone out of his way to bring you your favorite sick foods. Hell, he left his own birthday party to check on you. That has to count for something.”

Her brown eyes searched mine. “I had that economics class with him last year. This guy is crazy smart. He’s never mean to anyone, and I’ve never heard a bad word about him. I asked around, texted friends, looked online. His background check is awesome. Nothing bad. He answered all my questions, straight up and honest.” She sighed. “He’s the real deal, Avery. You’d be a fool to pass this up.”

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