Page 27 of The Cupcake Standard

A slow grin spread across Derek’s face. “It worked, didn’t it?”

I slammed my mug onto the counter, coffee sloshing over the side. “Dammit, Derek, that’s not right. You can’t just go around kissing people to get them to stop—”

Suddenly, he was in front of me, his mouth covering mine once more.

What was I mad about? I moaned and leaned into him.

His teeth tugged on my bottom lip. “Mmm, French vanilla.”

Liam started laughing. “Looks like you’re onto something there, Derek.”

I opened my mouth to yell at him. Then I just laughed. “I guess I can’t complain.”

“And if you did, I’d just kiss you again.” Derek winked at me.

My hand on my chin, I pretended to think about his words. “Hmm, well in that case…”

Liam threw his hands in the air and stalked over to the door. “It’s too early for this shit. I’m out.”

A startled squeak came from the hallway as he strode out. Gina edged her way in, grinning at me. Her smile faded as she took in my confused expression. “I texted you I was coming. Last night. You said okay!”

I glanced at Derek for confirmation, he just shrugged. I wasn’t even sure where my phone was. “Not that I’m not happy to see you—” My brain registered what she was carrying. “You brought Sweetwaters?”

It was Derek’s turn to look confused.

With a delighted squeal, I raced over to her.

She held the box away from me, a teasing glint in her eye. “I bring you apology donuts, and you don’t even have the decency to say hi to me?”

“Hi, Gina.”

My friend looked slightly mollified but still didn’t offer me a donut.

“I was planning on calling you anyway today.” I sauntered back over to the counter and picked up my coffee mug, both Derek and Gina watching me with narrowed eyes. “I have to go by the storage room, and I was going to ask you to come along.” More than a peace offering, it was Gina’s favorite place.

An ear-splitting scream tore the air as she registered my words. In her excitement, the box of Sweetwaters’ donuts tottered dangerously in her hands. I rescued them, opening the box to snatch out my preferred bear claw before anyone else could even think of it.

“What’s the storage room?” Derek asked, trying to follow our power struggle.

I mimed zipping my lips and shook my head at him. “You’re not quite there yet.”

“When do we leave?” Gina bounced up and down with all the energy of a month-old puppy.

“Eat a donut, drink some coffee. I still have to shower.” I frowned as she showed no signs of chilling. “Maybe Derek should kiss you.”

Derek’s eyes widened to the size of dinner plates.

Gina froze. “Why would he do that?”

I laughed to myself as I walked to my bedroom, leaving Derek to explain my comment. I felt his glare on my back the entire time. But I didn’t stop grinning while I got ready.

The beginnings of a plan had been circling in my head since my lunch with Rhonda. Derek’s birthday had been a disaster, on his end anyway, and I was working on a way to make it up to him. I thought I might be able to pull off a surprise party—if I could scrounge up the funds. Which necessitated a trip to the storage room to see what I had to sell. Before I left my room, I put a key on a long chain over my head, then tucked it into my blouse.

Gina met me in the hall, a seriousness in her face. “Are we good, Avery?”

I smiled at her. There wasn’t a trace of anger left in me. “Yeah, G. We’re good.”

She beamed, throwing her arms around me. We hugged for a good minute, then she pulled away. “Good. I can’t stand it when we fight.” We headed to the dining room, where she grabbed her purse. “Should I get Aunt Tasha lined up?” she asked, already digging out her phone.

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